Bridgeton pioneer., 1909-01-21
a half smothered feminine scream,
sounded through the stiffness.

half smothered feminine scream,
sounded through the stiffness.
The young man prickedAlp his ears,
and as the scream sounded once more
he dropped the pipe and tore down the
path at pace that had won him rec
ords on the cinder path.
Around a bend in the path he sped,
and there before him he saw a fran
tically plunging horse, an Etruscan
wringing his hand and jabbering help
lessly, while a badly frightened bear
crawled through the underbrush with
many whoofs of genuine alarm.
The young man jumped for the bit,
caught it and clung on desperately.
The horse, thoroughly frightened,
snorted and plunged and acted gener-
ally like beast berefA6f his senses.
With all his strength he strove to
free himself from the young mans
grasp, but that stubborn will was
equal to the emergency. Men with
mouths like the young mans don't let
go once they have gained hold.
For several minutes it was a battle
royal for the mastery; then the young
mans strength and agility and spirit
prevailed
The horse, quivering and painting,
came down on all fours and stood
there, shaking like a leaf.
"You had best get out for moment
or two" the young man advised, and
the girl meekly obeyed.
Then she saw his torn coat and blood
on his wrist where the prongs Of the
bit had torn the flesh.
"Tom," she cried, quite forgetting
| the recent unpleasantness-" dear,
are you hurt? There's blood on your
hand, and you're all mussed up"
He smiled reassuringly. "Not in the
| least, dearie," said he. Then he looked
steadily into her eyes. "But I'd be
glad to be if-if''-
eff what?" she asked rather breath
lessly.
i eff / could make you understand
what an ass I feel myself to be and
how sorry am I quarreled with you"
The young woman had her share of
common sense. '|Vell, rather think
we can forgive each other without
| anything so unnecessary as that" said
| she. 1T was my fault anyway"
II rather think it was mine," he de-
clared.
At that moment Pietro vincenzo
Riga, overcome with premonitory
fears, approached, nearly touching the
| ground with his forehead, so low were
his bows. His gestures were rapid
| and expressive, his face a picture of
| woe.
"Not-a my fault! Not-a my faultr'
he repeated over and over, his palms
upturned in depreciation.
The young man turned. ''Your
faultv' he laughed. ''Not a bit of it.
| my friend. In fact, it's the most for
tunate circumstance in the world that
you happened along just as you did.
| Here!' And into the astounded Etrus-
cans hand he thrust a crisp ten dollar
bill w..
Pietro stood staring at it stupidity,
| scarce daring to believe his good for
tune, while the young man helped the
| girl back to the trap.
1t was only when the trap started
on that Pietro realized he was taking
something and giving nothing in re-
turn.
"Waitw he cried, diving into the
bushes for the recreant Gambietta.
"Wait! Mak-a da bear dance-a da
waltz"
"Oh, that's all right" the young man
laughed. "You've earned the money!
The trap whisked down the path.
Pietro hauled the bear from the un-
derbrush and made him stand at his
clumsy salute.
His own tattered felt hat was clasp
ed in his hand as he watched the two
young people, sitting close together
and both talking at once, drive out of
sight Then he and Gambietta set
forth at somewhat nvelier pace in
search of supper
RecoQnized LIKENESS,