The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-03-18
The. House of the Black
As.=., .'s:: Ring e.,z=..!. ZOOS
III-continued.

CHAPTER uI-Continued.
r:ut she did. 1t was as II she
were strapped on. She anticipated
every movement and checked and
refined and braced and swung, until
atter a moment the scared horse
lighted u full speed on a straight
away trot. as if she were In a sulky
snd on the homestretch. It was ar
experience to shake the life out Of one
tut the girl keptlher seat. 1t was as
IL she had nlways-ridden that way. In
three minutes she.had the horse in q
rocking canter. Then Jim loped UP
on the mustang. He was perched pre-
rar!ously on the ~sidc-saddle. and his
face was full OF apprehension. She
looked over at him and laughed.
This is fne!" she cried. turning to
tim q face fairly radiant with enjoy
raent.
why. I'd no idea she'd do that" he
began to apologize. You see she
'sBu. isn't she a little wonder. though?
My. can't she go. ! had no idea you
rad such n horse" Her hair was shak-
en- in curly little wisps about her face.
ard her cheeks were glowing. She
seemed to be perched carelessly on the
saddle, 80 that the slightest movement
ttlight shake her Off.
by George. Isthought she'd kill you
sure. Aren't you hurt? Aren't you
shaken ali to pieces; Wait. let me
help you down"
''Pshaw! that's nothing. I'm going
to ride some more. It's fun" She
laughed up at him again in a way that
made her tinger-tips prfckle.
Say" he burst out. II don't believe
there's another girl In the state who
could have, done 1t. l don't believe
there's half n dozen In the whole
world" There was no m%istaking the
done in the young fellows voice.
. The idea! I can't ride much. But,
say. this Is no saddle horse. She's a
trotter."
u know It,"
Really? Then what are you riding
her for? YOU'RE spelling her"
Young Jim could have told the exact
truth. but he didn't. He preferred to
keep silent.
You must weigh'-looking him over
aud eighty"
One hundred and eighty-four ex-
nctly."
That's it. and the mare here goes
barely 900. And she's q %fine-boned, SEN
sttIve little thing. It's risky for you
TO be jumping her around on these
miserable roads. and besides that you
hre teaching her SO she'll break every
time just at the critical minute. Has
"" v st0IICu W ~ SulhS
She's got q record of 2:25."
'No-o-o! Why. Mr.. Farthing. 1 never
dreamed you had such a horse up there.
When did you get her"
I've had ,he!r. ever since she was a
.If L had known tt I should have had
Tier out before this time, I'll tell you
that" She looked up at him archly,
ord then laughed in mere girlish full
..ticss Of life. Say L want to try her
In h harness some time? May II"
" Right S Srs T Gsrta Wssk,.
Its muddy for trotting. amt 1t?
TIE roads are all like this. or worse
There's the Gum Stump pike" she
suggested. That's fairly hard now
All right. Will you go with me
some afternoon his week and try her?
SAY Thursday. Will you?" he asked
eagerly. refining his horse a little closer.
Yes. I can go Thursday. Say. l be-
lieve If this mare's handled right she's
better h 2:25. Just see what a chest
ahe's got and what a neck and should
.srs. n see hat clean, dainty little
head. Why. her records written all
.pver her.
We've been pretty busy up to our
.nlace. and,I really haven't had time to
exercise her."
why don't you let the witches dc
itY' she flashed up at him mischievous-
.aX,. up IN the Ola house there? They'r re
,,out. you know"
Are they? Perhaps I can" he
laughed. Guess you'd be safer. though;
wheR shall I call?.s
Two If you can. I've got to be back
ny five. Here. we are" She drew ur
the horse suddenly and turned hin
partly around. We'll have to swar
horses here; I've got an errand a mile
down this road. Here now, hootchie
don't o shy when I Jump off. Here
here! See that? Haven't l got he
tanned? Why In q week she'd be JUS
like a kitten. wouldn't she? What!
'ller name?" h had atighted and stoo(
,fondltng the horses nose.
'Dolly-Dolly Gray"
Fine! Well 'goodby, Dolly Gray
She sang the words. then laughed Ill
futo his face with mere Joy OF life. Al
Instant later she was on her own hors,
sattd,Off down the branch road. A doze1
bounds and she turned lightly in he
saddle.
sGoodby, till Thursday" she called
Then she swung around the bend out q
sight.
It was a full minute before he ha,
collected himself enough fully to realiz
what he was about. No wonder tn
boys lost their heads. Young Jim ha,
lost his for the first time in his life
For him o there was but one thin
In all the world. and that was Thurs
.day-but much was to happen befor
Thursday.