Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-26

half smothered feminine scream
sounded through the stiffness.
! The young man pricked up 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 fran
tlcally plunging horse, an Etruscan
wringing his hand and jabberlng 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 chung on desperately.
The horse, thoroughly frightened,
snorted and plunged and acted gener-
ally like a beast bereft Of 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 a hold.
For several minutes 1t was a battle
royal for the mastery; then the young
mans strength and agility and spiEit
prevailed.
The horse, quivering and painting,
came down on all tours and stood
there, shaking like a leaf.
"You had best get out for a moment
or two" the young man advised, and
the girl meekly oDeyed
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-"T dear.
are you hurt7 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 tiff
IF what?" she asked rather breath
lessly.
IF l could make you understand
what an ass feel myself to be and
how sorry l am l quarreled with you"
The young woman had her share of
common sense. "Well, 1 rather think
we can forgive each other without
anything so unnecessary as that" said
she. ut was my fault anyway"
81 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 faultP'
he repeated over and over, his palms
upturned in depreciation.
The young man turned. "Your
faultP' he laughed mot 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.
HereW And into the astounded Etrus-
cans hand be thrust a crisp ten dollar
bill
Pietro stood staring at 1t 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.
''Waitr he cried, diving into the
bushes for the recreant Gambletta.
"Wait! Mak-a da bear dance-a da
waltz"
ooh, 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 I'M
derbrush and made him stand at his
clumsy salute.
His own tattered felt hat was clasp
ed In his hand as he watC he'd the two
young people, sitting close together
and both talking at once. drive out of
sight Then he and Gambletta set
forth at n somewhat liveller pace in
search Of supper.