Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-04-02
The House of the Black
- : ,.s.: Ring Copyright. 1905

home and I'm going to-" His jaws SET
like a trap.
She stole a look up into the rigid
face n settled back without another
word, After all a m likes a mas
terfui man, one equal TO emergencies,
one who VIII fight for her to the last
ditch. II is doubtful IL there are many
women even today who would really
object TO being eloped with. II IL We're
done s~trenuously enough. and II the ar
fair could END when they said the word.
AT that instant, however. Jim became
aware OF an obstacle all but insuper-
able. He had caught up with the other
sleighs, and by all hat was unlucky,
IL was at the point where the road first
enters the mountains. Scrub oaks and
yellow pine dwarfs. thick as the brlst-
les on a brush. came down 10 the very
wheel ruts. IL was foolishness TO think
OF driving by. and the sleighs We're
crawling at q snail pace to allow the
sled TO overtake them, He held the
impatient colt 10 a mincing trot, fret
ting all the time and Tuning like a
trapped bear.
Soon from the distance behind came
the echo of bells. Rose caught it in
stantly and turned 10 look back,
MY, but that horse of Karl's is com
ing, thought" she cried. Then she
laughed in his ear, a most bewitching
little ripple. 1t was evident that she
was enjoying his dilemma.
He did not answer. The furious
driving behind was becoming more evil
dent. The driver in a minute would be
right upon the hind sleigh. and Jim
would be forced to stop and explain.
He looked right and left at the brush
tangle, the wild desperation Of the cor
nered animal in his eyes.
He'll be here in just half a minute"
she laughed again In his ear. He turned
TO catch the twinkle of mischief II her
eyes, and it smote him like a spur.
Then came a loud hail from the rear:
Hold on there, Farthing. I've got
my horse now. Hold on there"
mot by a long chalk" The words
fairly Kissed.
Say, you're not going to try TO drive
by3" She Strengthened up In real
alarm.
That's just what I'm going to do.
Heigh there" he yelled TO the sIeighs
In front. Turn out there, quicker N
lightning. Turn out there! Turn out,
| say! I'm going by on the right. Sharp
there. or I'll smash into yeh. Hold tight,
Miss Harswick. Here she goes!"
The road had grown slightly wider,
but 1t was inviting certain disaster to
try to- Il by In such q place. Auto
matically the sleighs ahead damned
Into the opposite wall OF scrub, and the
colt struck with the whip, darted for
ward like a wild thing. Instantly the
sleight was crashing and grinding into
the horny tangle. 1t reared on one
unner and rocked and plunged at q
m~addening angle amid a chorus OF ex-
CARNATIONS from the sleighs. The
shaggy branches raked and gouged.
They bit into the driver pitiless as
barbed wires, but he sat stiff as a
Inch pin to trim the sleigh and shelter
the girl. His hat was smashed off by
a sprawling branch. but what's a hat?
A Jagged limb, cruel Is a fish rake,
clutched into his face and hair; an
other snatched at the colt, and caught
a sinister finger into the harness, but
the straps held. In a minute il was all
over, and they were spinning along
with a clear road.
There" he cried ~exultantly: think
he'll follow, Miss Hartswick?"
Mercy, MOI" she burst out Say, that
is the most reckless driving l ever saw.
/ don't believe you could get through
there again In a thousand times"
Perhaps not" ne retorted grimly,
but | started out to take you home.
and itll take more'n bushes to stop
me-" There was bitterness In his heart.
The girl beside him was his only by
AA1A Ah&fh1 us AL Al2 6i1l6
behind. That was evident.
She did not reply. This was a new
type OF man, truly. She glanced up
again furtively to catch a glimpse OF
his square jaw and warlike figure. The
glance startled her.
"Why-why," she exclaimed, your
face is all blood"
''Only a scratch" he answered light
ly. bush struck me back there"
But let me see." She spoke impera-
lively, and he bent over toward her.
why, there's a regular cash, and
It's bleeding terribly. Here, let me
wipe of the blood
mo, no: not with that" he objected
quickly. but she paid no heed.
His heart began to beat almost au-
dibly. He would have his face carved
like a German students IL she would
but bend over him like this and stroke
away the blood with her handkerchief.
His exuttation was short-lived. BY d
curious chance no soOner was he clear
OF the bush than the road became sud
denly wide enough for two teams
abreast. The man behind delayed not
an instant, but dashed by the line of
sleighs, and now II was a straight
away race, with Jim handicapped by
O hundred pounds. Soon the breath OF
the great bay vas spouting down the
back OF his neck. and a lusty voice
shouting almost In his ear:
.Heigh, there. Amt you going to hold
up? Stop, l say"
mot by a long chaik." Jim wheeled
and flung back the challenge In hot
wrath.
Height What's that?"
.'I've started out 10 take her home,
and by gum I'm going to-"
what do yeh mean?" snorted the
man, the true inwardness OF things be-
ginning at last to filter through his
constituencies.
II mean exactly what / say" There
was no mistaking the mans III
you want her, come and get her.
"By mighty. SO that's the game, Is
it2 You just walt a minute!' came
roaring back the answer, a sweep OF
whip. But 1t Is not an easy matter on
maiden from q sleigh ahead, especially
shooting. For Il mile II was a stern
chase, and II threatened TO be q
long one.
What are you going to do when he
catches YOU? Fight There was a
suspicion OF FUN In her voice.
"He hain't caught me yet" lie snap
ped, rattling the whip again TN the
socket.
sBut he viii on Moor Run fiats. Hell
run right round you"
you wait and see.'
but you're handicapped. and you
| can't expect to beat that great bay
| He's got THE best horse. and -
sw~. ara he's oot fha haQf avnrv.