Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03

offered to purchase Suvy on the spot at price
of two hundred dollars.
Don't offer me million. | might be
tempted" Van told him gravely. "Il sell YOU
my soul for hundred
The woud-be purchaser was dry. He said.
" ! want a soul can ride
Van looked him critically. Think you
could ride my cayuSeo
This bronze" said the man. Surest thing
you know
i need the money, Van admitted. IN
bet you the pony against your two hundred YOU
can't
You're on
Van called to his friend, the man who ran
the yard. Come over here. Charlie, and hold
the stakes. Here's man that wants to ride
my horse.
Charlie came heard the plan OF the wager,
accepted the money, and watched Van throw
the saddle. I" | didn't know you wanted to
sell" he said. You know want that animal"
- If he goes. he sells himself. said Van. " If
he doesn't, you re next. same terms
Let me have that pair of spurs. said the
stranger, denoting pair that hung on nail.
Il guess they'll fit
He adjusted the spurs as one accustomed to
their Van merely glanced round. Never
theleSs. he felt a sinking of the heart. Five
hundred dollars. much as he needed money,
would not have purchased his horse And. mas
much as luck had been against him. he sud-
denly feared he might be on the point of losing
Suvy now for price he would have scorned.
Boy" he said in murrnur to the bronco,
" if l thought you'd let any bleached out an
thropod like that remain on deck, | shouldn't
want you anyway. savvy that,
Suvy's were playing back and forth IN
excessive nervousness and questioning. He
had turned his head to look at Van with evident
joy at the thought of bearing him away to the
hills-they two afar off together Then
a disappointment
There you are" said Van and swinging
the bride reins toward the waiting man. he
walked to feed trough and leaned against it
carelessly.
Thanks" said the stranger. He threw
away cigarette. caught up the reins. ad justed
them over Suvys head and neck rocked the
saddle to test its firmness. and mounted with
dexterity that essened Vans confidence again.
After all. Suvy was thoroughly broken. He
had quietly submitted to be ridden by Beth.
His warlike spirit might be gone-and all
would be lost.
Indeed it appeared that Suvy did not care.
that a COW would have shown a manner no less
docile resigned. He did look at Van with
certain expression of surprise and hurt, or SO.
at least. the horseman hoped. Then the
on his back shook up the reins, gave prick
with the spurs. and Suvy moved perhaps a
yard.
The rider pricked again impatently. In
stantly Suvys oldtime illuminate Jared
into violent response. He went up in the air
prodigiously rigid, distorted thing of hard
ened muscles and engine-like activities. He
came down like device for breaking rocks
and the bucking he had always loved was on.
in fury of resentment
Good boy" said Van who stood up stiff1y,
craning and bending to watch the broncos
fight.
But the man in the saddle was rider He
sat in the loose security of men who know the
game. He gave himself over to becoming part
of the broncos very self. He accepted Suvy's
momentum spine disturbing jolts. and sudden
gvrations with the calnness and art of master
All this Van beheld, the pony bucked with