Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-03-13

handling she ought to develop into .
wonder. and Jim had tried hard to give
the proper handling. She had from the
first been the passion OF the young
fellows life. He had trained her early
in the sulky, and when she was three
he had won In handsome style 2:25
heat. Then had come the removal to
the mountains and small chance for
| training trotters. There was a world Of
work to do: for the old farm was a
chaos; the little mare had had to find
her exercise on the cultivator and the
| horse rake, with occasional trips to
| Spruce Creek, the nearest railroad sta
! ton. Thus It happened that during the
| year not one in the valley, not even
| Squire Hartswick. who boasted that
he could size UP any horse at a glance,
| had seemed to see her.
Suddenly late in January, after he
had seen Rose in full gallop one after
noon on the Gum Run road, young Jim
made the discovery that his mare had
possibilities as a saddle horse. She
needed exercise, and il would be easier
| in the mud that lay fetlock deep on all
the mountain roads, TO give 1t without
the buggy. There was the mail to get.
| and there were errands to do all up and
down the valley.
1t was some time before he ran
across Rose again. II was on a Mon
day afternoon. He had gone to Spruce
Creek to inquire for his fathers freight,
and as he had Cantered up to the sta
ton his heart had jumped into his
mouth. There was no mistaking the
supple figure on the platform with the
agent. She was holding her crop taun-
| tily before her, a hand on either end.
| Every detail OF dress and posture and
expression burned into his brain like
! a flash light snap-the glorious wealth
| of her hair under the riding cap,
l Al. hn
dainty grace of her coat, and even the
expression of her eyes as she looked
| up at his approach. He tipped his cap
| automatically, and sprang from the
saddle even before the horse had come
| TO a full stop.
| Hello, Glad to see you" he called,
with hearty ring. "How's this for
| mud?" He looked ruefully down over
| his spattered clothes.
That's nothing. You ought to ride
the Sugar Valley road"
Muddy down there, is it?'
Muddy! Why, all ] could see OF
| Pomp one time was jCst his ears" Her
spontaneous laugh thrilled young Jim
Before he could answer, she had turned
| with sudden change of tone to the
| agent.
Wen have the teams down here by
.. That CARL have to be moved 20
feet--all of it. There's no chance to
swing in, don't you see? You'll be sure
to have it done?"
Sure. Anything you say. Glad to
! do it," There was sultry good nature
| in the agents face and tone. He fol-
lowed her even to the edge Of the plat
form. suave and gushing.
| All right, thcn"-with business snap
at 9 sharp it is" She turned quick
| ly To her horse, which was standing
unhitched a Few steps away.
! Come, Pomp," she called.
"A iri - holm
! you" Jim sprang forward eagerly.
She :urncd for an instant as If TO
answer him, then Vaultcd seemingly
without effort into the saddle. "Oh,
pardon me-" she said quickly, Il mount
ed before ] thought" A roar OF laugh
ter pelled out from the platform.
TOO slow! Have To wake up young
fcller, if you're goin' to do business
| round here"
Has our freight come" He wheeled
square about and changed the subject
with "a snap.
Wen get 1t tomorrow" lie vas on
his hor3e and cantering after Rose. In
a moment he vas swinging along be-
side her.
Say, you've got nice pony there,
haven't you?" She turned in her sad
| die TO examine the horse. can he go -
well, / guess"
An right--good bye
on the instan: the mustang shot
| ahead like a polo pony. They were
fairly out IF sight behind a bend be
! fore Jim awoke TO what had happened.
| Then he too. was Off on the jump.
How glor!ous!y the girl rode! The
great mustang was at full stretch.
| smashing through mud and waterhole,
and throwing a deluge Of soft mush
three rods in every direction. She was
| leaning far forward, almost to the
| horses neck. to break the force of the
rIa I'D hob ind 1NG1s a
took his eyes from her The soft brown
| Of her hair, an Intense fleck against the
winter white. was like the focal center
OF all things. He urged the little mare
| to her utmost. and in two minutes he
was right at the mustangs heels.
Then as suddenly as she had started.
the girl dropped again into a canter.
| MY, but he's goer, she burst out
enthusiastically. say, l want TO ride
bin. May l?'
| 'Why-yes--
An right. Whoa. Po:np." The
| horse stopped instantly. and she sprang
to the ground. Jim also aliShted.
Now, you hold hotn of 'em by the
| roins," he said with business decision,
! and III change the saddles. Em afraid
yours won't II. very well, though
| "OI. no. l can ride a mans saddle
| Just as we'll as | can my own
shall l help you mount?' He came
very near her, so ?ca:. indeed that it
awed him a little. lie rad never been
| so near her before.
cant you get me u block or a stone
or something for mo t. Chamber up
on?" She looked about her as If in
distress. and inVOluntaTily his eyes fol-
lowed hers, seeking FOR Il block. He
turned to find her in the saddle. 1t
seemed like magic. But her merrimont
was bitten short off The GinSery lit
tie mare knew nothing of women, and
sine started instantly On a mad, kick
ing. Slowing, bucking. breaCkneCk rush
down the road. Jim's heart went into
his mouth. No girl in a furry like that
could stay in that mans saddle without
StirrupS.
(Continued Next Week.b
What is the secret OF sucCcss?'