Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-08-14

anybody or with anybody"
Then say TO you this ranch is my
ranch. and these horses are my
horses. From this hour forth I viii or
der them 10 go and come when and
where please," She stepped toward
him. "Henceforward l am mistress
here. DO you hear me? Benceforward
| give orders in Crawling Stone house.
and every one under this roof takes
orders from mel"
"Dicksie, what do you mean? For
Gods sake. you're not going 10 try
10 ride"
She swept from the room What
happened afterward she could never
recall. Who got Jim for her or wheth-
er she got the horse up herself, what
was said TO her in low, kindly words
OF warning by the man at Jim's neck
when she sprang into the saddle. who
the man was. she could not have told
All she felt at last was that she was
free and out under the black sky. with
the rain beating her burning face and
her horse leaping fearfully into the
wind
No man could have kept the trail to
the pass that night. The horse took
1t as /. the path flashed in sunshine.
and swung into the familiar stride
that had carried her so many times
over the % miles ahead OF them. The
storm driving into Dicksie's face
cooled her. Every moment she recoI-
leCted herself better. and before her
mind all the aspects of her venture
ranged themselves. She had set
herself 10 a race. and against her rode
the hardest rider I'm the mountains.
She had set herself to what few men
on the range would have dared and
what no other woman on the range
could do. a gust drove into her face.
They were already at the head OF the
pass and the horse. with level ground
underfoot was falling into the long
reach. but the wind was colder.
Dicllsie lowered her head and gave
Jim the rein she realized how wet
she was. her feet and her knees were
wet. She had no protection but her
skirt. though the meanest rider on
all her countless acres would not have
bravcd a mile on such night without
leather and fur The great iapels of
her ridingiacket. reversed. were but.
toned tight across her shoulders. and
the double fold OF fur lay warm and
dry against her heart and lungs: but
her hands were cold. and her skirt
dragged leaden and cold from her
waist. and water soaked in upon her
chilled feet.
She became conscious OF how fast
she was going. Instinct. made keen
10y thousands OF saddle miles. told
Dicksie OF her terrific pace. She was
riding faster than she would have
dared ga at MONDAY and without
thought or fear OF accident In spite
of the sliding and The pluneing down
the Ions hin. the storm and the dark
ness brought no thought OF fear FOR
herself; her only fear was for those
ahead. In supreme moments "A horse.
ike a man when human Efforts be-
come superhuman. puts the lesser dam
gers out OF reckoning. and the facul-
ties. set on single purpose. though
strained TO the breaking point. never
break. Low in her saddle. DicksIe|
tried TO reckon how far they had come
and how much lay ahead. She could
feel her skirt stnening about her
knees. and the rain beating at her
face was sharper; she knew The sleot
as V stung her checks. and knew what
ne was coming-the snow.
TAere was no need 90 urge Jim. He
had the rein and Dicksie bent down 20
speak TO him, as she often spoke
when they were alone on the road.
when Jim, boiling. almost threw her.
Recovering instantly. she knew they
were no longer alone. She rose alert
IN her seat. Her straining eyes could
see nothing Was there a sound I'm
the wind? She held her breath TO lis.
ten, but before she could apprehend
Jim ieaped violently ahead. Dicksie
screamed in an agony OF terror. She
knew then that she had passed anoth.
er rider, and so close she might have
touched him.
Fear froze her TO the saddle: il lent
wings 20 her horse The speed be-
came wild. Dicksie knit herself 10 her
~SSea