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


that lay in Suvy. The beating he himself had
given the animal, the day when their friend
ship was cemented, had doubtless reduced the
pony's confidence of winning such struggle,
and increased his awe of man.
some miners passing saw the dust as the con-
~ fict waged in the yard. They fastened in
to see the show. Then from everywhere in
town they appeared to pour upon the scene.
The word went round that the thing was
bet, and more came running to the scene
Meantime Suvy was rocketing madly all over
the place. Chasing couple of cows that
roamed at large, charging at monster pile of
household furnishings, barely avoiding the feed
trough set in the center of the place, scattering
men in all directions, and raising dust like
concentrated storm, the bronco waxed more
and more hot in the blood, more desperately
wild to fling his rider headlong through the air.
But still that rider chung.
Van had lost all sense save that of worry,
love for his horse, and desire to see him win
this vital struggle. A wild passion for Suvys
response to himself, for proving love in the
bronco's being toward his master, possessed his
nature. He leaned far forward, awkwardly fol-
lowing Suvy about.
I'm ashamed of YOU Suvy!' he began to
cry. "Suvy! Suvy! Why don't you buck?
Why don't you do him, boy Why don't you
show Them Where's your pride? My boy!
You're baby Suvyl You're baby" He
paused for a moment, still following and watch
ing narrowly. "Suvy! Suvy! Want me to sell
you! If you love me- boy, don't break my
heart with Shame!'
Suvy and hundred men heard his wild, inn
FASHIONED appeal. The men responded as if in
some pain of the heart they could not escape,
thus to see Van Buren, SO completely wrapped
up in his horse. Then some all but groaned to
behold the buck1ng cease.
1t seemed as if Suvy had quit. The man in
the saddle eased.
ROY!' yelled Van in shrill startling cry that
- made the ponv shiver He had seen some
sign that no one but himself could understand.
boy! Not that! Not that!'
Already Suvy had started to rise, to fling
himself up and drop himself backward on his
rider.
He heard and obeyed. He went up no more
than to half his height; then seemed to be
struck by a cyclone. Had all the frightfu
dynamics of an earthquake abruptly focused in
his being the fearful CONFUSION of his muscles
could scarcely have been greater. 1t was all
SO sudden, swift and terrible, that man
beheld how 1t was done. 1t was simply mad
dellrlum OF violence, begun and ended while
one tumutuous shudder shook the crowd.
Everyone saw something loose and twisting
detached from the ponys back. Everyone wit
messed blur on the air, and knew it was the
man. He was flung with catapult1C force against
a frightened COW. He struck with arms and
legs extended. He chung like bur to the
bovines side for moment before he dropped
the tension on the nerves.
The next they knew Van was there with his
horse, shaking the animals muzzle.
My boy!'' he said. My boy! My luck
has changed!''
Apparently it had. The man who had
thought he could ride the horse lmped weakly
to blanket roll and sat himself down to
gather up the pieces of his breath and conscious
ness. He wanted more. He felt it was
cheap at the price he had paid to escape with
little of his life.
Van waited for nothing not even the money
that Charlie of the hay yard was holding. He
mounted to the saddle, and in joy unspeak-
able Suvy leaped away, in response to the
pressure of his knees.
CHAPTER KILL
The Furnace of Gold
A Ii the following day which was Thursday,
\ two small companies were out in the hills.
One Beth's, where she, Glen and Pratt
toiled slowly over miles and miles of baking
mountains and desert slopes and rocks, tracing
out the reservation boundary with a long
slender ribbon of steel. The other group,
equally if less openly active, comprised the
Sheriff and three of his men. They were trail
ing out the boundary of one mans endurance
against fatigue, starvation, and the hatred of
his kind.