Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-01-18
was eminently like her, he told him,

was eminently like her, he told him.
self grimly.
She had gone for gallop on Black
fire! that was enough to make him set
his teeth and groan inwardly And
more than probably, somewhere be-
meath that placid autumn morning Sky
Nora Ormand was-Holroyd was
afraid to think of the possibilities
Where had she gone? That was the
most important question of the mo-
ment. Up the mountain road, most
probably: and with that point decided
to his satisfaction. he swung the
speeding car into the road that led up
the slope.
He gave the car full speed and went
up the winding, narrow road at pace
that set the car rocking crafty. Then
as he swung sharp curve, he saw
her, sitting on rock by the roadside
Her hat gone; her hair was rumpled;
her brown riding skirt was covered
with dust and badly torn There was
cut just above her left temple.
The black car came to an abrupt
halt. Holroyd sprang out and stood be-
fore her, amazed relieved, and rather
| angry.
This is just about the limit" he
snapped.
She favored him with one of her be-
wildering smiles. 1T was glorious!"
she said with enthusiasm. He
wouldn't have thrown me at all, if
hadn't been careless. | was rather
over-confident. | thought l had the
ginger all out of him, for | put him to
this slope at a tremendous pace. And
because | was over-confldent, he did
the trick
you've scared Anne half out of her
wits" said he severely.
Anne hasn't much spirit" she re-
turned.
quite true. But you have rather
too much" he snapped.
She raised her eyebrows in mild re-
proof. Perhaps shouldn't have done
it, but the temptation was too great,
and | should have been all right, if l
hadn't been careless. l have ridden
much worse horses than Blackf1re'
How long have you been here?"
"A half hour. perhaps
You had better get into the car.
I'll take you back. There is no need
VI WI yiHS Alllle any lOASeI tHdu We
can reasonably help"
She turned away her head and her
face flushed.
81 think you'll have to put me in the
car" she said haltingly. You see
when he threw me, my ankle twisted.
! can't step on it,
Good lord!" said Holroyd under his
breath. Then silently he lifted her in
his arms and put her in the road-car.
Down the mountain road they whirl-
ed. Holroyds lips we're set tightly to-
gether, but now and then he turned
to look at her with certain curious
light in his eyes.
You might have been killed." he
said at length. Even Tom, as good a
horseman as there is in the state, is
none too fond of Blackfire, save for
show purposes
The girl made no reply.
you need someone to look after
you," he went on. irresponsible per-
sons like you should have guardian.
What's more you're going to have one
You have no right to go risking your
neck in this fashion," he ended hotly.
They had reached the main road.
Holroyd stopped the car before vine
covered cottage
First off," said he in tone that
brooked no argument on the point,
well have that ankle looked after by
Doctor Gray, and while he is fixing it,
I'll telephone Anne that you are still
in the land Of the living"
Again he lifted her, unresisting, in
placed her back in the car. Off they
whirled, and the road to the village.
Holroyd stopped the car at tiny
brick house, nesting beside little
church surmounted by gilded cross
"What--what?" she began, and
stopped, blushing furiously.
81 promised Anne over the tele-
phone" said he, that would see to
it you did no more of these crazy
stunts intend to fulfill that promise
by having myself vested by the proper
authority, by the gentleman within, to
quash any such proceedings on your
part in the future. Shall l take you
in. or shall call the rector out here
to the carr"
For all his magnificent assurance
there was note of almost pleading
uncertainty in his tones. The girl
was quick to catch it. She laughed
lightly but even in the midst of her
laughter her eyes suddenly softened.
"There is no need of giving undue
publicity to this ending of freedom,
she said in low voice. You you
had better take me in, Jimmy"