The Green Forest tribune., 1910-03-18
Equine Intelligence
By CORA R. SPEEDER


 how to drive. See! You have let him back right across my pansy bed"
 'I couldn't help it," the boy whim- pered. He wouldn't stop"
 Its a wonder he didn't upset you" Hester said sternly. "Then the wagon would have been broken and you hurt There! Stand at his head till l get in. He's very htgh-spirited."
 Tommy grasped the horses bit and Hester mounted into the runabout She gathered up the reins with the sense Of having her hands pleasurably full She was not afraid and she un' derstood horses.
 Stand away!" she cried, and as Tommy spring aside she gave the sor- rel his head. He whirled her out of the yard and down the road at an amazing pace, while she braced her feet and handled the reins with all her skill. Clearly, she had need to. It was four miles to town-three miles to John Lanes farm. The sorrel spun on breathlessly. It was years since Hester had had such a ride and she felt the eXhilaration of excitement and swift motion. Her cheeks bloomed out, her eyes sparkled, her lips smiled. She had not felt so buoyant and hap py since she was 19.
 Suddenly the road made a sharp turn and she came upon John Lanes farm. It was one of the finest places on the river. There were generous barns, a pleasant house, all the ap- performances of a homestead well loved and tended John Lane lived there with his mother A swift pain smote Hester as she realized that she, too. might have been living there but for her young folly. a happier woman than she was now.
 Over the little bridge flashed the sorrel Then, just beyond the stone wall, walking through his newly shown fields with his dog at his heels, Hester saw John. His head was down. Was he, perhaps, no happier than her self? Her eyes followed him wistful- ly. He did not see her. If only he would glance up! An unusual jerk on the reins warned her that all her attention was needed to guide her spirited horse. The sorrel had swerved and was acting strangely. Was it a fly? No! No It was that great piece of paper that the wind was whirling directly toward him up the road. Swiftly Hester gathered EIa was frightened, but she could manage him. She must! She must! She heard dizzily a man yell, dog bark; felt that men were running toward her!-John from the field, the hired man from the barn; then the horse swerved again, the wagon went over. She struck the ground with cruel force and, clinging blindly to the reins, felt herself being dragged in a red cloud that became black
 When she came to herself she was lying on a bed and John Lane and his mother were working over her She looked piteously. dumbly into their faces.
 Your right arm is broken, Hester" John explained, "and you are bruised some, but as far as We can see that is all We've telephoned for the doctor and he is on his way now in his auto Thank God, you weren't killed,"
 Hester was in the hands of the doc tor and a nurse for two weeks Then one day the nurse was dismissed and, clinging to Johns arm for support, she walked out upon the veranda They sat down side by side and for the first time Hester learned all the details of her disaster.
 And you mean to say" she ques- toned bewilderedly.
 T mean to say, Hester, that the horse was one l had sold to that scoundrel three days before. got him because he had speed and thought l could handle him, but I found I couldn't, and I let Bivins have him for a song. He is a kind of trader and jockey and used to bad horses He found out that you wanted a horse and put that renegade onto you, the black-souled villain. If he ever gets within my reach again I'll teach him lesson he won't forget in his life time As for your money, I suspected you had paid him by check and stopped payment on it before he had time to present it. It will never be worth two cents again. Saunders, who lives on the place, notified Bivins to come and get the brute, and he did. He cleared out that night for parts unknown, knowing better than to hang around here any longer. Even Roses Brook couldn't protect him after an affair of this kind. But, Hester"
 Yes, John?"
 AIS well that ends we'll It was a l horse that parted us and a horse that brought us together again If l have my way it will take more than a train load of horses to make any trou- ble between us again forever and ! ever"
 i "Amen!" said Hester. fervently. Wealth in Ancient Times. | lTaV l.s-