Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-20
HONORABLE MENTION
KIT CAN'T see where he could have
gone without telling you, Aunt


AAunt Meta, look quick, isn't that
pinto galIopng in this direction
aBut where is Donald?' said Aunt
Meta. g.
Just then Pinto came running up to
Blanche, and he kept paving the
ground as if he wanted Blanche TO seC
on his back When she would not ne
started down the lane then he came
back again, after repeating this sew
eral times it suddenly dawned upon
Blanche that he wanted her to get on
his back and he would take her TO
Donald. "a.
So, after bidding Aunt Meta goodby'
she started off. 1t was getting quite
dark, but Pinto did not hesitate ana
kept galloping on. After all the houses
had been left behind and trees lined
each side Pinto suddenly came to a
standstill. Blanche listened, and she
heard rude voices talking in broken
English.
IN to some pine trees which seemed to
surround this clearing. There, lying
around campfire, was band or
gypsies sleeping. And not far from
them tied to a tree, was Donald, cry
ing as IL his little heart would break.
It was a very dangerous task, put
Blanche loved Donald very much ana
she risked her life for him.
First she went to Pinto and took a
sharp little pocketknife out of pocket
in his saddle, and keeping one eye on
the gypsies she stole up to Donald ana
told him not to be frightened and she
would take him to mother. Then she
swiftly cut the ropes that bound him,
and telling him to hurry she put him
on the saddle in front of her and told
Pinto to take them home as fast as he
could.
When Blanche bid the folks goodby
next morning, her Aunt Meta said,
"Good by, dear little daughter"
Blanche's heart leaped with Joy, for
her greatest wish had been fulfilled.
No daughter was ever loved any bet
ter than Blanche, for Aunt Meta's
heart had been touched by her unset
fish act.
MARY MEL GALLEMORE.
112 Locust street, Long Beach Pine
avenue school, grade 8. Age 1S.
A searching party composed of neigh
boring farmers was sent out in all
directions but they all returned near
midnight and reported that they had
seen no signs of the missing boy.
Blanche postponed her trip to fu-
ture date and spent her time that
evening in comforting Aunt Meta.
, The nexa morning Blanche was up
before the sun rose. She tiptoed out
hurriedly along the mountain trail
which led from the house. The morning
was cold and frosty, but Blanche snug
ly grasped O. little whistle in her hand
and quickened her pace along the dark
places in the path that faithful Pinto
had often traYersed,
After going about half a mile
Blanche blew the whistle. The shril-
ness of its sound echoed up the valley,
followed hU a faiD UhiunV from Pinto
Blanche continued in the direction of
Pinto's answer, and in less than half
an hour she came upon Pinto caught
fast in a thicket, nor far from the
mountain path. Little Donald was
clinging to the saddle, stiff with cold
and frightened clear through" as he
later explained it.
In few minutes Blanche was gall
loping homeward with Donald clinging
fast to her.
She reached home before the family
was up. AS soon as the kitchen door
was open Donald, eager to see his
mother, rushed upstairs and into his
mothers room. You can imagine her
surprise and happiness. Donald, with
his eyes full of tears, told his mother
how he had had such strange adven-
ture.
While riding on Pinto in the back
yard gust of wind suddenly grew into
q tiny whirlWind, which frightened the
animal so that it went bounding down
the mountain path with Donald cling
ing to the saddle.
After going for about a mile Pinto
became exhausted and strayed from
the trail. She suddenly became en-
tangled in a thicket and could go no
farther.
Pinto and Donald were completely
hidden from the trail, and had it not
been for Pinto's whinnies Blanche
could never have found them.
A complete change came over Aunt
Meta, and from that time on was a
"really and truly" mother to both
Blanche and Donald.
Blanche did not go to the boarding
school, but stayed at her mountain
home, where she still has her glorious
rides on Pinto's back.
ARTHUR w. MOBILES.
Finished eighth grade. S24 East
Twenty-seventh street.