The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-08-30

any rate, If worse came to worst Dan
had n revolver that would ettectualiy
nut an end to the combat. only he DID
not have the heart to kill Kitty MCKEE
/ sons pet horse.
He pulled the rein. and Cyclone
swcrved to the left. and Heautys hoois
pounded menacingly behind. Dan
slipped his right foot from the stlrrup
and c%rouched low on Cyclones strain
ing neck. lie whispered in Cyclones
laid back ear. and just as the horse
swept past the group of rocks Dan
slipped to the ground and fell stagser-
ing sideways just out of reach or
Bcauty's flying heels rs he thudded
past.
Dan got up on his feet with a strange
singing in his ears. He climbed the
rocks and saw that Cyclone was get
ting away from Beauty. whose mania
was burning out his WI strength with
each shrili scream of defiance that he
sent after Cyclone.
All at once Beauty stopped short.
NlIliICu uDOui II NohS 49,
toward the rocks.
DeSpalring of reaching Cyclone, he
had remembered Dan.
He was coming back for revenge.
Dan glanced hastily around. Inc
canyon was too far away to gain refuge
there before Beauty returned. The
rocks on which he stood afforded no
protection from a crazed horse. There
only remained the cottonwood trees.
The largest one sprouted among the
rocks where he stood. He climbed 1t.
lust as he reached the lower branches
the crazy horse came TO a StandStlu I'M
derncath and screamed shrilly up ut
his escaped quarry. Then he pounded
the turf with his feet.
Dan looked down and saw something
on the ground that sent the blood back
10 his heart. leaving his face white as
death itself.
A pretty soft gray felt hat with a
Spanish leather band about the crown
was tramplcd in the grass. \ little
gray gauntlet glove lay beside it.
nose uIu DclOl SOU W hittS VIM
son.
Where was Kitty Nicholson now?
Sudden rage filed Dams heart, and
his hand flung around to his hip to
draw his gun.
Don't shoot said a soft voice
above his head.
Dan stared upward.
On the branch over his head sat Kit
ty Nicholson herself. rather pale.
Please don't shoot Beauty-yet,' she
quavered. Perhaps he'll go away,
and after he is out a distance yon
might fre-where couldn't see him
fall!' A tear splashed down on Dams
upturned face. He showed the gun
back into his pocket.
IF you don't mind telling me. I'd
like to hear how it happened said
Dan practically.
SO kitty related her story in disjoint-
ed sentences caused by the constant VI
bration of the tree as Beauty attack
ed it with logged persistency.
Beauty had acted queer for several
days. They had thought it was the hot
weather. Another horse had gone mad
on the ranges and had been instantly
killed by one of the line riders. But
they had not suspected anything seri-
Gus to be the matter with Beauty. who
was petted and always had the best OF
of care.
She had started forth that morning
for a solitary ride, and Beauty had
acted iendishly from the first. He had
snapped at her once or twice as she
leaned over his neck to pat him, as
she was accustomed to do, and then.
all at once, just before she reach
ed the bunch of cottonwoods Beauty
had suddenly reared himself and I'M
seated her.
Kitty had managed to roll herself
out of reach of his vicious hoofs, and
as he searched for her with his little
~bloodshot eyes she had scrambled to
her feet and made for the cotton
woods. She had climbed up somehow,
just escaping his first angry lunge as
he discovered her retreat.
There she sat, watching him tram
pie her hat and gloves into the ground,
shuddering, because she knew what
would be her own fate if she lost her
hold on the cottonwood tree.
81 am so glad you came" she ended.
$50 am IT, said Dan devoutly. and
then he added rather awkwardly, for
he felt fiercely jealous: Il should not
be surprised if some n came to res
cue us. l happened to see Forbes rid
ing toward your house. He will be
looking for you"
"Oh, no he won't" she said conf
IDENTIFY. "He was coming to say good
by. He's going east for good"
.yVbvTp was Dams invOluntarv