The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-03-08

| tons. adjusting the curb strap and
the stirrup length, and doing the
| cinching. He shook his head at the
martingale. but yielded to the dealers
advice to allow II to go on. And Bob.
| beyond spirited restlessness and a
few playful attempts, gave no trouble.
| Nor in the hours riding that followed,
save for some permissible curveting
and prancing, did he misbehave. Day.
| light was delighted; the purchase was
| Immediately made: and Bob. with rid
ing gear and personal equipment, was
dispatched across the bay forthwith
to take up his quarters in the stables
OF the Oakland Riding Academy.
The next day being Sunday, Day.
light was away early, crossing on the
ferry and taking with him Wolf. the
leader of his sled team. the one dog
which he had selected to bring with
him when he left Alaska. Quest as he
would through the Piedmont hills and
along the many-gated back-road to
Berkeley. Daylight saw nothing of
Dede Mason and her chestnut sorrel.
But he had little time for disappoint-
ment, for his own chestnut kept him
busy. At the end of half an hour
of goodness Daylight, lured into conf.
dence. was riding along at a walk
and rolling a cigarette. with slack
knees and relaxed seat, the reins lying
on the animals neck. Bob whirled
abruptly and with lightning swiftness,
pivoting on his hind legs. his fore legs
just lifted clear of the ground. Day
light kept his seat. but. beyond fu-
tile rein across the neck. did nothing
to prevent the evolution.
We'll. Bob" he addressed the ami
NAL. at the same time wiping the
sweat from his own eyes. I'm free to
confess that you're sure the blamed.
est alfred quickest creature | ever
saw. guess the way to fix you is to
keep the spur just a-touching-ah!
you brute!"
For. the moment the spur touched
him. his left hind leg had reached for
ward In n kick that struck the stir.
rup a smart blow. Several times. out
OF curiosity. Daylight attempted the
spur. and each time Bob's hoof landed
the stirrup. Then Daylight. following
the horses example of the unexpected.
suddenly drove both spurs into him
and reached him underneath with the
quirt.
You amt never had n real licking
before" he muttered. as Bob. thus
rudely jerked out of the circle Of his
own impish mental processes. shot
ahead
Half a dozen times spurs and quirt
bit into him. and then Daylight settled
down to enjoy the magnificent gallop.
No longer punished. at the end Of a
half mile Bob eased down into a fast
canter Wolf. toiling the rear. was
catching up. and everything was going
nicely. And when. at last. Daylight
decided that the horse had had
enough. he turned him around abrupt.
ly and put him into a gentle canter
on the forward track. After time,
he refined In to n stop to see II he
were breathing painfully. Standing
for a minute. Bob turned his head and
nuZzled his riders stirrup In a
roguish impatient way. as much as to
intimate that II was time they were
going on.
We'll. I'll be plumb gosh darned!"
was Daylight's comment mo ill-will,
no grudge. no nothing-and after that
lambasting, You're sure a hummer.
Bob"
He had taken a liking to the animal,
and repented not of his bargain. lie
realized that Bob was not vicious nor
mean. the trouble being that he was
bursting with high spirits and was en-
J dowed with more than the average
horses intelligence. II was the spirits
and the intelligence. combined with
inordinate roguishness. that made him
what he was. What was required 10
} control him was a strong hand. with
tempered sternness and yet with the
requisite touch of brutal dominance.
Throughout the week Daylight found
, himself almost as much interested in
Rob as in Dede: and. not being in the
! thick OF any big deals. he was prob
! ably more interested In both OF them
than In the business game. Bob's
trick OF whirling was Of special mo
ment to him. How to overcome it
; that was the thing. Suppose he did
meet with Dede out In the hills: and
) suppose by some lucky stroke OF fate
J he should manage to be riding along
{ side OF her: then that whirl of Bob's
, would be most disconcerting and EN-
e barrassing. He was not particularly
Q anxious for her to see him thrown for
/ ward on Bob's neck. On the other
n hand. suddenly to leave her and &c
S dashing down the back-track. plying
!. quirt and spurs. wouldn't do. either
What was wanted was a method
n wherewith to prevent that lightning
S whirl. He must stop the animal be
!. fore II got around. The reins woulS
/. not do this. Neither would the spurs
y Remained the quirt- But how to &c
complish IL, Bob always whirled L
" The right Very we'll He would
. double the quirt In his hand. and. tn,
:. instant of the whiri. that double 9uir