Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-03-28

long and thin. his chin square. although
somewhat narrow. His mouth. too, was
narrow, and his teeth were narrow, one
of the upper teeth at each side like the
tooth of a carnivore. longer than its fell
4 lows.
j His hair was very thick and close cut
1 to his head. dark and II the least bit
gray about the edges requiring close
scrutiny to prove it so. In color his
skin was dark. sunburned beyond tan
! almost to parchment dryness. His eyes
were gray. the most remarkable eyes
that have ever seen-calm. emotion
less, direct the most fearless eyes
| have ever seen In mortal head, and
have looked into many mems eyes in
my time. He was taller than most
men. | think above the six feet line.
| His figure was thin. his limbs thin, bis
/ hands and feet slender He did not
look one-tenth his strength. He was
simply dressed dressed. indeed. as a
gentleman. He stood as one. spoke as
one and assumed that all the world ac-
cepted him as one. His voice was
warmer in accent than even our Vir-
ginia speech saw him to be an Eng
lishman.
"He is bit nasty, that one." He
nodded his head toward Satan.
grinned 81 know of only two men
in Fairfax county I'd back to ride hin" )"
Yourself and
my father"
by Jovel How old is your father.
my good fellow?"
Sixty. my good fellow" replied.
He laughed.
"Well.'' said he. there's a third in
/ Fairfax can ride him.
| Meaning yourselfY
He nodded carelessly. did not share
his confidence. Hes not a saddler in
any sense" said |. I'VE keep him for
the FARMS"
"Oh. say. my friend" he rejoined-
my names Orme Gordon Orme-I'm
| just stopping here at the inn for a
time. and I'm deucedly bored! I've not
had leg over a decent mount since
! I've been here. and if | might ride this
beggar I'd be awfully obliged"
My jaw may have dropped at his
words. am not sure. 1t was not that
he called our little tavern an INN"
1t was the name he gave me which
| caused me to start.
/ "Orme." said [. Gordon Orme?
That was the name of the speaker the
other evening here at the church OF
| the Methodists
| He nodded, smiling. Don't let that
trouble you" saio he.
| None the less it did trouble me. for
the truth was that word had gone
about to the effect that a new minis
ter from some place not stated had
spoken from the pulpit on that even
| ing upon no less topic than the ever
present one of southern slavery. Now,
l could not clear it to my mind how a
minister of the gospel might take SO
keen and swift an interest in a
stranger in the street and that stran-
gers horse 1 expressed to him some
thing of my surprise.
Its OF no Importance said he
1 again. What seems to me of most
Importance just at present is that
here's son OF old Klingwalla and
! that want to ride him"
Just for the sake of saying you
| have done so.' ! inquired.
His face changed swiftly as he an
swered: I'VE owned Klingwalla our
kr laor fcr
my father one day and was near kill
| ing him"
/ Sir" / said to him. catching his
thought quickly, I'VE could not afford
to have the horse injured. but If you
wish to ride him fair or be beaten by
/ him fair you are welcome to the
chance"
| His eyes kindled at once. You're a
sportsman. sir!'' he exclaimed. and he
advanced at once toward Satan.
| / saw in him something which awak-
ened responsive chord in my nature.
He was a man to take risk and vel
come it for the risks sake. Moreover.
he was horseman He caught the
cheek strap OF the bride and motion
ed us away as we would have helped
MIN at the horses head. Then en-
sued as pretty fight between man
and horse as one could ask to see.
The black brute reared and fairly took
him from the ground. fairly chased
him about the street. as a great dog
would a rat But never did the iron
hold on the bride loosen, and the man
was light on his feet as boy Final
| iy he had his chance, and. with the
| Hghtest spring ever saw at a saddle
skirt. up he went and nailed old Satan
fair with a grip which ridged his legs
out
| As the horse lunged and bolted
about the street Orme sat him in per-
| feet confidence. He kept his hands
low. his knees little more up and
forward than we use in our style OF
riding and his weight trifie farther