Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1912-02-22

NC Ht Out uIS NOlCc uuth the pass W
choed.
Hello there, That you. Teddy Bel
fordg"
yes" came back a shaking voice.
wait for me, Teddy. I'll be there
In a minute"
In a few seconds he brought Buck
skin to a ~scrambling halt. Where are
you, Teddy?" he asked.
Right here was a low toned reply
close beside him. ''That isn't Mr..
ClintOck, is It'll"
mo. I'm Roger Webb. Mr.. Gin
took was called to North Fork and
sent me- instead. l was to wait on the
other side of the pass for you, but l
thought there was time enough to look
at a piece Of property I was interested
In"
When they were riding slowly for
ward, allowing the horses to pick their
way along the trail. Roger turned his
head and resumed conversation with
his unseen companion.
you, Teddy 7"
There was a little hesitation before
the answer came CURLY:
yes"
Il don't blame you. Were you whis-
Ting I'm Afraid to Go Home In the
Dark TO keep up your spirits? 2"
"Yes; to shame myself for being
afraid" was Teddy's crisp reply.
Roger laughed with unconcealed ad
miration. you're a plucky kid" he
remarked.
Teddy Bedford did not answer, and
Roger concluded that he was ashamed
OF what might have been termed a dis
play of cowardice. He had no idea OF
how old Teddy Bedford might be or
whether he was large or small. So far
his companion was merely a voice.
How old are you, Teddy he asked
suddenly.
No answer.
How old are you, Teddy, lad?" re-
peated Roger good humoredly. not
that he cared greatly, but the low, con-
tralto voice Of Belford's kid interested
him without his knowing exactly why.
1t sent a thrill Of paternal tenderness
through his being. At least he thought
1t was paternal.
II don't believe Mr.. Clintock would
have sent you to meet me IL he had
known how-how impertinent you
were going to be-" said Teddy Belford
calmly.
"Impertinent wowr' Roger was
plainly Disguised. II beg your pardon,
Mr.. Teddy Belford.' he ended s~arcasti-
caliy.
mr.. Teddy Belford!' repeated Bel
ford's kid Indignantly as they emerg-
ed from the gloom Of the pass into
the open plain where the trail lay
white under the rays of a rising moon.
Before Roger could turn around and
look at his companion he heard the
swish-sh of a quirt through the air and
Buckskin shot forward like a rocket.
Observation-Disclosures painted ROg-
er as he realized that Buckskin was
having things his own mad way.
Mile after mile they pounded owe
the dry grass, away from the trail and
far t. the east Of the Lone Bull ranch.
Roger did not know what had become
OF Teddy Belford, and he did not care.
He was aware that away off behind
somewhere there was a faint thudding
Of hoofs.
Roger sawed away at Buckskin's OBJ
stinate mouth without result. He re-
allied that the horse was growing
tired, and IL the beast could escape
stepping into a prairie dogs hole or
did not stumble he might be brought
to reason before long.
But Buckskin stumbled, and it hap
ed over the animals head and landed
surprised and dizzy on a crumbling
sand hillock. For an instant he lay
there GREATNESS and bruised watching
B~uckskin's form waiting YEARLY near
by.
You old ~skyrocket" he breathed at
last.
Then another horse doomed into the
moonlight, was turned loose to nip at
the grass and a slender form hurried
to Roger Webb's side and knelt down
with a cool hand on his forehead.
Roger saw that the newcomer wore
skirts. and his dizziness increased.
oh. Mr.. Webb. / am so sorry. I do
hope you're not hurt cried the girl
in the voice OF Belford's kid.
I'm all right" said the dazed cow
boy, struggling to a sitting posture.
But where did you come from?'
why, l was following you through
Black pass, you know, and you were
rather impertinent. You know you
were. You called me Teddy and kid
and all that. But | should not have
struck your horse. 1 am so ashamed,
and I beg your pardon" she ended,
with a dangerous quaver In her voice.
"Are you Teddy Belfordf" demanded
Roger.
Yes; Theodore Bedford. My friends
call me Teddy. Father and Boss Clin-
took call me kid. / don't mind from
them" she concluded.
"Of course not" said the chagrined
Roger. "Only, you see, nobody told
me you were a girl-and I thought you
were a boy! The apologies are on my
ctIaU