The Red Cloud chief., 1912-02-01

Daylight supcrintended the prcpara'
tions, adjusting the curb strap and
the stirrup length. and doing the
cinching He shook his head at the
martirgale, but yielded to the dealers
advice to allow II to 20 on. And Bob.
beyond spirited res,lessncss and
few playful attempts, gave no trouble
Nor in the hours riding that followed
save for some permissible Curveting
ard 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. Qucst,as he
would through the Piedmont hills and
along the many.gatcd back-road to
| Berkeley, Daylight saw nothing OF
Dede Mason and her chestnut sorrel.
| But he had little time for disappoint.
mcnt. for his own chestnut kept him
busy. At the end of half an hour
of goodness Daylight. lured into conn.
| dence. was riding along at walk
and rolling 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.
tie rein across the neck. did nothing
to prevent the evolution.
"Well, 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- p!
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 smart blow. Several times, out
of curiosity. Daylight attempted the
I'spur. and each time Bob's hoo! 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 real licking
before" he muttered. as Bob. thus
rudely jerkcd 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 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 relned in to 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 1t was time they were
going on.
We'll, I'll be plumb gosh darned!"
was Daylight's comment. NO ill-wi!l.
no grudge no nothing-and after that
lambasting! You're sure hummer.
Bob"
He had taken 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-
dowed with more than the average
horses intelligence 1t was the spirits
and the intelligence, combined with
inordinate roguishness, that made him
what he was. What was required to
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, Bobs
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
he should manage to be riding along
side OF her; then that whirl OF Bob's
would be most disconcerting and en-
barrassing. He was not particularly
anxious for her to see him thrown for
ward on Bob's neck. On the other
, hand, suddenly to leave her and go
dashng down the backtrack. plying
quirt and spurs. wouldn't do. either
What was wanted was method
r wherewith to prevent that lightning
whirl, lie must stop the animal be
, fore It got around. The reins would
, not do this. Neither would the spurs
Remained the quirt. But how to &C
complish It? Bob always whirled to
he right. Very we'll. He would
! double the quirt In his hand, and, the
=. Instant OF the whirl. that double quir'