The Delta independent., 1912-11-01

Mabel Arney.
ping. When Mabel Arney. the Tues
day girl, apprised Bedight that she
desired his protection on an expedi-
ton to Lakeville. he was ungracious
enough to deplore the fate that bound
him TO do as directed-and, besides,
there was double reason why he
should not go to Lakeville. The game
warden and his company of quick ar
resters undoubtedly loafed at the vii
lage livery stable and would bag him
instanter. He suggested Hornby as a
trading post, dwelling enticingly upon
the advantages offered by the enter
prising merchants of that four-cor-
nered community. But Miss Arney
shifted coldly and commanded him to
bring forth the two saddle horses
owned by Mine Host.
The mayor went away with misgiv-
ings-but as the pair cantered off
down the wood road. his spirits rose
with the sun. Who could be distrait
and gloomy with such a bewitching
little lady as Miss Mabel Arney smil-
ing upon him from the saddle oppo-
site?
Miss Arney was petite, with hair
of that violet black color, big, laugh
ing eyes and the daintiest red-lipped
mouth imaginable. Vivacity and Miss
Mabel were pals and mischief lurked
in her horizon like the rosy petals In
the sunsets glow.
T love horses" she babbled, pat
ting the sleek neck Of her mettlesome
black mount. Il have an Arabian at
home-and he's simply perfect"
II go in for bulldogs myself" Cross
fred the mayor. taciturnly. Nothing
beats a bulldog on the front seat OF
an automobile"
with the man under 1t on his
back" rippled the girl. curbing her
horse as a pig woof-woofed from the
highway into the weedy roadside.
The mayor laughed.
And with a woman in the back
seat pouting at Chawles and telling
him every five minutes In a shrill
voice that that isn't what's the matter
with the machine at ALL" he scoffed.
The girl shrugged her shoulders.
"Your wife?"
mo, my bulldog"
Striking her horse with the whip.
the girl dashed off ahead.
"Ill race you to Lakeville!" she
cried over her shoulder.
Bedight's face clouded as he fol-
lowed. The horse Miss Arney rode
was a nervous. long-limbed beast with
a wicked eye. She had chosen him
Of the pair against the mayors sug-
gestion that she ride the mare he be-
strobe.
Around a turn in the road she flew
on the black. his ears back. the bit
in his teeth. Bedight spurred after
her. but the mare was no match for
her mate. The twisting road kept
the girl from view, but ahead he could
hear the rapid hoofbeats of the fly
ing animal.
there came piercingly a sharp whistle
followed by woman's scream!
The mayor urged the mare forward.
At the turn he saw ahead traction
engine on the turnpike. In the wood
beside the road two grimy workmen
stood over a woman lying upon the
leaf mold. The mayor rode up and
dismounted. AS he approached the
girl sat up. bewildered. An ugly
scratch on her bride hand was bleed
ing freely.
"He-he SHE'D at the engine" she
explained. gamely, land scraped me
of under this tree"
Bedight's relief was plainly depicted
in his face.
You are not seriously hurt7" he
inquired. soberly.
NO." she laughed. "In the words
Of Richard ILL.,. Give mo another
horse and bind up my wounds"
He tore linen handkerchief into
strips, knelt before her and carefully
bound up her hand.
Thank YOU" she said. gayly. "and
now II you will catch my horse we
will proceed"
One of the workmen came forward
leading the runaway.
"You were lucky" congratulated
the mayor as they set on. CT tie rs:-