Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-03-15


Daylight superintended the prepare
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 1t to go on. And Bob.
beyond spirited restlessness and
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 backroad 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 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
lt0h I, tg but n
tile 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 l 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 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 a 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 gallon.
No longer punished. at the end OF
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 a time,
were breathing painfully. Standing
for minute. Bob turned his head and
nuzzled his riders stirrup in
roguish. impatient way. as much as to
intimate that 1t was time they were
going on.
well. I'll be plumb gosh darned!"
was Daylight's comment No ill-will.
no grudge, no nothing-and after that
lambasting, You're sure hummer.
Bob"
He had taken a liking to the animal.
and repented not of his bargain. He
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 ROBUSTNESS. 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
Bob 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.
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
dashing down the back-track. plying
quirt and spurs, wouldn't do, either.
What was wanted was method
wherewith to prevent that lightning
whirl He must stop the animal be-
fore It got around. The reins would
not do this. Neither would the spurs.
Remained the quirt. But now to ac'
complish It? Bob always whirled to
the right. Very we'll He would
dnuhle the nnirf In his hand and the