Gilpin observer., 1913-05-08
Miss Arney was petite. with hair

|
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.
II love horses" she babbled pat
ting the sleek neck OF her mettlesome
black mount. Il have an Arabian at
homeland he's simply perfect"
Il go in for bulldogs myself" cross
fred the mayor. taciturnly. Nothing
beats bulldog on the front seat Of
an automobile"
with the man under 1t on his
back" rippled the girl. curbing her
horse as pig woof-woofed from the
highway into the weedy roadside.
The mayor laughed.
| And with woman in the back
seat pouting at Chawles and telling
him every five minutes in 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 of ahead.
"I'll race you to Lakevillsl" 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
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 few
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 hoof-beats of the fy-
ing animal
Then. above the noise OF the race.
there came piercingly a sharp whistle
followed by woman's scream!
The mayor urged the mare forward.
At the turn he saw ahead a 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 hurt?" he
inquired. soberly.
NO." she laughed. "In the words
Of Richard ILL.,, Give me 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 If 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 out on the road.
But be careful of that animal. He's
fretter."
"A nervous horse and a nervous
trouble" she said. laughing. but real
ly he wouldn't have thrown me II I
had had a clear field"
I'm not SO sure" admonished the
man.
"Tll prove IT." cried the girl. spir-
itedly, giving the black full rein and
dashing on again. like a madcap.
The mayor. raging, set out as the
tail to the kite. They were near the
village now. Down the hill the black
went like race horse in a swirl Of
dust Across the bridge and through
the main street they tore like two
leaders on the county-fair course.
And then a baby-cab. propelled by
small boy, rolled directly in the
path. of the mare. Bedight tried to
guide free. but the mare was heavy
on her feet. There was a crash. a cry
from the boy. wall from the babe
and the devil to pay.
The girl came back trying to hold
her fidgeting horse. Some one grasped
the rein OF the animal.
Get on. lady!" ordered the stolid
individual. who looked like the village
blacksmith. You're arrested"
The mayor In the clutches OF the
village marshal. a burly native, red.
faced. thick-necked. stern. looked at
the girl blankly Here was q pretty
mess!
And thus they went up the main