Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-29


frightened eyes.
"You don't really belie7e-that-he1l
do-any-harm:"
The words were jerked out of her
lips by the frenzied dancing of the
pony as he snapped first at one horse
and then another of the three which
had pursued him.
You better change with me. miss"
suggested Tony eagerly. This beast
I've got Is regular old rocking chair
and just the thing for a lady that
don't know much about bosses"
ho-told-you-thatT' asked the
girl. still jerkily.
Dan Cox at the postoffice he told
Mason Pepper here--I forgot to inter
duce my friends This is Mr.. link
Prole. and this is Mr. Pepper all from
the Twin Star ranch''
And who are you?" asked the girl
with smile as she acknowledged the
greetings of Tony'S companions
Pm Tony Goff." said that gentle
man suaveIy. land | wish you'd change
bosses with me"
"Oh, | shall get back to Burnham's
all right" said the girl carelesSly.
See. he's quiet now. shall be glad
Of you gentlemen's company if you
care 10 escort me home"
She started back toward the trail.
and the three came into line behind
her. There was anxiety visiby writ
~ten on the faces of the men
What did the postmaster tell you
about me. Mr.. Pepper" asked the girl.
flashing a glance ut Mason.
Mason Pepper hesitated. but Tony
COT replied for him. He told Mason
that you was not accustomed to hoSs-
es." he explained gently.
On" said the girl softly
There was silence for awhile after
that. with no sound save the swish of
yhoofs through the grass. Then. all ut
once. without warning. the devil in the
buckskin pony seemed to break loose.
With a repetition of that Shril squeal
he dashed once more into the plain
and proceeded to try to remove the
girl from his back by every trick
known TO his clever brain.
First he was paving the air with the
girl clinging to his neck with slender.
tense arms; again, he arched himself
and flung his head between his legs
The three galloped frantically around
the pony, endeavoring to dash in and
rescue the girl from her precarious po-
sition, but somehow the buckskin pony
seemed to be aware OF their purpose to
cheat him of his victim. and he man
aged to elude them every time.
Now the buckskin attempted his IA
vorite. He fell to his knees and
attempted 10 roll over. and only the
girls sharp cry Don't shoot!" held
back the threatened discharge OF three
weapons.
The buckskin rolled over and in some
inexplicable manner left the saddle on
the ground. but the girl was still on
bis dusty back when he arose.
Then began a performance that made
the brains OF the three onlookers reel
with shocked surprise. Suddenly the
girl sprang to her feet on the bare
back of the buckSkin pony. and they
saw that she wore little soft mecca
sins instead of shoes. She cried shrilly
to the pony. and he dashed away, while
she stood swaying gracefully from her
! position on his back
She waved her hand to the three cow
| boys. who followed her course with
/ protruding eyes. and as the pony turn
ed and circled toward them they let
| out a whoop that brought the warm
| color to her cheeks. AS she passed
| them she swooped and lifted the large
! gray hat OF link proe from his head
| and dropped it ON her own. Then. with
! shrill whistle to the pony. horse and
/ rider came TO graceful standstill be-
| fore them. For an instant she poised
kissed her hand to them and dropped
gently To the ground
The buckskin pony meekly nibbled
! the grass.
ITS on us. / guess" said Tony Con
sheepishiy. But we was plumb scar
ed for awhile after Pepper here told us
what he did about your riding"
What did l say demanded Mr..
Pepper. with a burst OF virtuous indig-
! nation.
The girls eyes lost their mischievous
light, and she smiled sweetIy. seriously
up into their faces rs she lifted her
gloved hand to meet their clasp. "AlI
jestlng aside. gentlemen. | must al
ways remember how solicitous Won
have been for my safety. Now let me
explain. This is not MIR BURMA M $
man killing pony. It's my own Brown
lie. who shares In my world famous act
in the Wild West show. | am the
Prairie Rose. Mt your service!" She
bowed low and blushed at their sur
prised calculations.
They escorted her TO the very doors
Of the Durham ranch. aud Tony Goff
had won n promise to ride with him
the next day.
AS the three rode slowly home to the
Twin Star with the belated mail in
their pockets Tony Golf suddenly burst
into ecstatic speech.
Say. Pepper. that was the best joke
yon ever played on me-
Whereupou link Probe and Mason
Pepper winked solemnly at each other.
II I'm % IN D. american