The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1913-04-18


I'VE were only looking after yo'
right and proper miss, assured Tom
vchemenily. "Maybe you don't know
that boss you're On is Il man killer
Old Eur,hHln hadn't ought To let 80,
ride him g
"Yon are mistaken | didn't ask Mr.
Burnllam if could ride the pony,
she returned pleasantly.
Won mean You just walked up II
him and threw !; saddle On and rio
off,"
Tony was gaping now.
The girl nodded. I'm not hi,
afraid Of him." she said. confidently
pulling the buckSkin's name payfully
This plnyf,IneSS was rewarded by
a vicious lln-e and a fash of the po-
nys agile heels. The girl chung to the
pomnrl of the saddle. with suddenly
frightened eyes.
"Ion don't really believe hat he'll
do--;nv- larm:"
The words were ,jerked out of her
lips by the freuzied dancing of the
pony MS he snapped first at one horse
and then another of the three which
had pursued him.
You better change with me. miss. y
suggested Tony eagerly. This beast
I've got is Il regular Old rocking chair
and just the thing for a lady that
don't know much about ho>SeS."
"Wlo tol,l-you --that:" asked the
girl, slIl jerkily.
"Dnn Cox at The poStoflire he told
Mason Pepper here forgot to inter
duce my friends This is Mr.. .Ink
ProIe. and this is Mr.. Pepper. all from
the Twin Star ranch "
And who are yuu:" asked the CIR!
with II smile as she acknowledged the
greetings "f Tonys companions
"I'm Tony Golf" said that gentle
man s,mvely. "and | wish you'd change
bosses with me
"Oh. 1 shall get back to BurnlE,m's
all right" said the girI carressly.
See. hes quiet now shall lie glad
OF you Gentenen's company if you
care to escort me home
She started back toward the trait,
and the three came into line behind
her. There was anxiety viSibly writ
ten on the faces of the men
what did the postmaster tell You
about me. Mr.. PepIer:" asked the girl.
flashing IL glance at Mason
Mason Pepper heSifHteu but Tony
Golf replied for him. He told Mason
that yo' WAS not accustomed to boss
es." he explained gently.
oh" said the yiri softly.
There was silence for awhile after
that, with no sound save the swish OF
hoofS through the grass Then. al! AT
once. without warming. The devil i'm the
buckskin pony seemed to break loose
With repetition of that shril Suleal
be 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 clinying to his neck with slender,
tense arms: again. he arrhed himself
and flung his head between his legs.
The three galloped franticaly around
rescue the girl from her precariors 20.
sition. but somehow the burkskln pony
seemed to be aware of their purpose to
cheat him or 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 to 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
manner left the saddle on
the ground. but the girl was still on
his dusty back when he arose
Then began Il performance that made
the brains OF the three onlookers reel
with shocked surprise. Suddenly the
girl sprnng to her feet ON the bare
back OF the buckskin pony. and they
saw that she wore little soft mocca-
sins instead of shoes She cried shrily
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
eyes, and as the pony turn
ed and circled toward them they let
out II wloop that brought the warm
color to her cheeks. AS she passed
them she swoopel and lifted the large
gray hat OF link Probe from his head
and dropped it on her own. Then. with
4 shrill whistle to the pony. horse and
rider came to Il graceful standstil be.
fore them. For an instant she poised
kissed her hand to them and dropped
gently to the ground
The buckskin pony meeky nibbled |
he grass.
ITS on us. guess" said Tony Goft |
but we was plumb scar.
I'd for awhile after Pepper here told ns
what he did about Your riding"
What did | say" demanded Mr..
Pepper. with burst of virtuous indig-
nation
The girls eyes lost their mischievous
light. and she smiled sweetly. seriously