The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-07-16

proclamation. Judge Chalmers was on
his feet. Fifty to ten on the Crimson
Rose" he cried. This time. however,
there we're no takers. He called again.
but none heard him: the last tits were
too absorbing.
Where had John Valiant learned
that trick OF the loose wrist and In.
flexible thrust. but at the fencing club7
Where that subconscious management
OF the rein. that nice gage OF speed
and distance. but on the polo field?
Tho old sports stood him now In good
stead. why he has n seat like q
centaur! exclaimed the judge-praise
indeed In a community where riding
was a passion and h~orsefesh a fetish!
oh, dear!" mourned Nancy Chal'
mers. I've bet six pairs OF gloves on
Quint Carter. Never mind II II has TO
be anybody else. Id rather II were
Mr.. Valiant. It's about time Damory
Court got something after Rip-Van'
Winkling II for thirty years. Besides.
he's giving us the dance. and ! love
him for that! Quint still has a chance,
though. II he takes the next two. and
Mr.. Valiant misses"
Katharine looked at her with a 1T.
tie smile. He won't miss" she said
She had seen that look on his face
before and read II Alright. John Va.
liant had striven In many contests, not
only OF skill but OF strength and dar'
ing. before crowded grand stands. But
never In all his life had he 30 desired
to pluck the prize, His grip was tense
and olive plume OF Castlewood shot
away for n last time-and failed. An
instant later the Knight OF the Grim.
son Rose flashed down the lists with
the last ring on his pike.
And the tourney was o
In the shouting and hand.clapping
Valiant took the rose from his hat.
band and bound II with a shred OF his
sash to his lance.point. As he rode
slowly toward the massed stand. the
whole field was 80 still that he could
hear the hoofs OF the file Of knights
behind him. The people were on their
feet.
The mounted herald blew his blast.
by the Maiesties OF st. Michael and
ST, George" he proclaimed. Il declare
the knight OF the Crimson Rose the
victor OF this u tourney. and do
charge him now 10 choose his Queen
OF Beauty, that all may do her HON
age"
Shirley saw the horse coming down
the line. It's rider bareheaded now
and her heart began to race wildly.
Beyond wanting him TO take part, she
had not thought. She looked about
her, suddenly %dismayed. People were
smiling at her and clapping their
hands. From the other end OF the
stand she saw Nancy Chalmers throw
ing her a kiss, and beside her q tall
pale girl In champagne.color staring
! through a ieweled lorgnette.
She was conscious all at once that
the fanneled rider was very close
that his pike.point. with its
big red blossom. was stretching up 70
her.
With the rose In her hand she curt
sled 10 him, while the blurred thronp
cheered itself hoarse, and the band
struck up You Great Big Beautiful.
Doll" with extraordinary rapture, &C
the tune Of which the noise finally sub
sided TO a battery OF hilarious con
CALCULATIONS which left her flushed ant
a little breathless. Nancy Chalmer,
and Betty Page had burst upon hel
like p~etticoated whlrlwinds and pres
emily. when the crowd had lessened
the Judge came TO introduce his visi
tor.
Mr., Fargo and his daughter are oul
guests at GLADDEN. Hall" he told her
'Tsey are ole friends OF Valiant's. b!
the way. they knew him In New
York"
"katharins's lighting her incens,
now. ! guess" observed Silas Fargo
See therei" lie pointed across IN,
stand, where STOOD a willowy tan fig
ure. q hand reckoning to the con
course below. where Valiant stood. tn,
center OF a shifting group. round whicl
the white bulldog. mad with recovere,
liberty. tore In eccentric circles.
A they looked. she called softly
John! john"
Shirley saw him tart and fac
about. then come quickly toward hei
s%mAEement and welcome In his eyes.
As Shirley turned away a little late
with the major. that whispering vote
seemed 20 sound In her ears-"John
John" There smote her suddenly tn
thought that when he had chosen he
his Queen OF Beauty. he had not see
the other-had not known she wa
there.
A few moments before the Day ha
been golden; she ven home throug
q landscape that somehow seemed I
/ have lost It's brightest glow.