The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-11

chuckle
Burton Dixon may have felt sur
prised at sight Of the sun-tanned face
of his pretty sweetheart, but he ex-
pressed only a lover-like delight at
seeing her again-a delight that found
expression in a close clasp of her
hands and long look from his brown
eyes.
Strange to say, Rose felt the old
thrill of his presence, the magnetism
that had first drawn her to him. She
felt happy that he was here and her
eyes shone softly as he handed her
into the saddle and took his place
beside Reddy Peters. Rose had intro
duced the two men and she had been
relieved at the simplicity OF her
lovers greeting of the westerner.
Dixon had simply offered a warm
handshake and murmured something
about the dusty roads. She knew
that Reddy was dying to engage the
easterner in conversation that would
betray Dixon into some ridiculous po-
sition.
They had reached the four forks
road when there came the clatter Of
hoofs behind, and five Of the Red Bar
cowboys came dashing toward them
Fire." they yelled. "Fire-behind!
Run, Reddy-beat it to the Red Bar
or you're a goner!"
They flashed past and we're tear
ing away in the distance. Reddy
Peters cast a glance over his Shout
der and whipped up the bay horses
into a gallop. Over to the south there
was a low-hanging. gray cloud and
there was certainly an acrid smell of
smoke in the air 1t was oppressively
hot.
Roses horse kept pace with the
wagon as it went rocking over the
trail. Burton Dixon glanced over his
shoulder once or twice. and each time
he did SO Reddy Peters grinned de-
lightedly.
A mile farther on they overlook
Chappie Dill. limping along with a
sprained ankle.
That Pinto boss of mine threw me
and cut loose for home" he groaned
as he accepted Reddy's invitation and
climbed into the rear of the buck
board. With this added weight the
wagon made less progress, although
Reddy dashed the horses into a mad
gallop that developed into what
looked like runaway.
Cant you control your horses?"
shouted Dixon above the clatter of
wheels.
Not when they've broke loose this
way" retorted Reddy, saving away
at the reins. Don't worry, young
Teller, the ground around here is real
soft and mellow. If you get spilled
out it won't do more than shake you
a bit"
I'm not worrying over that" re-
turned Dixon contemptuously. What
amuses me is the fact that you're run.
ming away from nothing"
"Nothing?" echoed Reddy belliger.
emily. you consumed tenderfoot. the
grass is afire back there!"
Eyes. but it's going the other way!"
shouted back the fastener, rising in
the rocking vehicle and bending over
Reddy Peters. Nov, see here. AL
kali Ike, you poor imitation Of dime
novel hero. I'll show you how to
drive team of horses!"
/ Thereupon Mr.. Burton Dixon calmly
snatched the reins from the powerful
: grasp of the astonished Mr.. Reddy
Peters, Knocked The quickly drawn
gun from that gentleman's brown fist
pulled the horses into a walk, tumbled
Reddy into the sagebrush, and before
he could rise again had thrown Chap
pie Dill on top Of him.
With a word to the painting horses
Dixon drove on, with a reassurine
smile at Rose, who was crying from
mingled Indignation at the behavior
Of the cowboys and pride in hei
lover,
"Come along, Rosie" he said to
her Remember, I've not had kiss
yeti"
! Just a moment, Burton" she cried
wheeling her pony and dashing back
to where the two cowboys were limp
ing along the trail behind them.
Boys" she said with charming
smile as she rode up to them, 81
should have warned you against play
ing tricks on Mr.. Dixon. You see, he
is q member Of the forestry commits
sion and he is an expert on forest and
prairie fires, and he Is well-known
horseman. I think you owe him ar
apology"
+ Reddy Peters and Chappie Dill
looked ruefully at each other.
1T all goes to shcw." complained
Reddy. that you can't always judge
a man by his clothes. Just tell the
perfesser IL he'll pull up that team
we'll apologize handsome"
Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa.
per Syndicate)