The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-09

like a dude by the time / get back t.
, the Red Bar" he. added with a
| 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 a 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
fastener 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 goner!'
They flashed past and were tear
ing away in the distance. Reddy
Peters cast 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. It was oppressively
hot.
Roses horse kept pace with the
wagon IS 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 Red ly'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 mad
! gallop that developed into what
looked like a runaway.
| Cant you control your horses 2"
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 1t won't do more than shake you
] 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!"
Yes, but it's going the other way"
shouted back the easterner, 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 a 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 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 q reassuring
smile at Rose, who was crying from
mingled Indignation at the behavior
of the cowboys and pride in her
lover,
Come along, Rosie" he said to
| her. Remember, I've not had a kiss
yeti"
Just 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 a charming
smile as she rode up to them, II
should have warned you against play
ing tricks on Mr. Dixon. You see, he
is a member of the forestry commits
sion and he is an expert on forest and
prairie fires, and he is a well-known
horseman. think you owe him an
| apology"
Reddy Peters and Chappie Dill
looked ruefully at each other.
1T all goes to shcw," complained
Reddy. that you can't always Judge
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-
0x-vx