Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-22

slope. There was smell OF moisture In
the air The valley, the whole world.
was expecting, waiting for rain, and even
as he stared the rain came down In
fine. veil.like mist that steadied the tones
of earth and sky to one even shade OF
endless gray. out of the gray came the
click Of iron on pebble. Alan recognized
the quick. springy tread Of a climbing
horse. He turned and faced Glenn. He
felt the color slowly rising in his cheeks
and his hands trembled
They did not smile at each other; they
even forgot to say goodmorning, Alan
licked his thin lips. They were as dry
as ever they had been with fever.
where's your hat?' he asked.
a flicker of amusement showed in
Clem's eyes. She was quite calm and she
could see that Alan was not that he was
biting his tongue at the feeble words he
had sadded on heavy moment Hats
are for sunny days" she said. II like
rain on my head. Have you anything
special to do? Don't let me bother you"
NO" stammered Alan; nothing that
can't be put Off"
DO you remember" Glen went on,
years ago I asked you to take me for n
ride and you said not then, but some
time? I've never had my ride with you. l
want It now"
Her eyes were fixed on his and held
him. ~ am ready he said through dry
lips.
She turned her horse and he followed.
They rode In silence at a walk and then
at n trot Glenn turned into wood road.
Her horse broke into gallop. She licked
him with her whip and his gathered
limbs suddenly stretched out for q free
run. The going was soft Alan had fallen
behind. Clots Of messy loan struck him
in the face. Swaying branches showered
drops of water on him. He lost his hat.
Then his lips frightened, his eyes flashed
and he began to ride. He was himself
again.
lie urged his horse forward, but he
could not get on even terms: Glen held
the middle OF the narrow track. Suddenly
they burst into tho Low road. With a
terrific clatter of flying stones and slip.
ping. scrambins hoofs they made the
turn. Alan rode at last on Cem's quar-.
ter "Clem," he cried, stop! 1t isn't fair
to the horses"
But Glenn only laughed. Her slim body
swayed to the bends of the road; her
shoulders were braced; she leaned slightly
back. steadying her horse with a taut
rein Alan tried to draw even, but every
time he urged his horse into squirt
Clems spurted. too Alan grew angry.
He watched Clem's whip. but It never
moved. He settled into the saddle and
rode blindly. His horse must catch UP
or he would kill him. He was gaining.
A moment more at the same pace and he
could reach Clem's reins below her horses
neck Then Glenn swerved again into n
half.hidden wood road and Alan's horse
plunged through the brush, broke out, and
followed poor second.
Alan's face and hands were badly
scratched, but he rode on doggedly. 1t
never occurred to him to give up the
chase. In the end he would catch up;
he knew that, but what puzzled him was
what he should do to Clem when he
caught her. Any one else, man or woman.
he would give n taste of their own riding
whip for their own good. but not Glen.
Alan suddenly knew that there was some.
thing in Glenn that man could not break.
The wood road made gradual ascent
that the willing horses took at steady,
hard gallop. They left the tree line of the
valley below them, scurried across an
ancient clearing, pushed through brush
and branches and burst out on to the
long, bald back of East Mountain. Then
came another clear run over crisp sod,
dangerously interspersed with wet, slip
perry stones and hindering boulders.
At the highest point in all the country
side Glenn suddenly drew rein and slipped
from her horse before Alan could reach
her. She stood with one arm across the
saddle.horn and waited for him
CONTINUED TOMORROW.