The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-10

care. | was interested in your Shake
speare at first and then-well, ii was
too late. am uncle's ward, you
know, and he would never give his
consent
More than once Jimmie was tempt
ed to tell her who he was and so
smooth the way, bat he was a born
fighter and he wanted to win on his
own merits and not on the strength
OF his fathers name, so he gritted his
teeth and wondered how long it would
be before opportunity came
One morning the wrangler had sent
him out to bring in some horses from
the herd and long before the sun had
risen he had started out with string
of mounts to be turned into the herd
and fresh horses cut out.
AS he logged along he droned over
bits of his favorite plays and sought
to plan some coup whereby he might
win Grace's consent to his speaking
to her uncle. He was well toward
the mouth of the gulch when there
came the thunder of hoof beats and
the herd dashed out There was q
commotion among the horses of his
string and In an instant Jimmie
guessed the cause.
1t was the famous Black Devil herd
OF wild horses, taking It's name from
the coal black stallion that led the
band. They had made a descent up
on the Blazing H herd, stampeded
the bunch and added them to their
numbers. Jimmie cut his string loose
and turned tail. His own mount was
fairly fresh, but he could not hope to
ride around the herd On the other
hand he could drift with them and
gradually work his horse to the rear.
II would be hard fight to pull out
from the bunch, but he believed that
he could hold his pony
The quirt fell across her TANKS and
the race was on. There were more
than hundred horses In the band,
most of which had been stampeded by
the half dozen belonging to the orig
inal bunch. According to tradition,
they had been cavalry mounts In an
Indian battle and had escaped during
massacre. Fleeing to the hills they
had evaded recapture by the Indians
and had reverted to their primal In
stincts, augmenting their numbers as
opportunity offered
To seek to ride through the herd
would be suicide, and mindful of his
old hunting days Jimmie lifted his
horse along. He wanted to be free Of
the gulch before the band caught up
with him.
AS they swung round the mouth OF
the gulch he was several hundred
yards in advance. He gave a glance
forward and his heart stood still, for
right ahead was gray-habited figure
upon the big roam. If the band ever
caught Grace's horse she would prob
ably be trampled to death.
Plying whip and spur he forced his
pony toward her and she, in her ter
ror, came galloping toward him. Her
horse had long since become unman-
ageable and as they met 1t was all he
could do to turn the roans head to
keep pace with his pony
IT'S all right" he shouted above
the thunder of the hoofs Keep your
head. Don't be afraid"
She smiled bravely at him, but at
that moment the herd caught them.
the stallion sweeping past, and the
faster of the horses streaming on
either side. Jimmie longed to take a
shot at the stallion. but with Grace to
look after he dared not BY keeping
2 firm hand on her mounts bride he
kept beside her, but her horse was
fresher than his own and it became
apparent that soon he must be out
distanced They We're in the center
of the bunch now and were slowly
falling back
Kick your stirrup," he shouted. Il
am going to take you over here"
Slowly she slipped her feet from
the stirrups and nodded to him She
could not trust her voice. Even his
clear. ringing tones seemed faint and
far away
and, as he released the roan's bride
and the horse shot forward, he caught
her by the waist and swung her to
his saddle.
Doubly weighted his pony dropped
back rapidly and presently they were
clear of the herd. There was a sharp
fight for mastery, but Jimmie won
and presently the little pony was can
tering slowly at right angles to the
herd, now rapidly disappearing in the
distance
Jimmie smiled down into the girls
face.
Il guess it's all over he cried
cheerfully, but you'll have to get an
other saddle horse"
Wasn't 1t awful?" she shuddered
Il thought we should both be killed"
Jimmie she said softly.
You may speak to uncle if you
want to. If he says no. I'm going to
marry you anyway"
You don't have to marry me be-
cause helped you out of scrape,"
he protested wistfully,
ITS not because you saved my
life" she protested. It's because YOU
are so strong and brave-and lovable
tnd she stopped and kissed the tanned
face
Conveying II light by Glass Rods.