Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-02-02


was gradual. He let the mare take it
at slow trot. At the top was a fair
" level stretch of trail. Vandervyn
was far ahead. Hardy put the mare
into a fast gallop. A few Arinutes
brought her up SO close behind Tie l0p-
ing pinto that Vandervyn spurred his
beast to sprinting speed. Hardy fol-
lowed at an easier yet swift pace that
again brought him near, as the pinto
slackened to a lOpe.
steep ridge made q break in the
game. The pinto crossed it at Il Jog
trot. The mare had to walk. Beyond
was q long stretch Of broken country
that favored the pinto. He could Jog
over ground that held the mare to a
walk, and canter where she could 40
more than trot. On such a trail he
was fully equal to travelling at these
PAGES for twelve hours at stretch, all
/ the time in the lead Of the mare. Of.
this Hardy was as wen aware as was
Vandervyn.
Though he steadily lost ground, he
kept On in pursuit. coolly studying the
landmarks ahead and lifting" his
mare along over the heartbreaklnG
rail. 10 have given way TO The
Impotence that betrayed itself in his
flashing eyes would Inevitably have
| lost him the race by OyerStraining the
mare. He held himself grimly in hand,
and eased the going for his eager
mount with cOnsummate horseman-
| ship.
When they reached better ground,
Nandervyn was again far ahead. But
Hardy had his reward for his restraint
in the resilient stride Of the mare as
she swung into q full gallop. Up and
down the long, easy slopes, around a
curving mountainsi0a, and along the
| level bench of q stream bank, She held
to the crOss-cOuntry racing pace that
rapidly rolled up mile after mile Of
the trail
In less than half an hour she
brought her rider around sharp
| bend only few hundred yards behind
| the pinto. Yandervyn, over confident,
was jogging along the level when the
sound Of the approaching hoofbeats
threw him into half-panic. There
was still long stretch of easy trail
ahead. He put his pony into gallop.
The l0ng-legged thoroughbred, still
running as smoothly as clockW0rk,
continued to gain. Vandervyn began
to swing his spurs.
mir cts IN oh
Hardy held the mare to the same
speed as before. It was q speed that
he knew she could maintain for miles.
lie could see that the pinto was being
forced to killing pace--a pace that
must strain if not break him before
they came to the next rough ground.
On up the valley rushed the pursued,
now barely holding his own. The cruel
squirting and Whip-sIashing could not
sting the failing beast to greater ex-
ertiOns. lie was blowing hard his
rough coat was lathered with sweat.
He began to lose.
At last the trail made a sharp turn.
and started to ZigZag up the mountain
side. The pinto was staggering when
he reached the foot OF the ascent. The
quicker and longer stride of the mare
soon brought them up at Vandervyn's
heels. The pitch Of the mountain was
too precipitOus for Hardy to risk
passing OH the lower side Of the mar
row trail with the mare, and Van
dervyn kept the pinto close to the
upper side.
You have no right to block the
TRAIL" said Hardy. "All0W ne to
pass"
Vandervyn looked over his shoulder
with an ins0lent sheer. go on and
pass, if you're in q hurry. You've
got all outdoors to do it il. If there's
not room enough, shoot me in the back
and take the trail. I'll not get out
Of it for YOU
Hardy did not reply nor did he at
tempt to force passage. At last,
twelve miles from the goal of the
heartbreaking race came the opportu.
nifty for which he had been waiting.
The trail sm0Othed out in another
easy stretch. For this he had been
holding the mare in hand. He started
at a canter, and gradually let her
strike into her long, swift gallop. Van
derVyn saw them coming, and at once
put spurs to his luckless pony. As
before, Hardy held the mare down to
her best long-distance speed. The
mare came up alongside the pinto and
forged ahead.
Hardy eyed Vandervyn with utmost
WarineSs. And, as before, at the head
of the canyon of Sioux creek, Wander.
vyn turned in the saddle, and looked
full at him with a hateful, hooking
smile. He pulled in his staggering
pony to a walk the moment Hardy
swung into the trail ahead.
At once Hardy eased down the mare
to q trOt. Though he saw no third
pinto waiting in the thickets, his eyes
grew hard and cold with grim deter
mination. He was examining his rifle
when q turn of the trail suddenly CAV
him his first view of the broken topped |
mountain and the ridge-side where |
RQdhpIr had made The second atfnn,.,t |