The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-11-22

Hardy perceived In "a flash why he
had seen neither the girl nor her IA
ther at the agency. Swiftly he wheeled
about to mount. Startled by the quick
action, Vandervyn spurred his pony,
and went down the steep descent ut u
gait far from easy on even a noun
tain.bred horses knees. Hardy fol-
lowed at a walk. The opposite rise
was gradual. He let the mare take IL
ut a slow trot. At the top was n fair
ly level stretch OF trnll. vandervyn
was far ahead. Hardy put the mare
into a fast gallop. A few minutes
brought her up so close behind the iop-
Ing pinto that vnndervyn spurred his
beast to s~printing speed. Hardy fol-
lowed at an easier yet swift pace that
again brought him near. as the pinto
%sluckened to a lope.
A steep ridge made n break In the
game. The pinto crossed 1t at a Jog
trot. The mare had to walk. Beyond
was a long stretch Of broken country
that favored the pinto. He could jog
over ground that held the mare to q
walk. and cnnter where she could no
more than trot. On such a trail he
was fully equal to travelling ut these
PAGES for twelve hours Mt a stretch, all
the time In the lead OF the mare. OF
this Hardy was as well 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 heartbreaking
trail. To have given way to the
impatlence hat betrayed itself In his
flashing eyes would inevitably have
lost him the ace by overstraining the
innre. He held himself grimly in hand.
and eased the going for his eager
mount with consummate horseman-
ship.
When they reached better ground,
Vandervyn was again far ahead. But
Hardy had his reward for his restraint
in the resilient stride OF the mare as
she swung into n full gallop. Up and
down the long, easy slopes, around a
curving mountainsidc, and along the
level bench of II stream bank, she held
to the cross-country racing pace that
rapidly rolled up mile after mile Of
the trail.
In less than half IN hour she
brought her rider around n sharp
bend only n few hundred yards behind
the pinto. Vandcryyn, ~over-contid,ut,
was jogging alon; the level when ia"
sound of the approaching hoofbeats
threw him into II half-punic. There
was still a long stretch of easy trail
ahead. He put his pony into Il gallop.
The lOng.lcggcd thoroughbred, still
running ms smoothly as clockwori,
continued to gain. Nandervyn began
to swing his spurs.
The pinto started TO pull ahead.
Hardy held the mare to the same
speed us before. II WAS II speed that
he knew she could maintain for miles.
lie could see that the pinto was being
forced To n killing paCe--a pace that
must strain II not break him before
they am to the lex rough ground.
on up the valley rushed the pursued,
now barely holding his own. The cruel
squirting and whip-slashing could not
sting The failing beast to greater cX-
c%rtions. He was blowing hard; his
lie began 10 lose.
At last the trail made q sharp turn,
AMI started to zigZrg 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 ut vandcrvyn's
heels. The pitch OF the mountain was
too precipltous for Hardy TO risk
passing on 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. "Allow me to
pass"
Vandervyn looked over his shoulder
pass, II you're In u hurry. You've
got all outdoors to do It In. II there's
not room enough, shoot me In the back
and take the trail. I'll not get out
OF II for you"
Hardy did not reply nor did he ut
tempt to force q passage. At last,
twelve miles from the goal of the
hcnrtbreaklng race. came the opportu.
nifty for which he had been waiting.
: The trail smoothed out In another
easy stretch. For this he had been
holding the mare In hand. He started
ut II canter, and gradually let her
/ strike into her long, swift gallop. Van
} dcrvyn saw them coming, and ut once
put spurs to his luokless pony. As
, before, Hardy held the mare down Ia
her best long distance speed. The
mare came up alongside the pinto and
forged ahead.
: Hardy eyed Vandervyn with utmost
!, wariness. Aud. 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, mocking
/. smile. lie pulled In his staggering
pony to q walk the moment Hardy
swung Into the trail ahead.
At nee Hardy eased down the mare