Meade County news., 1917-04-26
BY
Robert Ames Bennet

Hardy perceived in flash why he
had seen neither the girl nor her fa-
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 at a
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 it
at a slow trot. At the top was a fair
ly level stretch of trail. Vandervyn
was far ahead. Hardy put the mare
into fast gallop. A few minutes
brought her up so close behind the lOp-
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 lope.
A steep ridge made break in the
game. The pinto crossed it at a jog
trot. The mare had to walk. Beyond
was long stretch of broken country
that favored the pinto. He could jog
over ground that held the mare to
walk, and canter where she could no
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 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
impatience that betrayed itself in his
flashing eyes would inevitably have
lost him the race by overstraining 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,
Vandervyn was again far ahead. But
Hardy had his reward for his restraint
in the resilient stride Of the mare as
she swung into full gallop. Up and
down the long, easy slopes, around
curving mountainside, and along the
level bench of a 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 a sharp
bend only few hundred yards behind
the pinto. Vandervyn, 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 long-legged. thoroughbred, still
running as smoothly as clockwork,
continued to gain. Vandervyn began
to swing his spurs.
The pinto; started to pull ahead.
Hardy held the mare to the same
speed as before. 1t was speed that
he knew she could maintain for miles.
He 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-slashing could not
sting the failing beast to greater ex-
ertions. He was blowing hard; his
rough coat was lathered with sweat.
He began to lose.
At last the trail made 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 Vandervyns
heels. The pitch of the mountain was
too precipitous 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
with an insolent sneer. go on and
pass, if you're in a hurry. You've
got all outdoors to do it In. 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 smoothed out in another
easy stretch. For this he had been
holding the mare in hand. He started
at 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, mocking
smile. He pulled in his staggering
pony to walk the moment Hardy
swung into the trail ahead.
At once Hardy Neased down the mare