Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-19
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BY HAROLD TITUS.
Author Of ITO the Victor"
Copyright
The Frank A. Muhsey Company
The Frank A. Muhsey Company

Then ne ptil down his cue quite un.
assumingly. wiped his hands on his
handkerchief, and brushed chalk
mark from his vest.
Little Foot. you played badly;
you were on your game" he said, and
though his voice was stern almost to
the point OF reprimand, they saw that
his bearing was still kindly.
The Indian did not answer him.
Merely dropped his cue to the table
with a flip that sent it rolling across.
Then turned about, put his hands in
his pockets, and teetered on one foot,
confused. amazed, trying to appear at
ease and failing utterly.
He could not comprehend the situa-
ton.
Streak, his sorrel horse the posses
sion which made him enyied by all
men, was gone! The animal he had
raised and loved and cared for. while
he let all else 80 the way Of debAuch.
cry. had been taxen from him, and by
this man he had 80 derided!
Anger was gone; respect for the
doctors wondering. childish respect
bad taken its place; and Little Foot
was da2ed.
Then the voice Of Hardy again:
'Where is the horse, Little Foot?"
"Outside," he said in a flat, disin-
terested voice. The saddle and
bride are mine. I only bet the
horse"
ever well, let's so out"
And quietly, unassumingly, with
out glance for the others, Hardy
led the way through the crowd with
Little Foot, eyes on the floor. behind
him.
Those who had watched the games
were still silent, scanning every move.
overcome TO point Of wordlessness
by the breaking Of their idol, by the
surprise which this stranger from the
East held for them, and by the win.
ming OF the largest values that had
ever changed hands in the petty gam.
bling Of their hangout.
Good night, DR.. Hardy" said the
proprietor, fat, greasy individual, as
the outgoers gained the door. Come
back often"
Good night Hardy replied. with
I strange grind in his voice that
sounded for all the world like a re.
: buke.
The sorrel horse nickered as they
closed the door behind them and
stepped out into the moonlit, deserted
street. Hardy hesitsted on the thresh-
old, but the Indian kept on, walking
directly toward the horse with strides
that were a trifle hurried.
The doctor heard the boy speak to
the animal and heard the horse whim.
per softly, gladly under his breath;
then, instead Of walking on and fol-
lowing Little Foot to the sorrels side.
be stood and watched.
Thc, Usage boy stopped and leaned
against the post to which the horse
was tied. hands In pockets, shoulders
hunched as though the chill of the
night struck TO The marrow OF his
bones and made him shrink within
himself. The animal, with ears stiffly
forward edged toward him. holding
w front foot and paving the air
eagerly. for all the world as though he
Mutely entreated the man to stand
nearer.
For a long moment Little Foot re-.
manned motionless, holding that
shrinking posture, face toward that Of
the great beast. Then he stepped clos.
er, taking both hands from his pockets
and reaching out TO lay them on the
sorrel's head; one covered the warm,
velvet nose and the other palm lay
against the flat cheek, while the horse
pushed gently against them as
though he would nuzxle his masters
body.
Gutturals came next az the boy
talked to the horse in his own
tongue, softly, crooningly. as though
he had forgotten that another was
there to look. The talk flowed faster,
with the horse making stronger more
: determined efforts to crowd close
upon the man; the voice lifted higher.
and Little Foot was forced to shift his
footing to maintain balance before the
crowding OF the beast.
Then, with an impatient switching
OF the heavy tail, quiet steps with the
hind feet, the horse swung about and
showed mighty shoulder hard
against the body Of the Usage. while
Little Foot, throwing both arms about
the animals head. ended his chatter
with = line Of Indian song which gave