The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-11-06
CHAPTER I-continued.

After breakfast Irene attended to
the wants Of her father, and by this
time the visiting doctor was manifest
ing Impotence to be away. But Dave
declared with prompt inaIity that the
horses must rest until after noon, and
the doctor, willy-nilly, spent the morn
Ang rambling in the foothills. Mean
while the girl busted herself with work
about the house, in which she was eff
1ecting a rapid transformation.
After the midday dinner Dave har-
messed the team for the journey to
town, but before leaving inquired of
Irene if there were any special pur-
chases. either personal or for the use
of the house, which she would recon-
amend. With some diff1dence she men,
toned one that was uppermost in her
fhOughts-sOap, both laundry and tot
let. Doctor Hardy had no hesitation
in calling for a box of his favorite
cigars and some new magazines, and
took occasion to press into the boys
hand bill out of all proportion to the
value of the supplies requested.
The day was Introductory to others
that were to follow. Dave returned
the next afternoon, riding his own
horse and heavily laden with cigars,
magazines and soap.
The following day 1t was decided
That the automobile, which since the
accident had laid upturned by the road
lway. should be brought to the ranch
buildings. Dave harnessed his team
and. instead of riding one of the horses.
walked behind, driving by the reins,
and accompanied by the girl, who had
proclaimed her ability to steer the car.
| With the aid of the team and Dawes
pariat the car was soon righted and was
found to be none the worse for its de-
Election from the beaten track. Irene
presided at the steering-wheel, watch
ing the road with great intentness and
turning the wheel too far on each oc-
fcaSfon, which gave to her course a
somewhat wavy or unduIating order,
such as is found in bread-knives; or
perhaps Il better figure would be to
Ecompare it to that rolling motion af-
Eected by fancy skaters. However, the
mean of her direction correspOnded
with the mean Of the trail and all went
merrily until the stream was ap-
preached. Here was a rather steep
descent and the car showed sudden
purpose to engage the horses in a con-
hest of speed. She determined to use
fhe foot-brake, a feat which was ac-
EcOmplished, under normal conditions,
by pressing one foot firmly against a
lcontraptiOn somewhere beneath the
steering post. She shot quick glance
downward and, to her alarm, discov-
teFed not one, but three, contraptions,
hn apparently designed to receive the
pressure of a foot-if one could reach
sthem-and as similar as the steps of a
stair. This involved a further hesita-
ltion, and in automobiling he who hest
hates invites a series of rapid expert
lenees. 1t was quite evident that the
fcar was running away. It was quite
Eevident that the horses were running
away. too. The situation as
stunned the qualities of a race, and
the only matter of grave doubt related
TO its termination.
Then they struck the water. 1t was
not more than two feet deep, but the
extra resistance it caused and the ex-
ira alarm it excited in the horses re-
suited in breaking the lariat. Dave
telung fast to his team and they were
soon brought to a standstill. Having
Dacified them, he tied them to a post
and returned to the stream. The car
sat in the middle; the girl had put her
fleet on the seat beside her, and the
swift water flowed by u few inches be-
Pow. She was laughing merrily when
Dave. very wet in parts, appeared on
the bank.
''Well. I'm not wet, except for lit
tile splashing," she said. land you are
Does anything occur to your"
Without reply he walked stolidly in
to the cold water, took her in his arms
and carried her ashore. The Iariat
was soon repaired and the car hauled
TO the ranch buildings without further
mishap.
Later in the day he said to her: Can
you ride?"
"Some," she answered. It have rid
den city horses. but don't know about
these ranch animals. But I would like
to try-if 1 had a saddl ~
81 have an extra saddle he said.
that way here"
oHc IldQ0 no dDSASr anu the SuD10ct
was dropped for the time. But the
next morning she saw Dave ride away,
beading a horse by his side. He did
not return until evening, but when ne
came the idle horse carried saddle
''It's strad-legger." he said when he
drew up beside Irene, "but it's a girls
couldn't find anythin' else in the whole
diggin's.'
SIN sure it will o-splendidly-if ]
can just stick on" she replied. But
another problem was already in her
mind. It apparently had not occurred
ITO Dave that women require special
clothing for riding, especially if it's q
''strad-legger." She opened her lips to
mention this, then closed them again
He had been TO enough trouble on heI
account. He had already spent whole
day securing the country for a saddle
She would manage some way.