The state herald., 1919-11-21

0o600N6N0N0N0N 0N0N1N0N0N0N0S0
tact. and the boy rode back, muttering
and disappointed. He reasoned with
his horse as he rode:
"'Taln't no use, you OIL Slop-eye
fellow can't get the bead II he amt
got the fillln'-cooked meals an de
cent chuck. l could plug 'em six out
O. six-you know that. you OIL flop,
ears. Don't you argue about 1t, nei-
ther. When I'm right inside my belt
smash 'em six out o. six. but amt
right, an you know it. You don't
know nothIn' about 1t. You never had
father; leastways you never had to
be responsible for one. Well.
It's comm to finlsh-a D. lame
finish. you know that. You know"
But he had reloaded his revolver
and set up two more bottles. This
time he broke four and was better
pleased with himself. As he rode back
his soliloQuy was broken by strange
sound from beyond the belt Of trees.
The horse pricked up his e6s and
tiC ivy thC suuuic "
"Jumpin' crickets! What's lOose?' he
calculated. He knew every sound Of
the foothill country. but this was
strange to him. A kind of snort, a
sort OF hiss, mechanical in its regu-
larity, startling In Its strangeness, 1t
came across the valley with the un-
broken rhythm Of watch tick.
swell. l guess 1t won't eat u.s." he
ventured at last. "We'll just run 1t
down and perhaps poke hole In It."
So saying. he cantered along the road.
crossed the little stream, and swung
up the hill on the farther side.
He was half way up when turn In
the road brought him into sudden
sight OF the strange visitor. 1t was
the first he had seen. but he knew 1t
at once. for the fame of the automo-
bile, then in Its single-cylinder stage,
had already spread into the farthest
ranching country. The horse was less
well informed. He bucked and kicked
in rage and terror. But the boy was
conscious not so much of the horse as
of two bright eyes turned on him In
frank and surprised admiration.
"What horsemanshipi" she ex-
claimed. But the words had scarce
left her lips when they were followed
by cry OF alarm. For the car had
taken sudden turn from the rond
and plunged into growth Of young
poplars that fringed the hillside. II
half slid, half plowed its way into a
seml.vertical position among the young
trees. The two occupants were
thrown from their seat; the girl fell
clear but her father was less fortu-
nate.
In an instant the boy had flung him
self from his horse. dropping the reins
to the ground, and the animal. al
though snorting and shivering. had no
thought OF disgracing his training by
breaking his parole. With quick, un-
calmly strides the boy brought himself
to the upturned machine. 1t was Gu
rious that he should appear to such
disadvantage on his feet. In the
saddle he was grace personIfied.
For u moment he looked somewhat
stupidly upon the wreck. Had It been
n horse or n steer he would have
known the procedure. but this expert.
ence was new to his life. Besides
there were strangers here. lie Ind no
fear Of strangers when they wore
chaps and colored handkerchiefs. but
girl In brown sweater and an
oldish man with white collar were
creatures to be approached with eau
ton. The oldish man was lying on
the ground, with . leg pinned under
the car. md Brown Sweater raised
his head against her knee and pressed
his cheeks with small white fingers.
and looked at the boy with bright
gray eyes and said:
"Arcn't You going to do anythingf"
That brought him back. "Sure." he
said. springing to her side. "whada ye
want me 10 doi"
II am afraid my leg Is broken" said
the man, speaking calmly notwith.
standing his pain. "Can you get the
jack out OF the toolbox and raise the
cart"
The girl pointed TO the box, and In
moment he Ind the jack In his
hand. But II was new tool to him
and he fumbled with 1t stupidity. The
handle would not ut. and when II did
ut It operated the wrong way.
"oh. let me have It," she cried I'm.
patiently.
In n moment she had II set under
the frnme Of the cur and was plying
the handle up md down with rapid
strokes. The boy looked on. helpless
and mortified. He wns beginning "a
realize that there were more things
In the world than riding n horse and
shooting bottles. He felt n sudden
desire TO be Of great service. And
Just now he could be OF no servic,
whntcvcr.
But tho foot Of the jnck bcgnn ,t
sink In the soft earth. and tho gir
looked up helplcssly.
| "It Won't iIft ~ Z" ul,a sata att.h.i