The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-05-27


whats your name"
Bryce's hand hestated. Bryce
Cardigan" he answered gruffly.
"Fm Shirley Sumner" she ventured.
Let's be friends"
"When did you come to live In
Sequoia2" he demanded.
81 don't live here. I'm Just visiting
here with my aunt and uncle. We're
staying at the hotel. and there's no
body to play with. My uncle's name
is Pennington. Sos my aunt's. He's
out here buying timber, and we live
In Michigan"
Der gaze wandered past Bryce to
where his Indian pony stood with her
head out Of the window Of her box
stall contemplating her master.
"Oh, what dear little horse!"
Shirley Sumner exclaimed. "whose
is he?"
"Tain't he. It's a she. And
she belongs TO me-"
do you ride herr"
mot very often now. Tn getting
too heavy for her. so Dads bought me
a horse that weighs nine hundred
pounds. Midget only weighs five
hundred" He considered her a mo-
ment while she gazed in awe upon
this man with two horses. "Can you
ride a pony?" he asked. for no reason
that he was aware of.
She sighed, shaking her head re-
signedly. 1--WE haven't any room TO
keep a pony at our house in Detroit"
she explained, and added hopefully:
"But I'd love to ride Midget. sup
pose could learn to ride If somebody
taught me how"
He looked at her again. At that
period of his life he was inclined to
regard girls as necessary evil. For
some immutable reason they existed.
and perforce must be borne with, and
Il was his hope that he would get
through life and see as little as possi-
BILE of the exasperating sex. Never
theless, as Bryce surveyed this win
some miss through the pallngs, he was
sensible of a sneaking desire to find
favor In her eyes-also equally sensi-
BILE of the fact that the path TO that
desirable end lay between himself and
Midget.
"weh, suppose If you want ride
I'll have to give II to you.' he grum-
bled, although I'm pretty busy this
morning."
"Oh, think you're so nice" she de-
clared.
A thrill shot through him that was
akin TO pain; with difficulty did he
restrain an impulse TO dash wildly
into the stable and saddle Midget in
furious haste. Instead he walked TO
the barn slowly and with extreme
dignity. When he reappeared. he was
| leading Midget, little silverpoint
runt of Klamath Indian pony. and
Moses, a sturdy pinto cayuse from the
cattle ranges over In Trinity county.
an have TO ride with you" he an-
nounced. Cant let tenderfoot like
you go out alone on Midget"
All aflutter with delightful antici-
patton, the young lady climbed up on
the gate and scrambled into the saddle
when Bryce swung the pony broadside
to the gate. Two hours of his valua-
able time did he give that morning
before the call of duty brought him
back to the house and his neglected
crop of carrots. When he suggested
tactfully, however that II was now
necessary that his guest and Midget
separate, difficulty arose. Shirley
Sumner refused point blank to leave
the premises. She liked Bryce for his
hair and because he had been so kind
to her; she was stranger In Sequoia
and now that she had found an agree
able companion, II was far from her
intention TO desert him.
So Miss Sumner stayed and helped
Bryce weed his carrots, and since as
a voluntary laborer she was at least
worth her board. at noon Bryce
brought her in 10 Mrs. Tully with q
request for luncheon. When he went
TO the mill to carry In the kindline
for the cook, the young lady returned
rather sorrowfully to the Hote
Sequola, with fervent promise TO SEE
him the next day. She did, and Bryce
took her for long ride up into the
Valley of the Giants and showed hei
his mothers grave. They put som'
flowers on the grave, and when they
returned 10 town and Bryce was un
saddling the ponies, Shirley drew
Midget's nose down to her and kissed
1t. Then she commenced TO weeI
rather violently.
"What are you crying about 2
Bryce demanded. Girls were so hare
to understand.
I'm go-going h-h-h-home tomorrow.
she howled.
He was stricken with dismay ant
bade her desist from her vain repin
ings. But her heart was broken, ant
somehow-Bryce appeared to act auto
matically--he had his arm aroun,
her. "Don1 cry. Shirley" he pleaded
"It breaks my heart 10 see you cry
Do you want Midgetf I'll give her t.
yOu"