New Britain herald., 1923-02-20

NiohNhAeA fFom hlf Last issuel
 hfahiia, "she cried, amy riding
 skirt Quick"
 To another woman she fiung $
 word, "A Ese-i.ightning-"
 Hut Lightning stood little wa,
 snaft, done and dropping, Ever,
 ounce there was in him he had given
 lis master in that las tgreat ride.
 Then Red" Hut Redelond, too
 was beyond her reach, There was
 nothing left in the corrais of all the
 matehless racers. nothing 10 serve her
 in her need.
 Then did Val Hannan lose for a
 moment her faith and her sanity and
 all the good courage that had stood
 by her in these awful days.
 Conc" she screamed. 'all gone, He rides the best horse in the range land-and ! have none. Death will catch him first"
 She flung her arms 10 the lighted skies and her face had lost it's beauty II was pinehed and drawn. the lips eurled from the teeth.
 "oh. Redstar' Redstar' II just lad you."
 And half unconscious of what she did, her very reason whirling. she eupped her hands and sent pealyng out upon tho silence the piercing whistle Of the two notes. one rising one falling, that had been wont 10 bring the racer 10 her in the old days. Far and by it carried in the stiffness. far out along the levels, like a clarion call for help.
 And hark What was that. faint and fine in the distance, that an- swered it's echo? The ringing call of a horse--a running horse-that shook with speed and rhythm! The shrill high challenge of-nay. it could not be the king! Yet the girls heart stopped 10 listen.
 Again she called--and again it oame-that keen, high neighing.
 Lord God in Heaven." said Val Hannon.
 She held her breath. Along the plain there came sound-a sound for which, all these weary months. she had waited with faith that | could not die--the long-roll of the | great kings feet, like which there was none other.
 For Redstar, the king, came back to Paradise! Cane in strength and Joy. like winds and waters flowing, leaving behind him the walled-in glade. the slipping miles. and five astonished watchers at the pass who had seen riderless horse shoot by them like a rocket!
 The girl at the patio's edge leaned. forward, strainng her eyes to the lighted levels. Up along the open way he came, marvellous sight, Level as bolt, running like the wind, his sounding feet blur beneath shim. the great cloud of his mane flowing back upon his shoulders, his long tail the king-the king.- came home to Paradise!
 Val Hannon flung herself upon him clung to his hieh-arched neck, pant ing with the emotions of the hour which were almost too deep to bear.
 And Redstar stretched his eager nose and smelled her over from head 10 foot. sniffed at her hair, nibbled her arm, her shoulder and her lut- .ering hands. He was home again after weary exile---and this was his beloved! His beloved by sight and he truer proof of scent, and he was beside himself with joy The whin- tying continued in his throat. he tepped and pushed and nudged the girl who cung against his breast.
 And then Fanita came running with a riding skirt-old Juana was ragging the saddle from Lightning's 'ack.
 Quick" panted Val, "a bridle, oo"'
 1t had been long, long since the ,edstar had borne either, but he teadied at the familiar process, topped his excited whinnying.
 And once again the Pride of Para ise flung out from it's shadowed atio. Once again Val felt the ,ighty shoulders beneath her knees, le great mane blowing in her face! had come true, the dim. instinc ve prophecy that had bidden her ait with patience.
 It had come true-and in the hour her greatest need-the time of her ire distress The King was under her last. Redstar, the mighty. With the first tears yelling to her ching eyes she leaned down and ached her caressing hands along his eek.
 sweetheart" she sobbed. "Oh, reetheart. You've got the thing l I have never asked you for the vastest speed in the rangeland. ask you for it now. Run-Redstar! run. For a mans life And she shook the rein above him, osened her whole young body in the idle, slouched forward along his