Evening star., 1923-03-05

tribute to her finesse and her power.
"Oh, thanks" she said with a gay
laugh. "Of course 1 knew that you
weren't really frightened
Sangree didn't reply and merely stood
awkwardly, his fingers twiddling at the
seams OF his trousers, while the stable
man put the saddles on the horses. This
seemed rather a difficult task, produc-
tive of unpleasant and sinister motions
from the mare. Centipede. which was
to be. as he now understood, the animal
allotted to him. From time to time he
saw the eye of the stableboy glance
askance in his direction, but Miss
Cherry Mohun, occupied with the too
adorable Bramble, already seemed to
have forgotten him.
heard the groom say. "If the gentle
man."
'It's all right. Peter" she laughed
But you needn't say anything to Mr..
Robert. Just give me hand up, will
you?"
She was in the saddle with boyish
ease. Bramble prancing and curveting
gracefully around the stableyard, while
Centipede, awake to the opportunities
of the open spaces, struggled with the
active stableboy, who held her head
down and led her to the unwilling vic
tim.
But David Sangree was game" If
Cherry had counted on ridicule to
achieve her pleasure the ruse had been
entirely successful He mounted and got
his feet into the stirrups, when the boy
released the horses head. Cherry, on
Bramble. an amused twinkle in her
eyes. was already headed for the gate,
which Peter had run to open for her,
when Centipede, one of whose ancestors
some generations back had been bred
on the western range. began weaving
intricate poSterior circles, ending in a
seriss VI i,iay.a! hackjumps in the gen
i, xF "a
first of these buck-jumps lost Sangree
his right stirrup, the second one his
left, and the third sent him flying
over Centipede's head, so that he fell
rather heavily on one arm and Shoul-
der. and lay for a moment motionless.
came running.
The boy caught the horse and Peter
bent over the victim, who had now
struggled to a sitting posture and
was looking about him in bewilder-
ed way. His face had gone very
white, but he got to his feet, watch
ing the stable boy capture the refrac-
tory horse. This accomplished, he
was aware of Cherry Mohun's voice
somewhere in the air above him
You're not badly hurt, DR.. San
gree?" she asked.
Mono. Not at ALL" he replied.
"It-er-all happened rather - er-
suddenly"
Glancing up. he caught a glimpse of
the smile that hovered at the corners
of her lips and heard what seemed
like a sort of low gurgle in the tones
which she guiltily tried to make sym
pathetic. She was laughing at him,
openly, brazenly.
Il don't think he'd better be ridin'
the mare, MisS-'
Bring her here" Sangrees rasping
voice cut in. His face was winter
than ever, and Peter glanced at Miss
Mohun.
Give me hand up, please,
"Yes. Yes. I'll stick on now"
He got into the saddle somehow. but
his right arm hung awkwardly:
"Just use the Snaff1e unless she gets
to pulling, sir" said Peter dubiousiy.
"I don't intend that she shall get
away from me-" said David Sangree
as they went out of the gate into the
road, but whether he referred to Cen
lipede or to Miss Mohun no one Will
ever know, for at that moment Bran :
BILE shook his head and away they
went with a sudden noisy clatter and
a rattle of pebbles against the fence
rails After the first sprint Cherry
Mohun looked over her shoulder. The
professional antiquity" was stu up o
right not far behind her and his race
wore a rather CHASTITY smile.
Now somewhat reassured as to his
horsemanship, she let Bramble have
his head for a few hundred yards. re-
jofcing in the swift rush of keen air,
the joy of motion and the procurement
of her companion.
Perhaps some admiration for his
pluck in mounting after his fall had
caused her to keep Bramble in check
for the first few minutes. But she
couldn't forget that he had dared to
believe the very worst of her and TO
LET her see that he believed it. Google
ewes, She smiled exultantly over her
shoulder. He was still in the saddle.
close to Bramble's heels. His gaze
was straight before him along the
road and he was riding with loose
rein which speedily sent Centipede
into the lead. Fool He meant race.
She let Bramble have his head and
she lead the way
Both horses were breathing hard
now, for the road had a slight up
grade. But at. the top of the hill,
where prudence compelled her to pull
in, he passed her in full stride, down
a slight declivity, swaying back in his
saddle. but by some miracle, keeping
his seat.
She followed, rather alarmed at his
desperateness, for fall here at this
speed meant dangerous injury.
At the top of the next rise she
caught him at the crossroads, both
horses breathing heavily.
"Are you trying to kill yourself?"
she shouted.
He merely shook his head, and took
a new grip of the reins.
(Which way?" he grasped.
"Home-if you're bent on commit
ting suicide"
Lead on!" he muttered with a ges-
ture of his head.
But you let her get away from
YOU"
did 1? Weller" he grinned
pallidly. I'm still here"
Il don't want to see you kill your
self"
Don't you? ] thought you did"
You needn't be an idiot. Let's go
back"
NO" Without waiting for her re-
ply he dug his heels into the heaving
fanks of his horse and she followed
How he remained upright with such
a seat was a mystery. for he swayed
dangerously in his saddle and she
noticed for the first time that his
right arm hung motionless at his side
Fool! He had been hurt, too.
Ito be continued tOmorrOw.)