New Britain herald., 1924-07-31
CHAPTER 1, Game Hut Nervous

dcrstood the meaning Of it.
 "f expect he's got himself a
 chafed up,"' he unused. But he
 put it on his nerves; see If he don
 Nothin' ever happens to him regu
 lar and natural, except maybe swear
 in"
 The riders were out upon a gree
 level. and the piebald horse hrok
 into an easy lope. The sorrel fol
 lowed. then checked and settled dow
 10 restless walk. The girl in iron
 turned in her saddle, glanced back
 ward, brought her mount 10 a sto
 and waited, When the sorrel ha,
 come abreast the two horses wake,
 again in the direction Of the ranch
 Dad Morgan grinned, shifted hi
 position against the fence and bega,
 filling his pipe.
 He was smoking lazily when tn, riders came to a pause at the cora gate. The girl swung off with al
 easy sweep and waved a gauntletet hand.
 Hello, Dad"
 "Howdy, Sally Howdy, Wreck 2
 The man on the sorrel made nd answer. for he was engaged in a task With both hands gripping the pom mel, he raised himself in the stir rups, frightened his lips. and scowled Then, very slowly, he fattened him. self forward until the pommel bur rowed into the pit of his stomach and his arms gripped the sorrel's neck in tense embrace. Then he slid crab wise to the ground. He stood there for several seconds, looking at his legs, which had retained the posture necessary to enclose the barrel of a horse. Slowly he strengthened them, one after the other There was a groan in his look, but he did not give it speech.
 He turned a savage and challenging eye in the direction of Dad Morgan
 I'm f1ne," he said.
 "fou're lookin' real we'll" observed Dad. Had an idea you might of got lamed up some, but can't say as l see any signs of it."
 The rider of the sorrel stumped stiffly forward half dozen steps
 "Who--me? Lame" What would get lame forc"
 Come to think of it. Wreck. I'm turned if know, I reckon anybody who can set on a fivver for fifteen hundred miles. maybe sixteen hum 1red, is kind of acclimated. Anyhow, the sheriff says--'
 Dad Morgan broke off at slight put peremptory gesture from the girl, Hho had opened the corral gate and vas accelerating the piebald horse through it with gentle flick of her luirt.
 She was a free, loose-limbed girl, | brown in the cheeks and neck, clear | nd serene of eye--a girl Of the open | paces and the rolling range. The vide calm of the big country some low found its expression in Sally iorgan. But the look that went f1th the gesture, while 1t never broke he calm, checked Dad as surely as hough 1t had been an order from Ia herself.
 The rider of the sorrel watched his lount follow the piebald into the orral, then strengthened his shou- CTS, set his teeth and stepped off risky in the direction of the house, [e stumbled once, pulled himself to- ether with a vince and hastened his .ep. Dad watched him until his gure disappeared through the door ay.
 Now, I'm wonderin' which erves--"
 Sally stopped him again. Let i'm alone, Dad, He's game. any ow."
 '1 aint sayin' anything he can ear, Sally. I'm just wonderin' which erves is responsible. We ain't all , wed to lay 1t on the sorrel, or on les saddle. or on any of the failin's human flesh. It's got to be nerves < . nothin'." Well, don't plague him about il. 7
 he wants to blame it on his nerves, I hy should we care, And I don't , link he likes to have you call him , Freck.'" Dad viewed his daughter with A ance of surprise. . He ain't ever said so," he re- a arked. i. And would you expect him to? $ e's a guest"
 Hes payin eight dollars a week I Ma. I aint sayin' we asked him & 1t. Ma didn't want to take noth- T . But when mans payin' he's a the rights of free and unlimited n aech. And if he don't like" Hes guest, just the same" re- u ated Sally. And so long as he 'ys here we're under an obligation treat him right"
 I'm treatin' him all right, sint Ia ere amt single thing about life these wild and irreverent parts vent told him, any time he asked . Why. all I been doin' the past weeks is easin' education into l." tally smiled. And I've picked up considera bIe ut nerves, which sort Of makes it even split" added Dad. He don't Id my callin' him Wreck If he goin to squeal about it why id he lay claim to bein' such? i, ] heard him say it. I'm a nerv. / wreck he says. sort Of proud" Oh. well. don't rub 1t in. Dad" 1, A ..H