Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1925-11-28
he Giant
eWay
SSA MACKIE


pad always wanted
Aftd lhe and Jim fell in
becameVengaged, it was ar
hat Linda and her mother
sit Buena Vista ranch.
bu are to make your home
shda, want you to understand
ranch life VIZ be very different
the life you nave always led in
East" said Mrs McCray. "A
nan can be happy with any good
If she loves him, no matter where
nve-so think this is a splendid
=
AS IL I needed a test, mother" re
ached Linda, but the girl under
pd, perhaps. the hidden reference
her own wilfullness.
It is adorable, Jim," said the girl
kly, leaning her elbows on the cor
gate.
he nodded ITS perfect, dearest
enc giant IN the way of your be-
perfectly happy here"
ne turned to seek his blue eyes.
<ou are the ooly giant here
6dfs, my J1mi You are not in the
vi" sAe laughed.
He smiled down at her. you are
GIANT. love-" he said.
sJ1mf"
He wa0ged his head. 1.-The giant
kl1in your small body, Linda! When
|tnid you about the danger Of riding
|ro is not weiI-broken-you de.
berateiy rode him over to Ore Greek"
/ The girls eyes were flashing dan
r0usly. II rode him. Jim." she said
|lfh quiet triumph. "He was like
|mb with me-"
~0eorge Finch rode him last week
|st before you came. You know what
hppened to GeorgeT
Linda smiled. "Was thrown and
Eoke a limb, I suppose perhaps ly-
lx in hospital. Poor George"
~Yes-poof George. He is lying over
here under the oak trees-Zero killed
Em yiciously."
She grew very white and he caught
{ her hand, but she snatched 1t away
nth rebellious little frown.
Il wanted you to know, sweetheart"
e said gently, and went away about
Is business for the day.
Linda tried to keep back the tears.
|es dearly loved horse and had rid
en- all her life in the East.
81 will ride Zero once more-and
hen will give in to Jim's wishes"
he thought. She looked very lovely
d her riding outfit.
Zero was standing in the corral, now
nd then tossing his head with that
srce restless movement that stirred
he girls Imagination. "An Arab
teed," she pVrmured, thinking how
'erc would love to fly across the hills,
rec as the air he breathed. "Wait
while, my Zero, they will send you
ONE some day." she said softly. Then,
D her astonishment, Zero turned his
cad and galloped up to her with a
title nicker Of greeting.
That was too much for Linda. She
aw the saddle that someone had left
a Zero's back. the reins dangled loose
:. In a moment the fearless girl had
1imbed the fence, vaulted into the
addle, bent and unloosed the gate,
lassed through and latched it, and
afled away over the hills.
Jim saw her from a distant hill,
Ihouted and ran for the corral, his
ace white and set. Red Bill saw her
rom the door Of the messhouse where
se lounged. He yelled to his COM
,anions. In three minutes dozen
nen were following Zero and his rider.
The ride was soon over Linda
ound the jumping, humping mass Of
teel and muscle beneath her difficult
o cling to- Suddenly she realized
hat Zero meant to unseat her. TO kill
Ter if possible. She knew she had
,een selfishly wrong in not listening
o Jm-how could he ever believe
hat she loved him tenderly? Her
Mothers heart would be broken, her
had been her fathers lit
lie chum-all these people would suf-
Ser more than she would. With her,
t would be just quick flashing mo-
nent, and then-death.
Suddenly Jim was riding beside her
10 White Star, his own feet horse. He
.rOwded close. trying to snatch the
gid from the mad Zero. Then White
Star stumbled and flung Jim over his
head in the path Of Zero.
Linda's face was like snow. Her
aand pulled at the revolver that she
wore strapped about her waist. Tug
ding at the reins, she tried to swing
Zero away from the place where Jim
az, and with the other hand she held
he gun to that little place near Zero's
ear. Then she fred and tainted away.
Uhov, cha 0ponQd hor avoa fhov ware