New Britain herald., 1925-01-12
BEGIN HERE TODAY

NV" Ho oN VII" hhL oAonh
 The Captain. after catapulting past, swept around in short circle, sent after the flying Peter a tri- umphant neigh. and then brought up before Joan.
 Joan, looking up at the giant ani- nal, laughed joyously. It was more beautiful than a dream to her. He had followed her through the night as a dog might have followed. and now he let her take him by the mane and lead him after the panicky | Peter.
 For wonder stood Peter on a swale of sand, neighing his dread which drew him one way and his love of his mistress which urged him in the opposite direction. So she halted Captain, then ran on to Peter.
 When she had theHreins of the gelding again, looking back with speeches. anxiety, she saw that the Captain had not left the spot where she had stationed him. He was watching her with high head, and Joan knew now that she could never abandon him.
 With fingers trembling with her haste, she tore the saddle from Peter and then his bridle. Then, with a wave of her hand, she sent him on his way.
 Dragging the trappings with her, she went back to the Captain. Un- der his head she dropped them in pile and let him investigate. He was not at all pleased, it was plain | to see.
 First he sniffed at the saddle and bridle, rank with the sweat of Peter. He even paved at them dis dainfully. tumbllng them over and over in the sand. Then he went to Joan and, swinging around behind her, he looked down over her shoulder at the gear she had brought.
 What would happen when she attempted to put that saddle on his back? She was agreeably surprised. He did not stir when she lifted it high to swing it up to his withers.
 And, although he swung his head around to watch the proceedings, he did not object when she drew up the cinches. They had to be 1 heightened, of course, for having been set. for the deerlike body of Peter, they could not encompass the ample girth of the Captain. It was done, at last, and the head strap of the bridle having been heightened, it was fitted to the head of the stallion. And so, finally, her foot was in the stirrup and she drew herself up to her place.
 It was the crucial test. But the Captain made not the slightest trouble about it. He only twisted his head around until he had sniffed at her foot in the stirrup. Then, as she loosed the reins, he strengthened away at a flying gallop.
 She made no attempt 10 guide him. But when they came to a [ stretch where the footing was firm, she sent him away at full speed with cry. And the speed increased steadily to such point that she began to gasp for breath and then drew back on the reins.
 Instantly he returned to his form CT pace, rocking along as before without effort, and with no wheez- ing or laboring for breath in spite of all his work. She swung him about and headed him for the ranch.
 There was an instant change in the manner of the stallion. He fell at once to jerky, high headed trot. and when she strove to urge him ahead faster, he shook his head | in very human denial and cut down his gait still further. Present ly he was walking, She struck him with the fiat of her hand on the flank, but at that he came to a halt, and twisting halfway around, he turned his head toward those western mountains which were his goal.
 So, with her heart hammering in her throat, she began to consider what she could do. She must leave him where he was if she hoped to get back to the ranch before the morning, and If she did not arrive there, poor Buck Daniels would go half mad with anxiety.
 A tinkling dissonance began to fall toward her from the sky. She raised her head and looked ul. There was nothing 10 be seenJ but now the crying grew stronger and stronger as some unseen wedge Of wild geese flowed north through thf upper darkness.
 The thought Of Buck Daniels grew dim in her mind. Still watch ing the stars above her, she be- came aware that the stallion was in motion again, that he was turn ing, that he was heading north again at trot and then at d can ter and then at the mile devouring gallop. But she had no power 10 resist.
 CHAPTER XII
 "You Ain't No Killer!"
 Three times the pursuers came gain upon the trail of Harry Clos. ter. And then they lost it, but not until the sheriffs of four counties, with their posses, had taken their ding at him, singly and united.