The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-11-30

You scared me. / never dreamed
Il didn't hear a thing until Well,
| locked up and there you were.
The sky was full OF you. Gee! Il
thought Id lost my mind. Arc YOU
quite sure you're all right
"O',, I'll be black and blue again,
but I'm used to that That's the
funniest one I've had. the very fun
NEST. Why don't you laugh?'
"l'n, too ratified. ! suppose. I'm
not accustomed TO flying girls. New
tr had then, rain down on nc out
of the heavens"
The girls face grew sober.
You're entirely to blame she
cried, angrily. Il was getting it
beautifully until you showed up.
You popped right out of the ground.
What are you doing in the Queens
Park. anyhow? You've no business
at the royal sports"
II didn't mean to trespass."
II think III call the guards"
Call the court physician and
make surc-"
:.Pshaw! Tn not hurt" Ignsr-
ing his extended hand, she sc.am-
bled to her feet and brushed herself
again. Evidently the quccnly anger
was short-livcd, for she was beam
ing again. and in a tone that was
boyishly intimate she explained:
I'D made three dandy jumps and
was going higher each time. but the
sight of you upset me. Think Of be-
ing upset BY a perfectly strange man.
Shows lAcl.ef social training, doesn't
it,: It's a'wonder didn't break
a skcc."
Pierce glanced apprehensively at
the bluff overhead. Hadn't VIC bet
ter move out of the way" he in
quired. "If the royal family COME.
dropping in, we'll be ironed ont like a
couple of handkerchief. I don't
want to feel the divine right OF the
king. or his left. either" ''
There isn't any king--nor any
royal family. I'm just the Queen
of Pretend"
"Hou'rc skce-jumping alonca Is
that what you mean
The girl nodded.
Isn't that dangerous way 70
anlusc yourself: thought sl,ccs
wc-e-tricky."
Have YOU ever ridden them" the
girl inquired, quickly.
Never"
you don't know wha. fun is.
Here" The speaker stopped and
detached her feet from the straps.
lust have go at it, Pierce pro-
tested. but she insisted in bust
ness-likc way. They're long ones
TOO long for me. THEY'LL lust xlit
you.
Really, ! don't care to"
oh yes. You do. You must"
You'll be sorry,' Pierce warned
her. When my feet glance of end
leave rlc sticking up in the snow tn
starvc, you'll Say! can think
OF a lot of things | want to do. but
don't seem to find skec-junping
on the list"
you needn't jump right away"
Determination was in tho girls tone;
there was a dancing light OF malice
in her eyes. "You can practise a
bit. Remember, you laughed at
nc"
Nothing OF the sort. j. was
amazed. not amused. | thought Nd
flushed very magnificent pheasant
with bluc-and-w',itc stripes, and /
was afraid it was going to fy away
before | got good look at it. Now,
then" lie slowly finished buck
ling the runners to bis feet and
| looked up interrogatively. What
are your Majcsty's ordcrs?"
walk around. Slide down the
hill"
"NVhat on:"
The girl snotI,crcd laugh and
waved him away. She looked on
while he set off with more or lcss
caution. When nc managed TO
maintain an upright position despite
tho antics of his skces her face ex-
pressed genuine disappointment.
Its not SO hard as | thought it
would be-" he soon announced, tri-
umphantly. "A little awkward at
first, but he cast an eye up at
the bank. "You never know what
you can do until you try"
You've been skceing before" she
accused him, rcproaehfulIy.
Never
Then YOU pick it up wonderfully.
Try a jump"
Her knocking invitation spurred
him to, make the effort, 50 he re-
no*cd the skees and wadcd a short
distance Up the Hill. When he had
secured his feet in position for a
second time he called down:
II m going to let 60 and trust to
Providence. Look out. "S
The same to you," she cried.
you're wonderful, but-flen tan do
ANYTHING, can't thcy!"
There was nothing graceful, moth
ing of the free abandon of the prac-
ti5ed skce-runncr in Picrcc's atti-
tude; he crouched apelike, with his
muscles set to maintain an cquilib-
rum, and this much he succeeded
in doihg-until he reached the jump
ing-of place. At that point, how
ever, gravity, which he had success
fully defed' ,wreakcd vengeance up
on him; it suddenly reached forth
and made him its .vindictive toy. He
paved. he fought, he appeared to be
climbing an invisible rope. With 1
mighty flop he landed Fat on his
back, uttering loud and dismAyed
grunt as his breath left him. When
he had dug himself out he found
that the girl. too, was brcathless:
She was rocking iii silent ecstasy,
she Rugged herself gleefu1ly, and
there, we're telrs IN her. eyes.
= "Iin-so- yorryi" she exclaimed,
in thin, small voice. did you-
ftp over sontfting?" ssss-
The young man sfinned. "Not at
all. I was afraid Of q sprained an
kle, so I hit on my head. We meet
on common ground, - It were"