Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-04
THE EVENING STORY

drove off. She got half way to the
quarter turn before the big roam got
away, closely followed by the others.
Now it depended upon the horses.
The stranger saw that Mary was
not getting the speed out of the mare
she was capable of; in consequence
the roam was gaining rapidly on her.
AT the halfway mark the roam had cut
down her lead one-half and was still
coming.
Swinging into his saddle the
stranger dashed across the inside field
and raced along the fence beside
Mary.
Give her her head! Touch her up
Urge her with your voice and keep
close to the pole"
She gave the stranger a swift glance
as he hurled these directions at her.
then followed his advice. The mare
quickened her pace, but not enough
to hold her own. At the three
quarters turn the roam was but a
scant two lengths behind and coming
fast and sure. Mary heard the rapid
hoofbeats close behind and leaning
anxiOusly forward, she cried: ION! On,
Hazel you must win,''
Was it the desperate, eager appeal
of her young mistress or was 1t the
excitement of the race and victory
that inspired the mare? AS she turned
| into the home stretch she bounded
away like deer, increasing her speed
| at every stride. The roam ceased to
gain. Down the stretch they thun-
| dered, the roam still two lengths behind.
| They had covered half the distance
| between the three quarters turn and
home. with the others trailing close
| behind, when a cry of horror went up
from the crowd. A child of years or
so left to itself by careless mother,
! had wriSgled through the fence In
/ pursuit of toy balloon and toddling
a few feet out into the track. captured
! the balloon and calmly sat down in the
| dust to inspect it. The child was
directly in line with Mary. She saw
and realized at a glance that there
was only one thing to do, pull Hazel
! down and stop, thought it would cost
| her the race.
/ Before she could act she heard the
| strangers voice saying: Keep on; I'll
| take care of the child"
| There was flash of yellow in front
of her and the broncho took the low
| fence and dashed down the track at
| flying gallop. Just before he reached
the child the intrepid rider swung
| gracefully down from his saddle, hold
| ing on by one foot and hand and swept
up the child and rode on to safety amid
| the thunderous applause of the crowd.
| Mary rode under the wire a winner
| by length. AS he rode back to meet
her he smiled and said: 'Well, you
won. didn't you, 'leetle gal?'"
She swept him swift, startled
glance and modestly answered: Eyes,
| thanks to you, sir"
An amused smile lurked at the cor.
| ners of his mouth as he noticed her
| perpleXity and said: 1.-THE cowboy race
| is on next and 1 am in; will see you
| afterward."
As this real cowboy with his yellow
| mustang led the imitation cowboys
! around the track to victory the scroll
! of time rolled back and she visioned
| a sturdy, broad-shouldered lad, some
| II years her senior, who drew her to
| school on his sled, brought her big,
| rosy-cheeked apples and licked the
| boys who plagued her. Yes, she re-
| membered now, and how he grew up
with an overpowering desire to go
| West and be cowboy. And finally he
| did go and how desolate she had been
without her comrade, who always
| called her his 'leetle gall and how his
memory had been enthroned in her
| heart for 10 long years and this was
he, this big, tall, masterful cowboy.
| Her heart gave a great throb of joy as
| he rode up and dropped off the pony
/ at her side.
do you know who 1 am now?" he
| softly questioned.
Yes" she stammered. her eyes
dropped to the ground, while the warm
| blood crept up her rounded neck to
her face in pretty confusion. you
are Jimmie Lawrence"
Correct, leetle gall" he happily
exclaimed. "The same Jimmie who
went West to become a cowboy and
succeeded. Then he wanted to be
rancher. and acquire wealth. He also
succeeded in that. then''-and his
voice became low and tender-"he got
lonesome for the old home and a GER
tain brown-eyed girl. So he pulled up
stakes and came back to home and
you. 'leetle gall Are you glad?"
Shyly she raised her eyes to his
and tender love light in them was
his answer.
CThe End)
Copyright 1927