Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-10

spread, his chin down and his thoughts to him
self (the dumbhead), he was looking at Blue
Murder, staring at the other dumbhead, which,
raised high on the motionless column of the
stations neck, seemed hearkening with an
exiIe's doubt to the sounds of this new universe.
tasting with wide noStrils the faint in the wind
of equine strangers and studying with eyes
accustomed to far horizons these dark pastures
that went up in the air.
Whatever the smiths cogitations, presently he
let the hammer down and said aloud. $50 you're
him, eh?"
I'M had put Blossom aside, saying Got sup
per ready? I'm hungry!" Excited by the
act of kissing and the sense of witnesses to 1t,
she fused her hair and started kitchenward
as he turned to his brothers.
We'll, what do you make Of him?"
Five hundred dollars" said Frank. "How-
ever, it's your money"
Camden was shorter. Better put him in"
"A1 right; let them bars down while and
Frank lead him around"
mo. thanks!" The storekeeper kept his
hands in his pockets. II just cleaned up,
thanks. Cams the boy for horses"
Hes none o. my horses!" Camden wet his
lips, shook his shoulders and scowled
Unless Frank put in slyly, unless Cams
scared"
"Scared?" And still, to the brothers en-
during wonder, the big dense fellow would rise
to that boyhood bait. Scared? I'm not
scared Of any horse ever wore shoot Come
on, III show you'll"
We'll, be gentle with him, boys; he may
be brittle" AS Frank sauntered of around
the shed he whistled the latest tune.
In the warmth and light of the kitchen
he began to fool with his pretty sister-in-law.
feigning princely impotence and growing with
wink at the assembled neighbors, when
do we eat?"
But she protested, Land, had everything
ready since five, amt I? And now, II it amt
you, it's them to wait for"
AT last one Of the gosSips got in word.
what you make Of Jims purchase, Frank?"
well, it's Jims money, Dared. If had
the running of this farm" Frank began
drawing up chairs noisily, leaving it at that.
Dared persisted Don't look to me much
like an animal for women and children to
handle, not yet awhile"
Blossom put the kettle back, protesting
Leave of, or you'll get me worried to death;
all your talk {. declare, where are those
bad boys?" Opening the door, she called into
the dark, Jim! Can't"
Subdued by distance and the intervening
sheds, she could hear them at their business
sounds muffled and fragmentary, soft thunder
of hOofs, snorts puffngs, and the short words
Of men in action: Jaw, leave him be in the
paddock tonight" Come on, don't be so
scared" Scared, eh?"
Why was 1t she always felt that curious tight
ening Of all her powers Of attention when
Camden spoke? Probably because he spoke so
rarely, and then so roughly, as If his own
thickness made him mad. Never mind.
Last call for supper in the dining car boysl"
she called, and closed the door. Turning back
to the stove, she was about to replace the
tea water for the third time when, Strengthening
up, she said, whats that?"
No one else had heard anything. They looked
at one another.
Prank go-go see what-go tell the boys to
come in"
Frank hesitated, feeling foolish, then went
to the door.
Then every one in the room was out of his
chair.
There were three sounds. The first was hui
man and incoherent. The second was incoher-
ent, too, but it wasn't human. The third was
crash, a ripping and splintering of wood.
When they got to the paddock they found
Of the fence, where gap was opened on the
pasture side. He must have received blow on
the head, for he seemed dazed. He didn't seem
to know they were there. At precarious bal
ance-one hand at the back of his neck-he
stood facing up the HILL gaping after the de
minuendo Of houndering hoofs, invisible above
GO seconds passed. Again the beast gave
tongue, q high wild note, and on the black
of the snowy hill to the right Of 1t faint
shower of sparks blew like flreflies where the
herding wares wheeled. It seemed to awaken
the dazed smith He opened his mouth, AL