The Washington times., 1929-02-11

Yes, sir, that would be more
pleasant, sir ("
Down the road ahead of them
they saw cloud of dust. Bar.
,low shaded his eyes with one
hand. and sQuinted. trying to
penetrate the thick masses Of
dust rolling toward them.
A horse is running away, sir!'
Yes. answered F'reckles ,lacon.
'ically. Il suspected as much.
I IF you will just pull up at
one side, sir, I'll stop it." sug.
gested Barlow.
/ "I'll do nothing of the kind.
I'll stop it myself. Damn this
idea everyone has that can't
do anythingr
As the runaway came closer,
they could see that the mount
was a girl. and that she had lost
control completely. and that other
riders were racing behind her,
vainly trying to catch her.
Freckles pulled over, swung
Lady Bird around, and as the
frightened animal came up be-
side him he touched Lady Bird
WIN HAS SRQISB anu hCUL pAGC
with the runaway. He glanced
at the rider, and saw that she
had proud, cold face--she would
resent any interference unless 1t
was absolutely necessary, so he
kept beside her until he saw that
her arms were relaxing. Then
he quickly fastened the reins to,
his saddle with specially made
device, and with his left hand
REACHED over and easily stopped
the racing horse.
The girl looked at him CRATE
fully but a bit haughtily. my
name is Kathleen Strathern," she
said. Thanks a Iot-Black Prince
is rather restless today" Her
Ehrewd eyes appraised Freckles
coolly; his broad shoulders. his
lean freckled face: his thick shock
of rebellious red hair; and Freckles
watching her. saw her eyes stop.
fascinated, and he knew she was
seeing his right arm, which ended
in. an empty sleeve, tucked care
fully into his coat pocket The
girl blinked her eyes and looked
again, as If she thought she must
be mistaken. Freekles noted all
this as he dexterously unfastened
his reins with his left hand.
1T was nothing at ell, Miss
Strathern.' BY this time the
others were riding up. and IN flle
confusion Freckles slipped away
II don't need to be EXHIBIT A
for the rest OF her friends, any
way. he said, sarcastically.
Barlow ignored the bitterness in
his voice He looked admiFinsIy
at the boy. THAT was great. cir
she might have been killed, sir"
"'OE, rllhbishl Don't you be
like all the others--trying TO make
hero out OF me over nothing.
That is just what any man would
have done. vet you didn't want
me to do it"
Il was afraid you would be
hurt. sir" !"
And YOU would be blamed for
mot taking care Of me- Well,
wasn't hurt. and IL / had been
would have gotten over ii like
any other man. Now one thing
more next time ] want to do
something, don't interfere, and
don't try to stop me.
Yes, sir very well. sir"
BY this time they had reached
home, and handing the reins to
the waiting groom, Freckles
stamped upstairs to his suite.
entered his library, slammed the
door with a resounding bang, and
flung himself into 4 huge chair
before the window. Chum. fol-
lowly dejectedly, laid his head
on F'reckles knee, and looked at
him reprovingly.
YES, Chum. I'm in about as a
rotten q temper as they're made"
But Chum did not mind He
tried to scramble. up on Freckles'
lap. but he was not built TO fit
lap-his long legs hung over
one side, and his head hung over
the other. Freckles edged over,
and pulled the lanky legs into
the chair beside him, while Chum
snisgled down and laid his head
confidently across Freckles' right
1.-THE arm that ended in the
empty sleeve.
You would do that, Chum, old
boy-you're the only one who
doesn't miss that hand. guess
you'd still love me il there was
nothing left of me but my
fieckles and red hair!'' Chum
cuddled closer. happy to see his
master in better mood; and
the mans face softened bit
~ MIS- hand strayed to the dogs
shaggy head.
You see. Chum, it's like this
Tn fired of hooks and hainc .d1I
Gated to he a tgentleman' I'm
sick. of dignified tutors. exclusive
clothes, stuffy houses filled with
handsome. uncomfortable furniture,