Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-01-02
One Giant Was
in the Way
By cLARIssA MAcKIE

THEY stood by the gate to the cor
raj. It was Jim Marsh's ranch.
and Linda had always wanted to
visit It.
IF you are to make your home here,
Linda. want you to understand that
ranch life will be very different from
the life you have always led In the
East" said Mrs. McCray. "a woman
can be happy with any good man If
she loves him. no matter where they
live-so think this is a splendid
test" taaI-
"As If needed test. mother" re-
preached Linda. but the girl under
stood. perhaps. the hidden reference to
her own wilfulness. a1a
1T is adorable. JIM" said the girl
softly. leaning her elbows on the cor
raj gate.
he nodded. Its perfect, dearest
only one giant in the way Of your be-
ing perfectly happy here"
She turned to seek his blue eyes.
you are the only giant hereabouts,
my Jim You are not in the way !"
she laughed.
He smiled down at her. "You are
the giant. love-" he said.
"Jiml"
He wagged his head. 1.-THE giant
within your small body. Lindal When
told you about the danger of riding
Zero-who Is not well broken-you de-
liberately rode him over to Ore Creek"
The girls eyes were flashing dan
gerously II rode him. JIM" she said
with quiet triumph. HE was like .
lamb with me-"
George Finch rode him last week
just before you came. George is a
seasoned rider. been at 1t twenty years
"a broncho buster If there ever was
one. taken dozens of prizes at rodeos
you know what happened to
George"
Linda smiled. "was thrown and
broke limb, suppose-perhaps ~
ing in hospital. Poor George"
"Yes-poor George. He is lying
over there under the oak trees-Zero
killed him viciously."
She grew very white and he caught
at her hand. but she snatched 1t away
with rebellious little frown.
Linda tried to keep back the re-
bellioms tears. She dearly loved a
horse and had ridden all her life In
the East. She was excited by the
thought of finally subduing the mighty
Zero, who had killed man and would
probably be sent back to his wild
plains very soon II he continued to
fight. N
81 will ride him once more-and
then will give in to Jim's wishes"
she thought. She looked very lovely
in her riding breaches and soft cotton
shirt
Zero was standing in the corral. now
and then tossing his head with that
fierce restless movement that stirred
the girls Imagination. "An Arab
steed." she murmured. thinking how
Zero would love to fly across the hills.
free as the air he breathed. wait
awhile. my Zero. they will send you
home some day." she said softly.
Then. to her establishment. Zero turned
his head and galloped up to her with
little nlcker of greeting.
That was too much for Linda. She
saw the saddle that some one had
left on ZerO's back. the reins dangled
loosely In a moment she had vaulted
into the saddle, bent and Embossed the
gate passed through and latched 1t,
and sailed over the nearest fence and
away over the hills.
Jim saw her form from a distant
hill shouted and ran for the corral,
his face white and set. Red Bill saw
her from the door of the messhouse
where he lounged. He yelled to his
companions. In three minutes a dozen
men were following Zero and his
young rider.
The ride was soon over Linda
found the jumping. humping mass of
steel and muscle beneath her difficult
to cling to- Suddenly she realized
that Zero meant to unseat her. to. kill
her II possible. She knew she had
been selfishly wrong In not listening
to Jim-how could he ever believe that
she loved him tenderly?
Suddenly Jim was riding beside her
on White Star, his own feet horse
He crowded close. trying to snatch
the girl from the mad Zero. Then
White Star stumbled and flung Jim
violently over his head in the path
Of Zero
Linda's face was like snow. Her
hand pulled at the revolver that she
wore strapped about her waist. Tug
ging al the reins. she tried to swing
Zero away from the place where Jim
lay. and with the other hand she held
the gun to that little place near ZerO's
ear Then she fred and promptly
tainted away.
When she opened her eyes they
we're taking her out of Zero's saddle.
The mad horse was dead but not be-
fore one OF his flying hOofs had
scarred .Jim's arm forever. Linda's
leg was broken.
That evening she and Jim sat side
by side In her room. Jim with his
arm In u sling. Linda. her leg SET In
plaster cast. sitting up In bed
Jimmy" said the girl wearIIy, my
giant Is slain killed when ! saw you
lying there In zero's path. VIII you
forgive me. OF do you want to break
our engagement
"You snved my life. dear. by your
courage and II you won't marry me-
4 shall never marry" Ills smile
brought the tears to her eyes.
at.... Il .,nur nfhor oera IL