Evening star., 1933-11-11

DeQQlGely, S0e WAS al unSct1oPSz. III
terlopers In the select circle wherein !,
these youths revolved were not to be |
borne, much less encouraged. Jen
Randall's wife. Who was she7" my |
dear, no one knows" "Bea says she |
was a stenographer or something Jen
picked I'D in an odd moment abroad.
Probably when he was tight. So he's
giving her the gate" How do you |
suppose she ever got to Green Springs?"
Some one must have left the gate |
open"
sue studied the toe Of her riding |
boot Riding boots. She thoughts Of
the mornings she had stopped at the
corner stand near her rooming house
for the shine on worn tan walking
shoes. On her way 10 the ONCE. On
her way to work. Good old honest
shoes. Good honest work. And she
had hated them. She had stood in
front of shop windows covetinE riding
boots. AS If riding boots were seven
league boots that would gallop her to
happiness. Seven-league boots were
good honest walking shoes that carried
you to good honest work. II ever she
stood In them again, she'd know.
Eyes at the other end of the verandA
turned, covertly, In her direction. They
were whispering about her. Sue moved,
uneasily.
GOOD morning, Mrs. Randall" sue
frightened viSibly. The young man who
addressed her was also in riding toes-
Glorious morning. isn't IT," Sue re
my brother Tommy by any chance?"
Just left him." the young man said
Hes gone on. I've seen born riders
in my time, but Tommy tops 'em all.
He asked me to tell you he'd wait for
you at the second cross trail II I'm
not intruding I'd like to ride along Not
feeling so f1t and the exercise win jog
me into shape again"
why yes If you ike" Sue
conscious Of the covert eyes. They
would see she was not entirely alone.
True, the young man seemed to be an
interloper himself Outside the pale.
Wen, why shouldn't interlopers get to-
gether and form their own exclusive
circle?
"rn ask the groom to saddle the
horses, the young man said, and dis
appeared around the corner Of the YER
anda.
At once Sue regretted having yielded
TO his evident anxiety to accompany
her. The young man was banning. Too
suave. Too good-looking. Too given to
turning up In unexpected places. And
yet-he had quite won over Tommy. u
was Tommy who had introduced him.
Sue, want you to meet my friend
Jack Burton" Tommy had said In his
grown mans voice. He was tust In
from long ride, damp. covered with
dust and proud over his record on the
trails. 81 was Just bouncing on the
leather In my saddle until Jack-Mr.
Burton-caught up with me and gave
me the seat. You break your ankles
this way, Sue"-Tommy squatted on the
inside Of his feet to illustrate the point
then your knees grip the horse and
you don't bounce Of"
Your brother win make fine rider
once he gets the rhythm" Jack Burton
said when the Introduction had been
acknowledged. "He has natural seat
and he has courage"
''It's nice OF you TO help him." sue
said.
That had been the beginning. sue
mentioned the meeting to Mathilda,
casually. The next day Jack Burton
caught up with sue and Tommy on the
trail. There was no disputing the fact
he was horseman par excellence. Con-
versation was confined to the happen
ings Of the trail. Tommy learned the
rhythm Of posting" and was in sew
enth heaven.
Why, Sue asked herself, did she have
the impulse to draw within herself. to
be rude to the point Of abrupt dis
missal to Jack Burton? Was It because
he seemed to be more or less Of q sofi-
tary IN this milieu Of select fraternity?
Then she was being q snob like the
others. Was It because she was gsis-
picious? Suspicious Of what7 Soon she
would be running from her own shadow.
''The horses are being saddled," Jack
Burton was back, smiling and I'M
nnaculate as always. 'sI've picked two
Of the best. The maitre d'hotei is put
ting up some sandwiches. Tommy will
be ready for them by the time we catch
up with him"
Sandwiches. Then there was to be
picnic, after all. Her picnic. Hers and
Tommy's. Sue Lit q cigarette she
didn't In the least want, licked 1t In
the direction Of the covert eyes at the
far end Of the veranda.
'I was thinking of new boots" she
said. These aren't bad after ALL" She
dexed her tees 80 that the sunshine
caught the polished leather.
Then she raised her eyes. That
strange feeling OF animus again. She
didn't like the survey Jack Burton made
Of her boots. Cynicism, under droop-
ing lids.
A groom brought the horses. Jack
Burton helped Sue to mount. She was
conscious Of the group on the verAnda,
watching her openly now. A choice
sR2ea Of .a sSsD iG shs Ds. sS ss aS sS
out with O strange young mani Let
them. jeffrey didn't care. He was
through with her. Conniving with Bea
to rid themselves Of her. They needn't.
Shed get out Of their lives without
being pushed out.
Sunlight and shadow danced on the
trail, brightly carpeted with Autumn
finery. The air was brisk and heady.
Up and up with the tang Of the woods
in their nostrils. Presently they came
to clearing.
what say we dismount and stretch
our legs?" Jack Burton suggested. IT'S
been pretty steady climb. You'll sit
your saddle easier for a rest"
Sue was glad for the interval. They
turned into the clearing. Jack Burton
tethered the horses to the limb Of
tree. A fallen log, moss-cushioned, IN
vtted them to rest on its ample trunk.
You've done splendidly," Burton en-
couraged. When you get little more
strength in your knees you'll be stead
ier"
Its p lamb of a horse" Sue said,
glowing under the praise. HE under
stands the Ightest touch on the reins."
eyes, he's well schooled. viii you
be stopping In Green Springs for some
timer"
Sue, Withdrawing perceptibly. She did
not want this young man TO be per-
sonal with her.
Il haven't decided" she said, closing
the subject.
Il thought II you were you might
arrange with the stables to keep the
horse you're riding while you're here"
Therel Shed been suspicious again.
Jumping at shadows.
That would be fine" Sue, warmly,
to atone for her curtness of q moment
ago. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll
try to arrange it when we get back.
Don't you think we might go now?