The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-12

did look nice-her own mirror had
frankly told her so. And it was a
wonderful day to be riding, and the
wind made her cheeks glow and
her eyes sparkle, and Sandy was
undeniably handsome sort of per-
son. she laughed, and uncon-
sciously settled down little nearer
to him.
JTALF an hours drive got them
l. Il out of the city. They followed
a graveled country road for a few
miles, and at last came to huge,
washed barn, so big that it
completely overshadowed the little
cottage in front of it. Along the
side of the barn there was a big
sign, The West Park Riding Acad-
envy"
Sandy drove in, and few min
utes later a groom had brought their
horses and they were riding side by
side down a leafy lane which led
them, at last, TO the top of a round
ed hill, from which they could look
down a long, grass grown slope to-
ward a little stream and clump of
woods.
Sandy had been watching her
with a knowing eye, and he evil
IDENTIFY had satisfied himself that she
was quite at home in the saddle.
Come on" he cried. Race you
to the woods"
And they went off down the slope,
the horses hoofs drumming on the
springy turf, while the wind whipped
the ends of the scarf Jean had
bound about her hair, and she
laughed aloud from sheer happiness
and excitement.
They came nearer and nearer to
the little stream; at this point it
was no more than a brook, not six
feet wide, with firm banks. Jean
boldly spurred directly toward it
and took her horse across it in one
graceful leap. Then she refined in,
and came to halt at the edge of
the woods.
Sandy was beside her, looking at
her admiringly.
Say" he said, you can ride, all
right"
She was breathless, laughing,
with little WhiSps of hair escaping
from under the scarf.
II used to ride almost every day,
down home" she said
Good girl" said Sandy. "You
did that jump like a champion"
Their eyes met in comradely ap-
praisal; then, with one accord,
they turned their horses heads and
followed shaded lane through the
trees.
1t was cool under the trees, and
the horses hoofs made no sound
on the black spongy earth. Sandy
rode with effortless ease, his long
body relaxed loosely in the saddle.
You must have ridden a lot
yourself" said Jean. He nodded.
II was brought up on a horse"
he said. mot here. Out West"
"Cowhoy?"
MY folks owned a ranch" He
offered her pack of cigarets. She
shook her head, he lighted one, and
went on:
Glow about yourself? Where do
you come from, anyhow"
"Maplehurst. It's a little town
about a hundred miles south of
here"
Did you live on q farm?" he
asked casually.
"Oh, no. My daddy's banker.
But 1 always had a horse, and the
towns so small you can get outside
of it in five minutes
They rode on farther in silence.
Presently Jean asked him, What
do you do, anyWay?"
He looked at her cody, for a mo-
ment, and then grinned.
"Oh," he said, Il just sort of
travel around, from here to there
and back"
Lucky" said Jean. TT must be
nice, not to-not to be tied down."
1T is" said Sandy.
THEY came out of the woods into
l. an unpaved country road. 1t
led them in gently undulating
course past the woodland, along the
edge of a looking farm
and around a bend to an ancient
wooden bridge over a small river.
They let the horses have their
heads, and the animals turned off
along little path and went down
to the waters edge to drink. Sandy
looked upstream.
Look" he said 1.-THE ground
comes shelving down to the water,
like, for a couple of miles up there.
We can ride up that way and come
out right near the stables. Okay?"
She nodded, and they started up
the river, the horses stepping slowly
along the fiat stretch of sand and
gravel. Jean threw her head back
and looked up. Trees fringed the
river, framing a strip of clear blue
sky. Their leaves rustled gently in
the wind. I'm glad I came" Jean
thought.
They talked lazily as they rode.
SANDY seemed a strange cOmbina-
ton of frankness and reticence. He
spoke of life on the western plains,
of going hunting in the Usage Hills.
OF nights under the stars in far-off
camps; but he seemed to be reluc-
tant to say much about the present,
or about his reasons Tor leaving that
open western country.
You must want to get back
there" said Jean. He looked at her
soberly, and when he grinned, at
last, there was something wistful in
his eyes. Yeah, I guess maybe I
do he said. Reckon I will, too,
some day"
They left the river and came out
in a broad pasture lot. Beyond the
level expanse of grass they could
see the roof of the riding academy
barn rising above a clump of trees.
Another racer" said Sandy alb
ruptly. Jean answered by leaning
forward and squirting her mount