Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-08-09
CHAPTER Nv

oO1Ciy, SJSo
agleam, and beckoned Peter who fol-
lowed two or three strides behind. The
soft thump of hoofs on straw, the
sound of subdued champing greeted
the ears of the pair as they gained the
bricked alley inside. Kitty drew a
deep breath and half shut her eyes.
'Don't the hay and straw smell sweet
and clean? It's better than all those
perfumes up in the ballroom"
"Sure does," laughed Peter. Il de-
clare, Kitty, sometimes think you're
half centaur-or is it centauress Z"
AS their heels rang on the bricks here
and there a shadowy head was poked
over box stall door. Peter, some OF
his burden eased by the comforting
familiar atmosphere, swung open an
inner door. His hand CROPPED for the
light switch, but Kitty Myland's
strong finger intercepted him.
ooh, DON'T" she said in soft voice.
''Neyer mind the lights, there's plenty
of moonlight, and besides, you'll wake
up all the horses. You really don't
need light to look at Geronimo's knee,
just feel it thought it looked bit
swollen tonight. He cracked it on the
post and rail this afternoon"
With fluid, feline grace, Kitty's
scarlet figure led the way to box
stall from which thoroughbred's
head protruded, shell-like ears intelli-
gently cooked. AS the two drew near,
Geronimo whckered and rubbed his
velvet nose gently against the dark
girls hand.
"He's beauty" was Peters enthu-
siastic comment. "There's something
comforting about horses they're kind
of reliable, more so than humans, Ell
Kitty? What I'd give to own hum
ter like Geronimo"
"While you're wishing" smiled Kit
ty as under her hand the stall bolts
shot back with a sleepy click-clock,
'why not wish for something out of
Helena Merwin's string? She's got
the best blood in the country. She
can afford it,"
"She loves horses, too," Peters
voice had fallen subconsciously lower,
cor did when she was younger"
"That's funny" remarked Kitty
throwing back the neat, white blanket
from Geronimo's splendidly muscled
shoulders, because l heard Helena's
selling some Of her string-says she's
tired of 'em!" The outline of the
speakers piquant face flashed elfin
in the gloom.
Sinking to his heels, the engineer
expertly ran supple fingers over the
hook, then, reaching over, compared
it with the other while Geronimo
danced little, for the contact tickled.
ut isn't bad," he muttered, his shirt
front flashing bright in the darkness.
an fact, it's hardly swollen at all"
whats that?" drawled Kitty,
whose attention had been fixedly on
the drive leading from the gayly light
ed club house. Someone had lit
match out there. AS she bent her
slick, bobbed head there was a tight
little smile on her literally painted
lips.
81 said there's hardly any swelling
at all One really wouldn't know he'd
had bump. But l know how you feel
every time my Goldenrod touches
panel feel the same way. He takes
the most awful cracks and never
shows it." Peter Strengthened up,
busted his hands and dropped the
blanket, conscious that Kitty stood
waiting just outside the door, looking
up at him with dark eyes that gleam-
ed with reflected moonlight.
ooh, Pm so glad, Peter" she muir
INJURED in a clear, carrying voice.
Then in lowered tones. "Come here
and I'll tell you a secret about Gero-
nimo-a great secret"
Peter stood expectant.
"No, no." she smiled, crooking an
impromptu forefinger. "Put your ear
Gown, I'll whisper it. Don't you see
Geronimo listening?"
Humoring her whim, the engineer
bent down, then his arms shot out as
Kitty seemed to trip. Before he
quite realized it, the Myland girls hot
little mouth was pressed firmly to his.
1t was so suddenly, dexterously done
that Peter stood paralyzed with aston
ishment, a breathless instant, quite
unconscious of pair Of figures halt
ed in the doorway at the far end of
the stables.
A low gasp sounded from the far
h. e+oIoIo o~J oo1xv 49,, Do4ou