The Washington times., 1938-01-20

I
gallop topped the ridge in brie
skyline and in another moment
slanted down into It's binding buf
feting n1aelstrom of driven sand.
He was through 1t IN two sec
onds, but when he emerged he was
hatless. He did Tot even look back
The leggy Sorrel under him was
patched with sweat and dust, ant
worked with a kind Of coastine
WEAKNESS as he took the down
grade to the bridge.
Approaching the thick timber
Of the bridge, the rider pulled thC
sorrel into a trot and reined Of
the road to the river bank.
It was a steep slope down, per
haps II feet.
The rider said, "Take It,"
The Sorrel yawed a couple O.
times, then Squatted ON hi!
launches, spread his fore1egs, anc
went over IN rush Of small rocI
and dirt that stopped into the Sl1al
low creek on the heel of the rock
citing splash. The weight of tht
bigger man would have founderec
the Sorrel, but it pulled out of tht
slide shaking Its head and an
Swered to the rein that guided il
into the black block Of shadow un
der the bridge.
Stopped, the sorrel shook it,
head and lowered it to drink, anc
1t got two mouthfulS before 1t waS
pulled up.
CALM YOUNG MAN
Easy" the rider said, gently.
Observed now, there was a curl
GUS contradiction in this man. HI
could hear the laundering racke'
of many horses coming down th'
hardpacked hill road he had JUS
left, yet there was no excitement
no relief, no expectancy in hi!
eyes, in his face. He was young
under middle height. He unbut
toned the gaudy red shirt he wore
He pulled the tails out Of his trou
Sers just as the thunder hit tn,
bridge above, and even then he diC
not pause, only squinted in a kinC
Of patient unhaste as he said
STEADY" to his sorTel while III
took off his shirt.
When he twisted around in the
saddle to unite his lean duffle bal
the pennantS Of dust had pow
dered his thick chestnut hair anC
shoulders. Naked from the waist
UP now, he was again a contra
diction, for he looked larger, fal
solder. His bones were small, hi,
shoulders capped with q deep rol
Of muscle that coiled and sawed
with every finger movement. ThC
chest was deep, high, q dead white
against the tanned " Of his neck
which itself was scarcely darker
than his still, lean, smooth face.
From his bag he drew out q
clean blue shirt and put 1t on. Al
soon as it was buttoned he stuffed
the red shirt in the bag and tied
the bag behind the cantle.
Now he said again to the sorrel
Steady" and drew his feet from
the stirrups. Gingerly. he stood
up on the saddle and reached fol
a bridge beam overhead. Once he
had steadied himself, he used his
free hand to tuck in his shirt tail
to ram it down past the crossed
shell belts and sagging holsters
from which worn cedar handled
Colts jutted. Then he put his
other hand on the bridge beam
and swung clear Of the saddle
He spoke to the horse, which
turned upstream and began walk
ing the creek. Soon it was los
from sight around the bend.
LIGHTS CIGARETTE
Left hanging, the man did I
handover to the edge Of the bridge
where the beam lifted out to form
q support for the railing. He
swung himself up and looked down
the road. In the street Of the
town a hundred yards down the
road he could see the blue uni
forms Of the cavalry troop still
mounted. He smiled fleetingly
and sat down on the beam jul
again and built q cigarette with
deft, absent fingers. He had
smoked it down when he hearc
again the thunder Of the horse
approaching.
Smashing out the cigarette, he
put the butt IN his shirt pocket
swung down again under the
bridge, Travelled the beam a yard
then swung up again in the space
between the joigt and planks.
This time the horses pulled uI
on the bridge.
A mans voice said, suddenly
Look at that bank, Heutenant!"
"Took to the water, huh?" an
other said gruff1y. "An right
we'll do the same"
That's a hell of a DROP" thu
first man said.
There was a pause in the cor
versation, then the lieutenant
said, '"Take the other bank. I
flattens out down there 40 yard!
or so each way"
'Up or DOWN."
"WeT split. Take half the men
sergeant. Put at least two in tn
creek and the rest Of you ride tn
bank. I'll do the same"
"Yes, sir. How far?"
It'll you get him." the Iieuten
ant said curtly.
As soon as they were out o.