The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-18
o SERIAL STORY
ROMANCE AHEAD


! i ONNO q xNkuV
From the porch, Monnie Miles
watched Larry drive his car into
the old carriage shed.
$50 you hired that for a cow
hand, Dad" Scorn filled her voice.
Hes no more cowhand than -
than the houseboy."
Says he is, Honey. Wants
Job and we're short two hands"
The Colonel smiled indulgently at
his only child. owns his own
car and It's paid for. Come up
from FL Paso."
THAT car had New York tags
on its this morning." Monnie count
cred.
you met this fellow alreadyp"
the Colonel demanded. Guess I
will fire him, If he's come chasing
out here after you"
MET him." Monnies anger
fiared- Met him? - He almost
wrecked me this morning. Drove
through a stop sign, right in front
Of me- Almost crashed a filling
station trying to keep from killins
him Met him? I'd like to get
my hands on him"
you didn't wreck anything, did
you?'
Luckily, no, Lad. Can't afford
to have any accidents. After that
wreck on Dead Mans curve - II
/ had smash-up now, people
might get to wondering But
Dad, you're not going to keep
that fellow around, are your"
Have to, for a while, Honey.
I already told him he was hired.
We need him. Bit II he's no good,
I'll run him off. Go along, now.
Change your clothes and we'll
drive out to the upper camp"
SO he followed me out here.
Monnie thought TO herself as she
pulled on her boots. "1'll Ak that
guy-I'll Ak him"
Monnie was sitting on the top
rail Of the corral fence when Pete
Barnes and Larry came from the
saddle house.
Some Of the boys have their
own stuff" Pete was saying, but
we keep a few saddles around for
fellows like you. You can use
mine. It's over on that black In
the corner'-he nodded toward u
black horse tied to q corner
post-"try 1t out, see how you
like IT,"
Thanks, Barnes Larry start
ed toward the horse.
Just a minute, Collins" Barnes
halted him. Want you To meet
Monnie-- Miss Miles. The Col
onel's daughter, and the real boss
around here" Barnes grinned up
at Monnie, winked broadly Larry
walked over to the fence.
Miss Monnie, this Is Larry Col
Inns, the new hand your Dad Just
hired"
1--WE met Mr.. Collins, already,
Pete. We have met, haven't we,
Mister Collins?"
Larry met her challenge with a
smile and an apology. I'm aw-
fully sorry about that, Miss Miles
All my fault II Miss Miles hadn't
been such O good driver, Barnes
they'd stu be digging tin 'out OF
me. I'm glad to know you, Miss
Miles"
Monnie ignored Larrys out.
stretched hand and his apology
IF this cowpunk can't ride any
better than he can drive q car you
better get him q burro, Pete
Larry turned, walked to the
black. II he hadn't been 80 an
cry, he would have noticed the
horse tense his muscles as Larry
swung the reins over his neck
twisted the stirrup around 10
mount. But Larry missed that.
He almost missed the saddle, too
The instant Larry's weight hit
the stirrup, the black Jumped -
sideways and away. Before Larry
could find the other stirrup, the
blacks head was down between
his forelegs and he was punching
his muscles for O pitch.
Larry pulled with all his
strength to get that black head up
but failed. The horse buckcd ---
hard Larry grabbed the saddle
horn - pulled leather II nc
could only find that right STIR
rup 49,.
Up $3.50 up - then that crashing
spine Earring smash as the horse
hit earth. Once-tWice--
Barnes voice came to him faint
ly-"Ride him, kidi" And Mon
MES laugh tinkled beyond haze
OF dust and moving lanscapo
Larry's hand was jerked loose
He was up In the air, like q diver
of o springboard- Something fell
on his head Blackness.
Barnes was running TO Larry,
swinging his hat TO drive the black,
still pitching, away from the
thrown rider.
l~.n Tla CAnt snueSt