The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-07-20

Charley gulped down the drink
Rob poured for him and as Rob
filed the other glasses, held his out
again.
"Hope this won't make you take
to drink, Charley" said Harris dry
ly. brace up! Lots Of people have
family secrets to hide!"
"We won't give it away, Char
ley" chuckled Rob.
Charley didn't. even hear them. He
threw off his hat and ran one hand
distractedly through his hair. MAY
be it didn't take" he exclaimed sud-
denly. maybe, later on in the sum-
mer she was bred by some other
stallion. That's it'll" he said excited
ly, you said the colt came months
later than you expected"
But Ken shook his head. "She was
never out on the range again. You
see, that was the first summer /
had been able to do much with her
or ride her at all. She was two
year-old. And / had her down here
in the stable or the home pasture
all summer so that she would be
web schooled by the time ! had to
leave the ranch in the fall. And
there weren't any other stations
around"
Nell nodded. "That's true. She was
underfoot all summer. Ken did ev-
erything but have her in the
kitchen"
81 did have her in the kitchen,
Mother! Remember the time you
put the oat bucket in the kitchen
sink, and / called her in, and she
walked right in and went all around
the kitchen, looking at everything
and smelling it, and then ate her
oats at the sink?"
"Look here, Ken," said Rob, edo
you realize that you stole that serv-
ice? You heard what Mr.. Sargent
said at dinner-that the stud fee for
Appalachian is $250.00."
give always told you, Ken," his
father rubbed it in, ''that you cost
me money every time you turn
around"
Cost you money!!
"Well-you owe that money to
Charley here and you can't pay it.
''No, sir"
Someone's got to pay it."
81 should say-ay-ay mott" ex-
claimed Charley. eff that's the APP
palachian's foal, you owe me for
nothing. On the contrary, I owe Ken
an apology. And the nice little mare
too"
Ken began to breathe again and
glanced at his father to see if there
were to be any penalties from that
quarter.
eff Mr.. Sargent forgives you the.
debt, Ken, I've got nothing to say.
"Here comes the Goblin now!"
exclaimed Howard.
Gus had let the horses out OF the
corral to pasture and Flicka and
her foal and Taggert and the geld
ings were coming to water at the
round stone fountain in the middle
of the Green.
The men and boys went down to
look at them more closely.
"That's a beautiful mare" said
Charley, looking at Flicka's glossy
golden coat, her full, f1axen tail
and name, and the gentleness and
intelligence in the golden eyes she
turned to them. She mouthed the
cool water, letting streams of it run
from her muzzle, then turned her
head to her foal again.
Dad" said Ken miserably, "is
he-really--so awful?"
Rob hestitated. "Well, Ken, no
body could say he has good con-
formation. He is shaped like full
grown horse, bronze at that. He'll
have to change a good DEAL"
"But he will, dad! He'll growl"
Hell have to grow in some spots
and shrink in others. That Jug
headl"
Ken looked at the head. It was
certainly too large. It had ter
ribly stubborn look. s
eli, fellah'' said Charley to the
foal, then turned to Ken. "Well, you
win, Ken. believe your story. Your
Goblin is by my Appalachian, and
if you want papers, you can have
them"
81 can only have half papers, sir,
because Flcka only <has half pa
pers."
"You oughtn't to have any papers
at all with a stolen service, Ken"
said his father.
cru waive that" said Charley.
'Do you realize, Rob, that this
little Goblin has Appalachian for a
sire,' Banner for grandsire, and
the Albino for a great grandsire?
That ought to be enough TINT. to
bust. him wide OPEN"
Winter again. Billiards. Wild
storms. Days of terrible loneliness
and fear with Rob out in weather
when a man should be safe beside