Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1945-08-24

Charley gulped down the drink
Rob poured for him and as Rob
filled 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 I
had been able to do much with her
or ride her at all. She was a two
year-old., And had her down here
in the stable or the home pasture
all summer so that she would be
well schooled by the time I 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"
II did have her in the kitchen,
Mother! Remember the time you
put the oat bucket in the kitchen
sink, and I 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."
1--WE 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.
mo, sir"
someone's got to pay it."
II should say-ay-ay not!" ex-
claimed Charley. IF 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.
IF Mr.. Sargent forgives you the
debt, Ken, I've got nothing to say"
'Here comes the Goblin nowl"
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, flaxen 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 a full
| grown horse, bronc at that. He'll
| have to change a good deal"
"But he will, dad! He'll grow!"
Hell have to grow in some spots
and shrink in others. That Jug
head!"
Ken looked at the head. 1t was
certainly too large. 1t had a ter
ribly stubborn look.
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 Flicka only has half pa
pers."
"You oughtn't to have any papers
at all with stolen service, Ken,"
said his father.
"I'n waive that" said Charley.
"Do you realize, Rob, that this
little Goblin has Appalachian for a
sire, Banner for grandsire, and
the Albino for 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
his own fire-perhaps on the high
ways hauling feed in the truck, and
the day passing-hours crawling
past with no sign of him return
ing Then night coming on. She'd
be standing by the north window
at the far end of the house looking
out into the darkness, watching. For
what? What could you see in the