The Wilmington morning star., 1947-05-30

pink coat" Diane put in, to avoid
answering that.
1.-The pinkest that grows! And
you're thinking that's funny"
asked Danny, pretending hurt.
At the Granger place a man
came out from the stables and up
to the car. He told Danny the
horses were in good shape, a fine
lot. They were in the field back
Of the stables, if Danny wanted to
see them.
Diane and Danny got out and
went through the stables to t h
rear. Diane was happy; she loved
horses OF any sort. She had ridden
every kind from pinto ponies in
the West to the thoroughbreds in
the stables p~atronized by Jordon's
pupils. Her father had promised
her a horse Of her own, but after
she met Bill she'd forgotten it. Bill
didn't ride.
While Danny and the stableman
looked over the others, she patted
the neck Of a fine-limbed black
horse that came nosing up to the
fence. In a few moments Danny
Joined her. 1--WE told Oscar to sad
die two Of EN-"
Presently Oscar was leading two
horses toward them. "Don't know
SO much about their tempers. May
be you'd best stick inside the rails
this first time" he warned.
my man, you don't know lis,
ether!" Danny retorted, grandly.
Diane saw Oscar nod with ap-
proval when she sat in the saddle.
Confident, thrilling with the pleas
ure Of feeling the horse under her,
she trotted on ahead of Danny,
through the gate and out on the
graveled road and along it a little
way before she pulled up to wait
for Danny to join her. Her eyes
swept eagerly the far stretch of
meadowland, green from the
morning rain. She considered a
rail fence in the distance, not too
high a fence
She was turning to suggest to
Danny that they try it when she
heard an enraged snort from
Danny's horse, saw a flying hoof.
Her own horse plunged and n e
next moment she was in a heap
on the ground. Danny was kneel-
ing over her, Oscar running up.
"Di, are you hurt?" Danny's
chin was shaking.
Get up, lady I guess you're all
right! You took it easy!" Oscar
encouraged.
Diane got up, trembling as much
from anger as from the shock of
her tumble. She demanded Of Dan
ny: Couldn't you keep your horse
under control? You'll make a fine
master of hounds!"
"Well, how did I know he had
the devil in him?'' answered Dan
ny humbly.
There's mebbe some bad feel
ing between those two horses
pronounced Oscar d~iscreetly. Il
could see you know how to ride,
lady, all right. But naturally you
wasn't expecting the 'tother n to
kick out like that
NATURALLY I wasn't asserted
Diane witheringly.
Danny rem a i n e d humble.
you're sure you're all right?'
Diane said: Eyes. Let's go
home. We've shown off enough for
one day. She stalked past Danny,
past Oscar, holding the two horses.
to the car.
"You can just bet I'll let that
man Oscar know I'll fire him if
he blabs to anyone of what hap
pened," Danny said as they drove
away.
He thought she was thinking of
that, of its becoming . joke among
their friends. And she was think
ing of the queer pain shooting up
her back. That, maybe Clench-
ing her hands together, biting her
lips to keep from crying out IN
her fear.
''TH phone you tomorrow. Dr.
Danny said at the Chatham Arms.
I'D rather you didn't
He looked aggrieved. 'Di, you're
not going to be mad-after all, no
one but Oscar saw"
She went On to the door with
out answering him. without turn
ing.
81 cannot say now what the eff
feet of her fall may be-" Doctor
Everts was explaining to Bill.
s'For the present we must keep
her absolutely quiet
Diane turned her head on the
pillow. She could not bear to see
that sterS look on Bills face. 1t
had come to it when she told him
she'd fallen off a horse. When, at
dinner, a dreadful faintness had
come over her and she'd had to
tell him.
"a horse!" he had calculated.
eyes. I met Danny-We went
there's a new hunt club-we went
out to see the horses and vel
tried one-"
He hadn't said anything. He had
picked her up, carried her into the
bedroom, laid her down on the
bed, covered her. Then he'd
Strengthened, looked down at her.
with this look he had now. What
is the name of your doctor?'
"Everts."
That had been two hours ago.
ITO Be Continued)
On.low County Nurse