HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1931-05-01, Page 7.r
RIUPTURE SPECIALIST
Rupture, Varicocele, Varicose Vein%
Abdomlual Weakness, Spinal Deform*
I,ty. Consultation free. Call or
write. J. G. SMITH, British Ap+pIi,-
ante• Specialists, 15 Downie St., Strat-
ford, Ont. 3102-52
LEGAL
Phone No. 91
JOHN J. HUGGARD
Barrister, Solicitor.,
Notary Public, Ete.
'Beattie Block - - Seaforth, Ont.
R, S. HAYS
Barrister, Solicitor, C+onveyaneer
and Notary Public. Solicitor for the
Dominion Bank. Office in rear of the
Dominion Bank, Seaforth. Money to
klan.
BEST & BEST
Barristers, .Solicitors, Conveyan-
cers and Notaries Public, Etc. Office
'In the Edge Building, opposite The
Expositor Office.
ALCATR
By Max Brand
:f
irt
r 171
VETERINARY
JOHN GRIEVE, V.S.
Honor graduate of Ontario 4 eterin-
ar' College. All disease of domestic
animals treated. Calls promptly at-
tended to and charges moderate. Vet-
erinary Dentistry a specialty. ' Office
and residence on Goderich Street, one
door east of Dr. Mackay's office, Sea-
A. R. CAMPBELL, V.S.
Graduate of Ontario Veterinary
College, University of Toronto. All
diseases of domestic animals treated
lalathe most modern principles.
Charges reasonable. Day or eight
ealie promptly attended to. Office on
Mail Street, Hansen, opposite, Town
MU. Phone 116.
a
MEDICAL
DR. E. J. R. FORSTER
Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat
Graduate in Medicine, University of
Toronto.
Late assistant New York Ophthal
+nevi and Aural Institute, Moorefield's
Eye and Golden Square Throat Hos-
vitas, London, Eng. At Commercial
Motel, Seaforth, third Monday in
each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
N Waterloo Street, South, Stratford.
DR. W. C. SPROAT
Graduate of Faculty of Medicine,
University of Western Ontario, Lon-
don. 'Member of College of Physic-
ians and Surgeons of Ontario. Office
in Aberhart's Drug Store, Main St.,
Beaforth. Phone 90.
DR. R. P. I. DOUGALL
Honor graduate of Faculty of
Medicine and Master of Science, Uni-
eereity of Western Ontario, London.
Member of College of Physicians and
Burgeons of Ontario. Office 2 doors
east of post office. Phone 56, Iiensall,
Ontario. 3004-tf
(Continued from last week)
"What makes you so sure?" asked
Marianne, for even if she were lucky
enough to get the mares she felt that
from Corson she could learn before-
hand the criticisms of Lew Hervey.
"So sure? Why anybody with half
an eye " here he remembered that he
was talking to a lady and, continued
more mildly. "Theon bay_ mares ain't
horses -they're tricks. ' Look how
skinny all that underpinning is, Miss
Jordan.
"When they fill out" she began.
"Tush! They won't never fill out
proper. Too much leg to make a hoss.
1'oo much daylight under 'em Be-
sides, what good would they be for
cow work? High headed' fools, all
of 'em, and a hoss that don't know
enough to run with his head low can't
turn on a forty acre lot. Don't tell
me!"
He, -forbade contradiction by raising
animperious hand. Marianne was so
exasperated that she looked to Mrs.
Corson ,in the pinch, but that old
lady was 'smiling dimly behind her
glasses; she seemed to be studying
the smoky gorges of the Eagles, so
Marianne wisely deferred • her answer
and listened to that unique voice
which rises from a Crowd of men and
women when horses are about to race.
There is no fellow to the sound. The
voice of the last -chance better is the
deep and mournful burden; the steady
rattle of; comment is the body of it:
and the edge of the noise is the call-
ing of those who are confident with
"inside dope." Marianne, listening,
thought that the sound in Glos•ter-
ville .was very much like the sound
in Belmont. The difference was in the
volume alone. The hosses were now
lining up for the start, it was with a
touch of malice that Marianne said:
"I suppose that's one of your range
types? That faded old chestnut jus
walking up to get in line?"
Corson started to answer and them
rubbed his eyes to look again.
It was Alcatraz plodding toward
the line of starters, his languid hoofs
rousing a wisp of dust at every step
He went with head depressed, his sul
len, hopeless ears laid back. On hi
back sat Manuel Cordova, resplenden
in sky-blue, tight -fitting jacket. Ye
he rode the spiritless chestnut wit
both hands, his body canted forwar
a little, his whole attitude one of des
perate alertness. There was some
thing so ludicrous in the contrast be
tween the hair-trigger nervousness o
the Mexican and the drowsy uncpn
cern of the stallion that a murmur o
laughter rose from the crowd abou
the starting line and drifted acros
the field.
"I suppose you'll say that long hat
'is good to keep him warm in winter,
went on the girl sarcastically. "A
far as legs are concerned, he seem
to have about as much as the long
est of the mares."
Corson shook his head in deprecia
tion.
"You never can tell what a foo
Mexican will do. ;Most like he's rid
ing in this race to show off his jack
et, not because he has any hope o
winning. That hoss ain't any typ
of range---"
"Perhaps you think it's a thoroug
bred?" asled Marianne.
Corson sighed, feeling that he wa
cornered.
"Raised on the range, all right
he admitted. "But you'll find frea
hosses anywhere. And that chestn
is just a plug."
"And yet," ventured Marianne, "
seems to me that the horse has som
points."
This remark drew a glance of sco
from the whole Corson family. WI
would they think, she wondered,
they knew that her hopes centered
this very stallion? Silence had spre
over the field. The whisper of Co
son seemed loud. "L&ok how still t
range hosses stand. They know wh
is ahead. And look at them fool ba
prance!"
The Coles horses were dancing ea
erly, twisting from side to side at t
post.
"Oh!" cried Mrs. Corson. "What
vicious brute!"
Alcatraz had wakened suddenly a
driven both heels at his neighb
Luckily he missed his mark, but
starter ran across the track and 1
soned Cordova with a raised finge
Then he went :back; there was
breath of waiting; the gun barked
The answer to it was a srpurt
low -running horses with a white el
of dust behind, and Corson laugh
aloud in his glee. Every one of
group in the lead was a range hor
the Coles mares were hanging in
rear and last of all, obscured' by
dust -cloud, Alcatraz ran sulkily.
"But you wait!" said Marianne, sit-
ting tensely erect. "Those ponies with
their short legs can start fast, but
that's all. When the mares, begin to
run- Now, now, now! Oh, you
beauties! You dears!"
DR. A. NEWTON-BRADY
Bayfield.
Graduate 'Dublin University, Ire -
teed. Late Extern Assistant Master
Rotunda Hospital for Women and
Children, Dublin. Office at residence
lately occupied by Mrs. Parsons.
Hours: 9 to 10 a.m., 6 to 7 p.m.,
Sundays, 1 to 2 p.m. 2866-26
DR. F. J. BURROWS
Office and residence Goderich Street,
oast of the United 'Church, Sea -
forth Phone 46. Coroner for itlhe
County of Huron.
DR. C. MACKAY
C. Mackay, honor graduate of Trin-
e I'ty University, end gold medalist of
Ili Trinity Medical College; member of
the College of Physicians and Sur-
geons of Ontario.
t
s
s
t
h
d
t
s
r
s
s
f
e
h -
k
ut
it
e
rn
at
if
on
ad
r-
he
at
ys
g-
he
a
nd
or.
the
es -
r.
a
of
cud
ed
the
se;
the
the
last that pace. They'll come back
after a while .and the ponies will walk
away to the finish."
"Have you noticed," broke in Mrs.
Corson, 'that the poor old faded chest-
nut seems to be keeping up fairly
well ?"
For as the bay mares cut around
into the lead, Alcatraz was seen at
the heels of the range horses, run-
ning easily. It seemed, with a great
elastic stride.
"But -but -it's not the same horse!
Marianne gasped.
• To be sure, Alcatraz in motion was
transformed, the hollows among his
ribs forgotten, and the broken spirit
replaced by power, the electric power
of the racer.
"It looks very much to me as if
the Mexican is pulling that horse,
too," said Marianne. For Cordova
rode with legs braced, keeping a tight.
pull that bent the head of Alcatraz
down. He might have served for a
statue of fear. "And notice that he
makes no effort to break around the
range horses or through them. What's
the matter with him?"
At seven furlongs the mares were
in a group of themselves, lengths in
front and drawing away; the heads
of the cowponies were going up, sure
sign that they were spent, and even
Corson was gloomily silent. He was
remembering his bet against Lady
Mary, and lo, Lady Mary was breez-
ing in front -weld within her strength.
One glance at her pricking ears told
an eloquent story. Near them Mari-
anne saw big Colonel Dickinson cap-
ering. And the sight inspired a
shrewd suspicion. What if he knew
the reputation of Alcatraz and to se-
cure his bets on Lady Mary, had brib-
ed Cordova at the last moment to
pull his horse. Certainly it seemed
that was what the Mexican was do-
ing.
"There's a lady," the colonel was
shouting. "Go it, girl. Go it, beau-
ty. Lady Mary! Lady Mary!"
Marianne raised her field glasses
and studied the rush of horses through
the fog of dust.
"It's just as I thought;" she cried,
without lowering the glasses. "The
scoundrel is pulling Alcatraz! He
rides as if he were afraid of some-
thing -afraid that the horse might
break away. Look, Mr. Corson."
"I dunno," said Corson.,. ."It sure
does look sort of queer!"
"Why, he's purposely keeping that
horse in a pocket. Has him on the
rail. Oh, the villain!" It was a cry
of shrill rage. "He's sawing on the
bit! And the chestnut has his ears
back. I can see the glint of his eyes.
As if he wants to run simply because
he is being held. But there -there -
there! He's got the bit in his teeth.
His head goes out. Mr. Corson, is it
too late for Alcatraz to win the race?
She dropped the glasses. There
was no need of them now. Rounding
into the long home stretch Cordova
made a last frightened effort to re-
gain control and then gave up, his
eyes rolling with fear; Alcatraz had
got his head.
'He ran his own race from that
point. He leaped away from the cow-
ponies in the first three strides and
set sail for the leaders. Because of
his ragged appearance his name had
been picked up by the crowd and sent
drifting about the field, now they call-
ed on him loudly. For every rancher
and every ranch -hand in Glosterville
was summoning Alcatraz to vindicate
the range -stock against the long-leg-
ged mares which bad been imported
from the East for the sole purpose of
shaming the native products. The cry
shook in a wailing chorus across the
field: "Alcatraz!" and again: "Al-
catraz!" With tingling cowboy yells
in between. And mighty the chestnut
answered those calls, bolting down
the stretch.
The riders of the mares had sensed
danger in the shouting of the crowd
and though their lead seemed safe
they took no chances but sat down and
began to ride out their mounts. Still
Alcatraz gained. From the stretching
head, across the withers, the straight -
driving croup, the tail whipped out
behind, was one even line. His ears
were not flagging back like the ears
of a horse merely giving his utmost
of speed; they were dressed flat by a
consuming fury, and the same un-
canny rage gleamed in his eyes and
trembled in his expanding nostrils.
It was like a human effort and for
that reason terrible in a brute beast.
Marianne saw Colonel Dickinson with
the fingers of one hand 'buried in his
plump breast; the other had reared
his hat aloft, frozen in place in the
midst of the last flourish; and never
in her life bad she seen such mingled
incredulity and terror.
She looked back again. There were
three sections to the race now. The
range ponies were hopelessly out of
it. The Coles horses ran well in the
lead. Between, coming with tremen-
dous bounds, was Alcatraz. He got
no help from his rider. The light
jockey on Lady Mary was aiding his
mount by throwing his weight with
the swing of her gallop, but Manuel
Cordova was a leaden burden. The
most casual glance showed the man
to be in a blue funk; he rode as one
astride a thunderbolt and Alcatraz
had both to plan Iris race and run it.
A furlong from the finish he
caught the rearmost of the mares and
cut around them, the dust spurting'
sidewise. The crowd gasped, for as
he passed the bays it was impossible
to judge his speed accurately; and af-
ter the breath of astonishment the
cheers broke in a wave. There was a
Confusion of emotion in Marianne. A
!victory for the chestnut would be a
coup for her )poeketiboak when It
came to buying the Coles horses, but
it would be a distinct blow to her
pride as a horsewoman. Moreover,
there was that in the stallion which
roused instinctive aversion. Hatred
for Cordova sustained him, for there
DR. H. HUGH ROSS
Graduate of University of Toronto
Faculty of Medicine, member of Col-
lege of Physicians and Surgeons of
Ontario: pass graduate courses in
Chicago Clinical School of Chicago ;
Royal Ophthalmis Hospital, London,
EngLon-
don,and; England. Office -Back Hospital,
LDo-
minion Bank, Seaforth. Phone No. 5.
Night calls answered from residence,
'rintoria Street, Seaforth.
DR. J. A. MUNN
Graduate of Northwestern Univers-
ity, • 'Chicago, I11. Licentiate Royal
Co'l1ege oil Dental Surgeons, Toronto.
Office over: Sells' Hardware, Main St ,
Seaforth.,l Phone 151.
R. F. J. BECHELY
Graduate Royal College of Dental
Surgeons, Toronto. Office over W. R.
Smith's Grocery, Main Street, Sea -
forth. Phones: Office, 185 W; resi-
dence, 185 J.
CONSULTING ENGINEER
S. W. Archibald, B.A.Sc., (Tor.),
O:L.S., Registered Professional En -
Mneer and Land Surveyor: Associate
ember Engineering Institute of Can-
ada. Office, Seaforth, Ontario.
AUCTIONEERS
THOMAS BROWN
Lieensed auctioneer for the counties
Of Huron and Peeth. Oorrespondence
arrangements for sale dates can be
maxie by calling The Exposit )r Office,
Seaforth. Charges moderate, and
satisfaction guaranteed. Phone 302.
OSCAR KLOPP
Honor Gradtaite Caeey Jones' Na-
tional School for Auctioneering, Chi-
cago. Special course taken in Pure
Bred Live Stoek, Real Estate, Mer-
chandise and Farm Sales. Rates in
keeping with prevailing market. Sat.
isfaction assured. Waite or wire,
OMIT Klopp, Zurieh, Ont. Phone:
13-93. 2866-52
was no muscle in the lean shoulders or
the starved quarters to drive him on
at this terrific pace.
In the corner of her vision she saw
old 'Corson, agape, pale with excite-
ment, swiftly beating out the rhythm.
of Alcatraz's swinging legs; and then
she looked to Lady 'M'ary. Every
stride carried the bay back to the re-
lentless .stallion. Her head had not
yet gone up; she was still stretched
out in the true racing form; but there
was a roll in her gallop. Plainly Lady
Mary was a very, very tired horse.
She shot in to the final furlong
with whip and spur lifting her on,
every stroke brought a quivering re-
sponse; all that was in her strong
heart was going into this race. And
still the chestnut gained. At the six-
teenth her flying tail was reached by
his nose. And still hd ate up the
distance. Yet spent as -the mare was
the chestnut was much farther gone.
If there was a roll in her weary gal-
lop, there was a stagger in his gait;
still he was literally flinging himself
toward's the finish. No help from his
rider, certainly, but every rancher in
the crowd was shouting hoarsely and
swinging himself towards the finish
as though that effort of will and body
might, mysteriously, be transmitted
to the struggling horse and give him
new strength.
Fifty yards from the end his nose
was at Lady Mary's shoulder and
Marianne saw the head of the mare
jerk up. She was through but the
stallion was through also. He had
staggered in his stride, drunkenly. She
saw him shake his head, saw him fling
forward again, and the snaky head
crept once more to the neck of the
mare, to her ears, and' on and on,
Five hundred voices bellowed his
name to lift him to the finish; "Al-
catraz!" Then they were over the
line and the riders were pulling up.
It was not hard to stop • Alcatrsz. He
went by Marianne at a reeling trot,
his legs shambling weakly and his
head drooping, a weary rag of horse-
flesh with his ears still gloomily flat-
tened to his neck.
But who had won? The uproar was
so terrific that Marianne could not
distinguish the name of the victor as
the judges called it, waving their
arms to ,command silence. Then she
saw Colonel Dickinson walking with
fallen head. The fat man was sag-
ging in his step. His face had grown
pale and pouchy in the moment. And
she knew that the ragged chestnut
had indeed conquered. Courage is
the strength of the weak but in Al-
catraz hatred had occupied that place.
R. T. LUKER
Ucensed auctioneer for the Monty
of Enron. ,Sales attended o in all
parts of the connty. Severn, yeast' ex -
parlance in Idanitoba and Saskatche-
wan. Terme *loanable. Phone No.
118 r 11, Exeter, Centralia P.O., Rea
NO. 1. Otter* lett at Tho Huron Es-
positot Office, Seaforth, prraptA61-
Tat ed *PTA* N end utile,
IWO?' Mere, at eaeo ;thntit ukles fie;
nude 100, efforts to r4ib noire .duel
from, his :shirt,
" wonted to get fined:up," he ,paid, xarsalce' t e
eft hORI4M/ 4 rrx,
,you g01 4;4 the.
What dieou1 &a
I3e paused, d!i ,cle
knew that in t1 a Owe''laer
ing for polite tem Q'- re'gu
tell • yyu hewn Vit ° zsfi
mighty kind to ;Petite the Offer„
haven't seen much of . tpe and' t`
little bit has been ---pretty rough'"
laughed away his ezrubarxassment St
I appreciate your eonik1enee-aa 194:
But I'm afraid that I'd be a tolerable
lot like Hervey." He hurried on lent•
she should take offense. "You see, I;
don't like,ord'ers."
"Of course if it were a man vvh¢
made -the offer to you----" she began
angrily.
He raised his hand. There were
little touches of formal courtesy in
him so contrasted with what she had
seen of him in action, so at varianee
with the childishly gaudy clothes he
wore, that it put Marianne complete-
ly at sea.
"It's just that I like my own way.
Ilve been 'a rolling stone all my life.
About the only mass I've gathered is
what you see." He touched the dust -
tarnished gold braid on .his sombrero
and his twinklingeyes invited her to
mirth. But Marianne was sternly sil-
ent. She knew that her color .was
gone and that her beauty had in a
large part gone with it; a reflection
that did not at all help her mood or
her looks. "I get my fun out o f
playing a free hand," he was con-
cluding. "I don't like partners. Not
that I'ni proud of it, but so you can
see where I stand. If I don't like a
bunkie you can figure why I don't
want a boss.
She nodded stiffly, and at the unami-
able gesture she saw him shrug his
shoulders very slightly, his eyes wan-
deredagain as though he were seek-
ing for a means to end the interview.
Marianne rose.
"I see your viewpoint, Mr. Perris,"
she said coldly. "And I'm sorry you
can't accept my offer."
He came to his feet at the same
moment, but still he lingered a mom-
ent, turning his hat thoughtfully so
that she hoped, for an instant, that
he was on the verge of reconsidering.
After all, she should have used more
peruasion; she was firmly convinced
that at heart men are very close to
children. Then his head went up and
he shook away the mood which had
come over him.
"Some time I'll conne to it," he ad-
mitted. "But not yet a while. I take
t mighty kind of you to have thought
I could fill the bill and -I'm wishing
you all sorts of luck, Miss Jordan."
"Thank you," said Marianne, and
hated herself for her unbending stiff-
ness. '
At the door he turned again.
"I sure hope it's easy for you to
forget songs," he said.
"Songs?" echoed Marianne, and
then turned crimson with the memory.
"You see," explained Red Jim Per-
ris, "it's a bad habit I've picked up --
of doing the first fool thing that
comes into my heed. Good-bye, Miss
Jordan.
Hewas gone.
She felt, confusedly, that there
,were many things she should have
said and at the same time there was
a strange surety that sometime she
would see him again and say them.
She walked absently to the window
which opened on the vacant lot to
the rear of the hotel.
Red Perris vanished from her mind,
for below her she saw Cordova in the
act of tethering Alcatraz to the rack
which stood in the middle of the lot;
saddle and bridle had been removed
-the stallion wore only a stout hal-
ter.
The Mexican kept on the far side
of the rack and whipped his knot to-
gether hastily; it was not till he
sprang back from his work that she
saw the snaky length of an eight foot
blacksnake uncoil from his hand. He
passed the lash slowly through •his
fingers, while surveying the stallion
with great complacence. The ears of
Alcatraz flattened back, a sufficient
proof that he knew what was coming;
he maintained his weary attitude, but
it now seemed one of despair. As for
Marianne she refused to admit the
ugly suspicion which began to occur
to her. But Cordova left her only a
moment for,doubt.
The black streak curled around his
head, and through the open window
she heard the crack of the lash -end.
Alcatraz did not stir under the blow.
Once more the blacksnake whirled,
and Cordova leaned back to give the
stroke the full stretch of arm and
body; yet Alcatraz did not so much
as lift an ear. Only when the lash
hung in mid-air did he stir. The rope
which tethered him hung slack, and
this enabled the stallion to give im-
petus to his backward leap. All the
weight of his body, all the strain of
his leg muscles snapped the rope
taut. Jt vibrated to invisibility for
an instant, then parted with a sound
as loud as the fall of the whip. The
straining body of Alcatraz. so re-
leased, toppled sidewise. He rolled
like a dog in the dust, and when,
with the agility of a dog, he gained
his feet, Cordova was fleeing towards
the hotel with a horror-stricken face
'out 'the note said to ,come right afs
:ar theraces-liaise Jordan."
In fact he made a haruni'scaaruan
figure. The fight with . him. of the
moustaches had produced rents ix>avas-
ible at a distance but distinct at close
hand and the dust and the sweat had
faded the blue of his shirt and the
red of his bandana'. But the red
flame of that hair and the keen We,
of that eye --they, to be sure, were nos
faded. She discovered other things
as- he "crossed the roam to, her. That
he was far shorter than he had seem-
ed when he fought in the street. In-
deed, he was middle height and slen-
derly made at that. She felt that
looking at him from her window and
watching him ride Rickety she had
only seen the spirit of the man and
not the physical fact at all.
He shook hands. She was glad to
see that he neither peered at her sly-
ly as a vain man is apt to do when
he meets' a girl Who has sought him
out nor met her sullenly as is the
habit of the bashful Westerner. His
head was high, his glance straight,
and his smile appreciated her with
frank enjoyment.
'S'he tried to match her speech with
his outright demeanor: "I have a
business offer to make. I won't take
a great deal of your time. Ten min-
utes will do. Won't you sit down, Mr.
Perris?"
She took his tattered hat and
pointed out a seat to him, noting, as
she herself sat down, that he was as
erect in his chair as he had been
standing. There was something so
adventu'rous'ly restless about Red Per-
ris that she thought of a thorough-
bred fresh from the stable; just as a
blooded hunter is apt to be "too much
horse under the saddle," so she was
inclined to feel that Perris was "toe,
much man." Something about him
was always moving. Either his lean
fingers fretted on the arm of the chair
or his foot stirred, or his glance flick-
ered, or his head turned proudly. Go-
ing back to the thoroughbred com-
parison she decided that Perris badly
needed to have a race or two under
his belt before he would be worked.
down to normal. She noted another
thing: at close hand he was more
handsome.
In the meantime, since she had to
talk, it would be pleasanter to find
some indirect approach. One was
offered by the fob which hung out-
side the watchpocket of his trousers.
It was a tarnished, misshapen lumen
of metal.
"I can't help asking about that fob,"
she said. "I've never seen one even
remotely like it."
He fingered it with a singular
smile.
"Tell you about it," he said am-
iably enough. "I was standing by
looking at a large-sized fracas one
day and me doing nothing -just as
peaceful as an old plough-hoss.-when
a gent ups and drills me in the leg.
His bullet had to cut through my hol-
ster and then it jammed into my
thigh :bone. Put me in bed for a
couple of months and when I got out
I had the slug fixed up for a job. Just
se's I could remember the man that
shot me. That's about five years
back. I ain't found -him yet, but I'm
still remembering, you see?"
He finished the anecdote with a
chuckle which died out as he saw her
eyes widen with horror. Five years
ago? she was thinking, he must have
been hardly more than a boy. How
many other chapters as violent as
this were in his story?
"And -he didn't even offer to pay
your doctor bill, I'll wager?"
"Him?" Perris chuckled again.
"He'll pay it, some day. It's just
postponed - slow collection -- that's
all!" He shrugged the thought of it
away, and straightened a little, plain-
ly waiting to hear her business. But
her mind was still only half on her
own affairs as she began talking.
"I have to go into the affairs of
our ranch a little," she said, "so that
you can understand why I've asked
you to come here. 'My father was
hurt by a fall from a horse several
years ago and the accident made him
an invalid. He can't sit a saddle and
because of that he has lost all touch
with his business. Worst of all, he
doesn't seem to care. The result was
that everything went into the hands
of the foreman, but the foreman was
not every successful. As a matter of
fact the ranch became a losing invest-
ment and I came out to try to run it.
I suppose that sounds foolish?"
She looked sharply at him, but to
her delight for the first time his eyes
had lighted with a real enthusiasm.
"It sounds pretty fine to me," said
Red Perris.
"The foreman doesn't think so," she
answered. "He wants his old author-
ity."
"So he makes your trail all uphill?"
"By simply refusing to advise me.
My father won't talk business. Lew
Hervey won't. Dm trying to run a
dollar business with a cent's worth of
knowledge, and no experience. I can't
discharge Hervey; his service has
been too long and faithful. But I
want to have someone up there who
will go into training to take Hervey's
place eventually. Someone who knows
cattle and can tell me what to do now
and then. Me. Perris, do you know
the cow business?"
Some of his interest faded.
"Most folks raised in these parts
do," he answered obliquely. "I should
think you 'could get a dozen anywhere.
'She explained eagerly: "It's not so
simple. You see, Lew Hervey is rather
a rough character. In the old days I
think he was quite a fighter. I guess
he still is. And he's gathered a lot
of fighting men for cowpunchers on
the ranch. When he sees me bring
in an understudy for his part, so to
speak, I'm afraid he might make
trouble unless he was convinced it
would be safer to keep his hands off
the new man."
The gloom of Perris returned. He
was still politely attentive, but his
head turned, and the eager eyes
found something of interest across
the street. She knew her grip on
him was failing and she struggled
to regain it. Here was her man, she
knew. Here was one who would ride
the fiercest outlaw horse on the ranch,
wear out the toughest cowboy; play
with them to weariness when they
CHAPTER V
RETRIBUTION
Coles had advertised the auction
sale of the mares to take place im-
mediately after the race and though
he would gladly have postponed it he
had to live up to his advertisement.
Naturally the result was disastrous.
The ranchers had seen the ragged Al-
catraz win against the imported hors-
es and they felt they could only show
their local patriotism by failing to
bid. There were one or two mocking
offers of a hundred dollars a head for
the lot. "Something pretty for my
girl to ride," as one of the ranchers
'phrased it, laughing. The result was
that every one of the mares was
knocked down to Marianne at a lu-
dicrously low price; so low that when
it was over and Coles strolled about
with her to indicate the size of her
bargain she felt that she was moving
'n a dream.
"It's easy to see that you're not
Western," he said in the end, "but
you have, a Western horse to thank
for putting this deal through -I mean
Alcatraz."
"He's too ugly for that," said Mari-
anne, and yet on her way back to the
hotel she realized that the sun -faded
chestnut had truly proved a gold mine
to her. It had been, she felt, the
luckiest day of her business life, for
she knew that the price she had paid
for the mares was less than half a
reasonable valuation of them. Here
was her ranch ready stacked, so to
speak, with fine horses. It only need-
ed, now, to end the tyrannical sway
of Lew Hervey and in that fighting
man of men, Red Perris, Marianne
felt that the solution lay.
Once in her room at the hotel, she
lookcd ahout. her in some dismay. Of
c-e'rse she was merely an employer
receiving a prospective employee to
examine his qualifications, but she al-
so rentained, in spite of herself, a girl
receiwing a man. She was glad that
no one was there to watch with quiz-
zical eye as she rearranged the furni-
ture; she was doubly glad that he
could not watch her at the mirror.
She gave herself the most critical ex-
amination since she left the East and
on the whole she, approved of the
change's. The stirring life in the op-
en had darkened the olive of her skin,
she found, but also had made it more,
translucent; the curve of her cheek
was pleasantly filled; her throat roun-
der; her bead better poised. And a-
bove all excitement gave her the vital
She paused at this point to wonder
why a stray cowpuncher should make
her flush but immediately decided that
he had nothing to do with it; it was
the purchase of the mares that kent
alive the little thrill of happiness. But
Marianne was essentially honest and
when Iher heart jumped as she heard
a swift, light step com.e down the hall
and paus^ ber door, she admitted
at once that horses had nothing to do
with the matter.
'She wished ardently that she had
made the diecovery sooner. As it
was, before she composed herself, he
had knocked, been bidden in and stood
before her. She knew, inwardly dis-
mayed, that her eyes were wide, her
color high, and her whole expression
The field doubled the first jagged
corner of the track and the bay mares,
running compactly grouped, began to
gain on the leaders hand- over hand.
Looking first at the range hosses and
then at the mares, it seemed that the
former were running with twice the
epebel of the latter, but the long, roll-
ing gallop of the bays ate up the
ground, and bore them down on the
leaders in a bright hurricane. The
cowpunchers, hearing that volleying
of hoofbeats, went to spur and quirt
to stave off the inevitable, but at five
furlongs Lady Mery left her sisters
and streaked around the tiring range
horses into the lead. Marianne cried
out in delight She had forgotten her
hope that the mares might not win.
All she desired novr Was that blood
might tell and her judgment be vin-
dicated.
"They won't last,"\ Corson was
grovelling, his voice feeble in the roar
of the excited, crowd. "They can't
anne leaned out • of the wi11de
'screamed her waning, for at}ie
chestnut was on the very heeole .ofort
Mexican. He raised his cont..,
face at her cry, then threw up'het'#ir
his arms to her in a gesture she could
never forget.
"Shoot!" yelled Cordava. "Amigo;.
amigo, shoot! Quick.--,-"
Then Alcatraz struck him!
Half the bones in his body must
have 'been broken by the impact. It
spun him over and over in the dust,.
yet as the impetus' of the chestnutcarried him far past, Cordova .stng-
gied to his feet and attempted to flee
again. Alas, it was only a+ step! His
left leg crumpled under hint. -He top-
pled ,sideways, still wriggling and
twisting onwards through the dirt--
and then Alcatraz ,Struck him again. •
This time is was no blind rush.
Back and forth, up and down, hedC
crossed and recrossed, wheeled an.
reared and stamped, until his one
white stocking was crimsoned and
spurts of red flew out and turned black
in the dust.
The horror which had choked her
relaxed and Marianne shrieked a-
gain. It was that second cry which
saved a faint spark of life for Cordova
for at the sound the stallion leaped
sidewise from the body of his victim,
lifted his head towards the half faint-
ing girl in the window, and trumpeted
a great neigh of defiance. -Still neigh-
ing he swerved away into a gallop,
cleared the fence a second time, and
fled from view.
'CHAPTER VI
FREEDOM
Towards the Eagles, rolling up like
wind-blown smoke, Alcatraz fled,
cleared one by one the fences about
the small fields near Glosterville, and
so came at last to the broader do-
mains under the foothills. Here, on
a rise of ground, he halted for the °
first time and looked back.
' The heat waves, glim_mering up end-
lessly, obscured Glosterville, but the
wind, from some hidden house among
the hills, bore to him wood -smoke
scents with a mingling of the abhor-
rent odars of man. It made many an
old scar of spur -gore and biting whip-
lash tingle; it was a background of
pain which was like seasoning for the
new delight of freedom.
As though there was a poundage of
joy and additional muscle in self-mas-
tery, the frame of the chestnut filled,
his neck arched, and there came into
his eyes that gleam which no man
can describe and which for lack of
words he calls the light of the wild.
(Continued next week.)
Even then she could not understand
his terror -not until she saw that Al-
catraz had wheeled and was bolting
in hot pursuit. He came like the
"devil -horse" that the Mexican called
him,' with his ears flattened and his
mouth gaping; he came with such vel-
ocity that Cordova, running as only
consummate terror can make a man
run, seemed to be racing on a tread-
mill -literally standing still.
The picket fence which set off the
back yard of the hotel gave the man
an instant of delay -a terribly vital
instant, indeed, that seemed to Mari-
anne to contain long, long minutes.
But here be was over and running a-
gain. In her dread she wondered why
he was not shrieking for aid, but the
face of Cordova was rigid -a night-
mare mask!
Twenty steps, now, to the hotel, and
surely there was still hope. Nn, for
Alcatraz sailed across the pickets with
a bound that cut in two the distance
still dividing him from his master. It
had all happened, perhaps, within the
space of three breaths. Novr Mari.
LONDON AND WINGHAM
South.
Wingham
Belgrave
Blyth
Londesboro
Clinton
Brucefield
Kippen
Hensall
Exeter
Exeter
Hensall
Kippen
Brucefield
Clinton
Lcmdesboro
Blyth
Belgrave
North.
Goderich
Holmesville
Clinton
Seaforth
C. N. R.
East.
St. Columban
Dublin
Dublin
St. Columban
Seaforth
Clinton
Holmesville
Goderich
West.
6.45
7.01
7.12
7.19
7.38
7.56
8.03
8.09
8.23
10.59
11.13
11.18
11.27
11.58
12.18
12.28
12.40
12.55
6.35
6.50
6.58
7.12
7.18
7.23
11.24
11.29
11.40
11.55
12.05
12.20
C. P. R, TIME TABLE
East.
Goderich
MeGaw
Auburn
Blyth
Walton
MeNaught
Toronto
Toronto
Walton
Auburn „
Gars
Godatich
es We oVis
p.m.
2.50
3.10
3.22
4.13
4.21
4.43
5.42
5.67
6.01
6.09
6.27
6.45
6.52
7.02
7.29
2.48
2.56
3.11
8.17
3.22
9.40
10.00
10.18
10.36
a.m.
6.50
5.56
0.04
6.11
6.26
6.40
10.11
7.40
11,46
1212