Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 78: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

868 presented to her. He looked up, feeling her scrutiny. “Youll never get anything out of Cum- mings & Gilbert,” he remarked. “ This book deals with procedure in New York courts. It doesn’t take such a phenomenon as Judge Fairlove into consideration.” ‘What was it you wanted to see Gaines for?” she asked. He glanced at her with a quick appraisal of her thought. He did not know that her mind had fired at the sight of the red mare to a thought of his fearless dexterity, passed to a recollection of the dangers that beset him, and thus arrived at the remembrance of the new development which set him seeking Gaines. Yet he did know that her question was laden with anxiety for him, and he was glad of it. For the first time in his lonely life he knew the exhilaration which sympathy engenders. He knew a man’s peculiar sat- isfaction in the knowledge that another shares his life and trembles with his for- tunes in the balance. Characteristically he gave expression to his thoughts in action, and, characteristic- ally his action was unexpected. He strode to the door and threw it open. “ Look here,” he said. She came to his side and, following with her eyes his indicat- ing finger, saw that he pointed out the red mare. “Vou saw Thunderbolt from the win- dow, didn’t you?” he asked her. “ But you never believed that she could be ridden here and hitched to a sapling in that man- ner, did you?” “ T think you work miracles,” she replied. He laughed. His manner was that of a boy, boyishly confident of his prowess. ‘Come out and ride her,” he said. She glanced at him in wonder. “But you don’t understand.” she pro- tested. ‘ You’re the only man in the world who’s ever tamed that horse. I've done some riding myself, but she’d kill me as if I were a fly.” He laughed. “Vou don’t understand,” he mocked happily. ‘‘ Thunderbolt is my horse. She won't throw any one I tell her not to. Come on!” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. They approached the horse together, and Hazel noticed that Thunderbolt no longer fretted wickedly against the bridle which held her proud head to the tree, but in- stantly became quiescent when Cosgrove drew to her side and placed a soothing hand upon her neck. “Don’t chafe; don’t fret, little one,” he admonished her gently; and he unlashed the leather as he spoke. ‘ Here’s a lady come to ride you. Here’s a friend. Speak to her, Hazel.” Hazel had never been at a loss with horses, and something in Cosgrove’s man- ner assured her that this fierce red mare was now amenable. She stroked the velvct muzzle. ‘Good morning, Thunderbolt,” she said. ‘He says that I’m to ride you. Will you let me ride you, Thunderbolt?” Thunderbolt tossed her head and shook it vigorously. ‘That means yes!” laughed Cosgrove. “You're not frightened, are youe You mustn't ride her if you’re frightened.” She laughed into his eyes. “No,” she said. “I’m not frightened.” ‘Then mount.” He held the stirrup for her, and held the reins while she mounted, speaking softly to the horse. ‘ Gently, Thunderbolt,” he said. “ This is a lady who mounts you; a lady who is our friend.” Gently he placed the reins over the ani- mal’s curved neck and into Hazel’s hand. ‘Ride gently,” he said. And to Hazel's intense amazement the horse she had ex- pected to plunge or rear stood quietly be- neath her touch, awaiting her command. She urged Thunderbolt forward, and the lovely creature stepped out with that en- chanting trust in her rider that confidence in a good horseman’s direction which makes an intelligent mount the most delightful companion in the world. Ilazel drew Thunderbolt up to a trot. The mare answered beautifully. She raised her to a canter and went loping awav down the road. While she rode, enrap- tured by the animal’s easv gait and the tang of the morning air, she noticed that the bridle and its metals had been cleaned and polished. She saw that the cruel curb bit had been replaced by one of more com- An (CO) GIOok