Motion Picture Story Magazine (Aug 1911-Jan 1912)

100 TEE MOTION PICTURE STORY MAGAZINE and put into the rider's thin hand, "are yon from Boston ?" "N-n-no. D-d-de-troit " A thud of hoofs and a rising clond of alkali dust almost drowned the broken reply. The buckskin was living up to his record as the champion bucker of the country. To the surprise of all present, "Beans," as the tenderfoot had already been generally dubbed among the cattlemen, kept on the horse's back. ' "Hoo-ray!" "Go it, kid!" "Whoop 'er up!" "Biff— bang— bang!" The shouts and the shots rang out in joyful accompaniment one to the other. They served a double purpose, since they not only encouraged the rider, but stimulated his steed to increased activity. Finding he could not shake his burden off, the ugly brute started pell-mell out over the prairie. Violet, out picking flowers, heard the uproar and glanced toward the town. The galloping horse was no more unusual than was the sound of the jollification, but, as the animal came into clearer view and she recognized the rider, the girl cried out in alarm. Faster and faster came the galloping, plunging, bucking buckskin, and tighter and tighter clung Tom to the animal's neck, for he had quickly realized that his strength was not sufficient to warrant his trusting to hold on to the reins and keep his position. As the pair reared her Violet sprang to her own horse. ' ' Hang on ! " she called, as the rider swept past her. "I'm coming." Suiting the action to the word, she was off like a flash in pursuit of the runaway. On and on went the tearing buckskin and Violet on her own horse galloped after, slowly but steadily gaining as the race went on. At times it seemed to her that the man ahead would surely be thrown to his death. Still he contrived to keep on the horse's back, tho it was plainly evident that the strain was telling upon him. The well-recommended "exercise" was not giving the re newed strength which the jokers had guaranteed. Violet herself was in almost as much danger as Tom. Twice her horse had stumbled and once reared back suddenly at sight of a rattlesnake. Her voice alone, however, was all that was necessary to urge her well-trained horse forward, and the mad race continued. Not until both horses were well spent and the buckskin had brought up against a mesquite that in his excited condition he was unable to drive thru, was Violet able to get close enough to seize hold of the bridle. ' ' Are you hurt ? Do you feel sick ? ' ' she gasped, as she came abreast of the rider of the buckskin; "shall I go back for the wagon ? ' ' "What! Forme?" Tom looked at his pretty rescuer with plain affection. "As if you hadn't done already what no other girl I have ever known would have done. It 's my turn now to look after you, and when I get my strength back I'll get even with those funny men back there under the shed." Tom was well exhausted, but he had the pluck of a long line of Canadian frontier ancestors. He did not propose to go back to be made the butt of the plainsmen's jokes. He even refused to exchange horses with Violet. An hour later Pete and "Brainy" and "Irish," now as enthusiastic in praise as they were before in their gibes, welcomed the horseman back. "You're all right, Beansie, dont you worry," was their shouted greeting. "You've got th' makin' of a first-class puncher." "When yer ready, say th' word an' I'll git ye a job on th' ranch," yelled Pete, delighted at the whole performance. 1 ' Thanks, I '11 remember that, ' ' Tom smiled as genially as his aching bones would permit, and started on to the house. Violet stopped to scold the men, but he interrupted. "Never mind," he assured her. 1 ' There 's no damage done. I '11 try it again some day and do better. ' ' Violet turned her horse's head and followed Tom to the house.