bleeding, and wrenched inwardly, yet when Pat,
returning to consciousness, hastily gained his feet,
the man leaped for the horse, sounding a muffled
curse. But he did not mount. And for good reason.
For Pat was reeling like a drunken man -- head
drooping, fore parts swaying, eyes slowly
closing. At the sight one of the spectators made
a plea in Pat's behalf.

"Whyn't you take him outside?" he demanded.
"Into the open. This ain't no place to bust a
horse like him! That horse needs air! Get him
out into about three-quarters of these United
States! Git ginerous! Git ginerous! I hate a
stingy man!"

Whereupon Helen at last found voice. "Wait!"
she cried, evenly, and, turning, sped along the
fence to the gate. Inside the corral she hurried
to the horse and flung her arms around his neck.
"Pat dear," she began, tenderly, "I am so sorry!
But it's 'most over with now, if you'll only accept
it! Can't you see, Pat? It is so very necessary
to both of us! For then I myself can ride you!
Please, Pat -- please, for my sake!" Whereupon
Pat, as if all else were forgotten -- all the torture,
all the struggle and shock -- nickered softly and
nuzzled her hands for sugar and apples. Suppressing
a smile, and accepting this as a good
omen, she stroked him a few times more and then
stepped back. "Later, dear!" she promised,and
left him, suddenly mindful of spectators. But,
though she felt the blood rush into her cheeks,
she did not leave the inclosure.

[[68]]

p067 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p068w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p069

v?