Hoofbeats on the Turnpike

HOLLO

xpense," Penny remarked after horse and rider had

headlines often enough." Louise sighed wearily and shif

failed to move smartly along, gave him a quick jab with her heels. "If Joe

my missing horse,

hills were casting long blue shadows over the valley floor. With nigh

lcom place," Louise said, reading her

contentedly in a stony field adjoining the Malcom barn yard. At the gate

Malcom from the tumble-down house. He stared

"If it ain't the young lady that

o help us," laughed Penny

ld man chuckled. "She run into the barn yard 'bout ten minut

it. He asked no questions. Hobbling to the fence, he whistled a shrill blast. White

ontrol," said Penny admiringly. "I gue

ng Fortress or a stick of dynamite," Louise

throw you off?" M

d him, and explained ho

a habit o' sneakin' off like that. Raised her from a colt, but

d the valley. With a gesture that was hard to interpret, he indicated the long stretch

t!" he c

valley," Louise

the old woman lived down there fer goin' on twenty years. Then we was put out o' our cabin. Now that penny-pinchin' Burmast

d pointed to a trim little log cabi

t place, but the Widder Lear jes' sits tight an' won't have no dealings with him. Says that i

he old man would tell more. After a li

e up all the best land for hisself. Nobody could get her to sign no papers. That's why she's got

folk off their land?" Penny inquired

er in Boston. He never paid no attention to his holdings 'cept to collect a bit o' rent now and

ely legal. If Mr. Burmaster bought and paid for the

I'm jes' tellin' you how things are in this here valley. Y

e did," Penny

reward Burmaster's offerin', but you cou

Penny, even

When he prints an editorial piece in that pa

d I don't

," the old man chuckled. "Where you

sh we

we ain't got no room fitten for city-raised gals. T

ng in Penny's mind that she had not come to the valley of her own free will. Rather she had been lured there by Old Silas' Head

alley 'fore night sets on," the old man resumed. "T

t the Headless Horseman

ately allowed the

come fust to the Burmaster place. Then on beyond

However, a glimpse of the darkening sky warned her there was no time to waste

o the saddle. "We'll probably see y

As he opened the gate for the girls he

cussed the old man's strange words. Both were agreed th

?" Penny speculated. "Evidently he thinks I'll in

odded Louise. "Everyone we've

r the pike, creating a dark, cool tunnel. Penny and Louise urged their tired horses to a faster pac

mmanded suddenly. "

Only a chirp of a cricket d

hoofbeats," Louise said apologetica

had spread its cloak on the valley. Beyond the next turn of the corkscrew road stood a giant tulip

leepy Hollow," she murmured in awe. "And it was

interrupted. "I'm jittery enoug

ng. By straining their eyes the girls could see that it crossed a mill pond

's estate!" Lo

would!" Penny added in delight. "A perf

with a shiver. "Why would anyone build a

grapevines, threw a deeper gloom over the road. For a short

ging clop-clop of steel-shod hoofs. Unmistakably, the s

ment ago!" Louise whispered nervously

Penny. "We both know t

terrified scream. Frightened by the sound, Bones gave a startled snort. With a