Penny of Top Hill Trail

id aside some garments, on which she had been ste

will show you what my part in the day's work will be. Special

at some marvelous performer, but his awe and admira

you can put it

raised seats erected in the "field," Pen was missing. Her absence was a

W HOR

HILL

f Top Hill, will ride Tur

ride Battleship

l ride Pickled

ill ride Hiaw

PENNY

enelope

thing brought

ost notorious riders of the West. Only th

sses came off wit

They'll bring out some of those wild horses, and that meek-looking, little da

ained him as h

he can do-anything. She

t everything regarding girls to your judgment, so

state of excitement on decipheri

le so

l Western way on a track tramped as hard as asphalt, the tattoo of hoofs making the hard earth ring in the soundless atmosphere. Their feats, singly and togethe

another blare of the trumpet. Into the ring came "Miss Penny Ante," slim and str

finally succeeded in shooting a bridle. Another round of come and go, and one leg went over the slender neck, and then down the glossy back slid the lithe figure. With a wondering, protesti

ounted, he rose high on his hind feet but came down like

p when a demoniacal-look

med Kingdon. "Margaret, this

not punning. I didn't know she was going to make this exhibition, but so

of dust, he tried all his tricks, but always the little figure held her position, easily triumphant, and fi

n!" cried

he kind you give a kingdom for!" she demanded

pounding as she felt the soft, southwest wind in her face, the siren song of freedom ringing in her ears. The divine sweetness of the mountain air was in her nostrils. She was recalled

es of the approaching horseman, a compelling fo

you going?"

st riding,"

oy, her eyes sparkling. Suddenly a

s field day. I've been doing stunts and I just ached for a real, regular ride. It's

a witness, and I rode this way meaning to stop but a momen

ook at his im

saw the

rode on

g French leave? No; this is the end of the rainb

riding s

you learn

mber; it was

s circus

ke it," she sai

hat, why did you leave

le a horse and sold it and had to vamoose.

ission to ride to-

et of her blouse a progr

eatured," she ex

a frown expressi

n know you were

one of the

u come to m

ers at the dance. I never knew what dancing really meant unt

alt and reaching over caught her bridle a

Kingdon everything?

er," she replied demurely.

did sh

u and ask you to leave the

short silence

co-breaking are not what

rned how to make salads, heard the children's lessons, picked flowers an

ing at the p

ou called

was Betty's fault. She introduced me as 'Aunt

hey think

that always offended him. Then, appeasingly: "Mrs. Kingdon said it would

" he directed. "I'll b

er horse and he rode in

ers!" she call

dle and waited until

faint note of exultation in her voice. "I haven't taken a thing-or tri

ation in his eyes, which were usually narrow, cold and of steel-gray shade, but

e. Now you must do more for me. You mustn't mingle with the men, or repeat to-da

she laughed softly to he

ell for a novelty, but for steady diet-oh, me! If Hebby could have heard the law laid down to me, he'd be overcome with glee. Poor old Heb!

ting her now and then when she

rom him or anyone," she

oreman. Notwithstanding his orders, for three days

ay we can," she told him,

day, she found herself watch

ipped in the bud. It may be the feeling of a dog for its master that I have acquired for my sheriff man. Jo will be g

legraph office in town. An old-time friend had asked him to join a party of men at a

Louis, to see more

have such good company," he said, with

ren to town to see Kingdon off. When his train had pulled out,

e said, running up to the car

into Margaret Kingd

quite helpless in a sick room and Doris asks for me. There is a train east in an hour

to help with the ch

her to Top Hill. She always presides in my absence. She is

shinnies on her own

t," replied

Mrs. Kingdon

Kurt, you know,

he conductor's "all aboard"

Francis as they motored home, "but of course we can't be too good

t up late nights,

lothes and play I am a b

ence, I feel I must get in the forbidden fruit game, too. I kn

h they stopped at Mr

she surveyed the tall, angular, spectacled woman, who came to the car, and

ren this time instead

n, "if Kind Kurt should tell her wha

pressed to Mrs. Kingdon, and Jo made another trip

d Pen chuckled as she easily re

trouble, I have no desire to give it. I'll play a new role and show him what a tame, good little girl I can be; maybe I'll

y down. In a soft, subdued voice she read little stories to the chil

he was smoking his pipe, for it was one of the few

to him unf

she said gravely. "I will try hard to do as you want me t

ad seen in them the day she had been transferred to his guardianship, that

aunchly; "I will tru

ut further converse and in the reposeful

ld-time airs on the piano with the caressin

arn to play?" he

hadn't heard him come in and her tho

he piano. "I play by ear. I see it is late.

, Pen," he

ing camp fire that lighted up the rough and boisterous faces of his companions, he had seemed as one of them, but later when they had gone to well-earned slumber and it had been his turn to guard the long

zation that the woman of his dreams did not exist. The knowledge made an ache in his heart, but to-

hen with some needlework went out on the veranda. At the table she listened and responded interestedly to Mrs. Merlin's bromidic remarks, was gentle with the children and most flatteringl

night she examined her should

e good before. The relapse will be a winner when it comes. If I could

ning feeling appallingly weary of well-doing when Kur

this morning?" he asked.

had tried out on field day. She was very careful not to try to outride the foreman, or to perform any of her marvels of horsemanship. They had a long exhilarating

. "I think I can stand it up here a while lo

he lost his habitual reticence and talked-t

d. "Wouldn't you like the power of rul

ht of camp fires, nothing else calls to him quite the same way. I couldn't endure to live a bottled up life-the life of cities. Men of my kind are brand

ormer life, responding briefly but with an undercurren

have a friendly sympathy for him, and even to feel a tranquil satisfaction in his reposeful silence. At times she was sorely tempted to show him the same little impish self she had portrayed on their first ride up the trail, and sometimes her conscience would sting her that she had failed to confi

old-fashioned muslin (designed originally for bedroom windows and donated by Mrs. Kingdon), her hair softly brought to the crown of her head, with little curling rings ab

the boys to-night,

ue part for which I am

that the boys had so few opportunities for

rs-at Westcott's. I've asked them o

sly, "I'll just dance with B

," he f

didn't know th

about, hoping that Jo might have be

iciously carried about. It's very restful, but not exhilarating. Oh, Jo, where art thou? It was

dancing slippers her thoughts were still of t

-proof; but if he ever falls in love! And what a triumph for a thief t

his arm and had filled him with a sensation of ecstasy. A new divine sweetness seemed born into the air.