Bijou jumped immediately to the front, and Nal threw
his hat high into the air.
"Ain't she a cyclone?" he shouted, standing upon the wagon seat and
waving his stop-watch.
"Look at her, I say, look at her!"
The people in his vicinity stared, smiled, and finally cheered. Most
of them knew Nal and liked him well.
"Yer mare is winnin'," yelled a granger.
"You bet she is," retorted Mr. Roberts. "See her! Ain't she takin' the
kinks out of her speed? Ain't that a clip? Sit still, ye fool," he
cried lustily, apostrophising the boy who was riding; "if ye git a
move on ye I'll kill ye. Oh, my lord! if she ain't a-goin' to distance
them! Yes, sir, she's a shuttin' 'em out. Damn it--I ain't a swearin',
Mis' Root--damn it, I say, _she's a shuttin' 'em out!_ She's done
it!! The race is won!!!"
He jumped from the wagon and plunged into the crowd, which
respectfully made way for him.
* * * * *
"I've somethin' to tell ye, Mandy," said Mr. Roberts, some ten months
later. I feel kind o' mean, too. But I done it for you; for love o'
you, Mandy."
"Yes, Nal; what is it?"
They had been married a fortnight.
Pages:
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322