''Those Who Ride Straight'' 



the moon was up, so Norman told me. It must 

 have been near midnight. He had seen him 

 going 'cross country, over the Archer Farms, at 

 a gallop. Norman said he thought some one 

 ought to stop him as that country was bad enough 

 in broad daj^light. 



Norman is a hard-headed, matter of fact kind 

 of man, the best M. F. H. in the State, not the 

 sort to see things if they weren't there, or have 

 delusions. But it was evident he was holding 

 something back. 



"What is it," I demanded; "out with it." 

 Norman blinked disconcertedly. 



"Oh, nothing, except, of course, it couldn't be, 

 but there was someone riding with him. " 



"Nonsense!" 



Norman nodded. 



"Of course, no woman would be such a fool. 

 That's what I said to myself. It must have been 

 only—" 



"Woman!" 



"\\Tiy, yes. That is, it looked like one. It 

 was on the other side of Trotter, away from me, 

 horses going nose and nose. You know, just as 

 they used — " 



He stopped suddenly. 



A little shiver ran over me. 



"Did it." I choked. "Confound it, man, 

 159 



