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diff --git a/old/44400.txt b/old/44400.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e22d87 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44400.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6133 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ticktock and Jim, by Keith Robertson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Ticktock and Jim + +Author: Keith Robertson + +Illustrator: Wesley Dennis + +Release Date: December 9, 2013 [EBook #44400] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TICKTOCK AND JIM *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + [Illustration: Ticktock and Jim] + + + + + TICKTOCK + _and_ + JIM + + + _By Keith Robertson + With Illustrations by Wesley Dennis_ + + [Illustration: Boy on galloping horse] + + THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY + _Philadelphia . Toronto_ + + + _Copyright, 1948, by The John C. Winston Company +Copyright in Great Britain and in The British Dominions and Possessions + Copyright in the Republic of the Philippines_ + + First Printing December, 1947 + Second Printing June, 1948 + Third Printing December, 1949 + + _Made in the United States of America_ + + + To Christina, +_Who at two is somewhat confused about horses and thinks they say "Moo."_ + + + + + Contents + + + PAGE + Chapter One The Trade _1_ + Chapter Two The Reception _24_ + Chapter Three The First Victory _38_ + Chapter Four New Allies _49_ + Chapter Five The Pony Express _69_ + Chapter Six The Saddle _82_ + Chapter Seven Horace _100_ + Chapter Eight Exile _115_ + Chapter Nine The Lost Horse _135_ + Chapter Ten Ticktock Disappears _147_ + Chapter Eleven The Conspirators _165_ + Chapter Twelve Jean's Ride _182_ + Chapter Thirteen The Mystery Is Solved _196_ + Chapter Fourteen The Fire _208_ + Chapter Fifteen A Long Night _222_ + Chapter Sixteen The Convalescence _233_ + + + + + Ticktock and Jim + + + + + Chapter One + The Trade + + +"Someone has to stay home to give Colonel Flesher that Jersey calf," said +Mr. Meadows. "Since we are the only men around the place, it looks as if +you're elected." + +"O.K. I'll stay. I don't mind," Jim answered cheerfully, if not too +accurately. He did mind very much. + +"I'm sure everything will be safe with you," continued Mr. Meadows as he +climbed in the car. + +"Oh, I'll take care of things," said Jim nonchalantly. + +He watched the car drive off. His father, mother and sister Jean were all +going into town for the afternoon while he stayed at home alone. He felt +rather proud that his father had called him a man, but that didn't make +up for the disappointment of not going with them. He went over to sit on +the edge of the front porch, where he forlornly kicked his heels against +the lattice work. It was a beautiful spring day with a warm sun shining, +but Jim was in no mood to appreciate the wonders of nature. His small +brown face looked very mournful as he sat there feeling sorry for +himself. Something exciting was certain to happen in town, and he would +miss it. He wondered how long the family had been gone now. Jumping up, +he ran inside the house and returned with a large gold watch. + +"Quarter past one," he said aloud. Doubtfully, he held the watch to his +ear. + +"Ticktock, ticktock," came the answer. + +It seemed impossible that it was only a quarter past one; it would be +almost four hours before the family returned. Although it was a form of +treason to doubt that watch, Jim peered through the kitchen door to +compare it with the kitchen clock. The watch was right. It promised to be +a long dismal afternoon. + +To pass away the time he polished the gold case with his big red +bandanna. The watch was his most prized possession; his father had given +it to him on his twelfth birthday, almost eight months before. He wore it +only on special occasions or when he was feeling sad, like today. +Carefully he unscrewed the back and looked at the shiny works. The +balance wheel was going back and forth quietly and faithfully. Jim +polished the inside of the back cover and reread the inscription for the +hundredth time. "To James Meadows from Elizabeth, June 7, 1884." Over +sixty years ago his grandmother had given that watch to his grandfather +and it was still bright and shiny, and kept perfect time. + +"I wish it would run a little faster this afternoon though," said Jim, as +he placed the watch in his overall watch pocket. + +Feeling a tiny bit more cheerful, he walked toward the orchard fence. A +gentle breeze was blowing toward him, bringing the delicate scent of +apple blossoms. He leaned on the fence, inhaling deeply and gazing at the +riot of blossoms in the orchard. When it is spring in southern Missouri, +one must have a very deep sorrow to remain downhearted long. Jim, being +young and normally very healthy, was recovering his spirits rapidly. He +wrinkled his short nose and after inhaling the odor of apple blossoms +again, decided that he would go closer to the trees. Now that no one was +about he might even break off a sprig of blossoms. Having a healthy fear +of appearing a sissy, he would never think of doing such a thing if his +sister Jean were present. Flowers were for girls as far as he was +concerned. + +He was halfway across the orchard when he remembered the bull. The big +red bull was Mr. Meadows' pride and joy but Jim's pet abomination. He was +afraid of it and very reasonably so, as it was a mean-tempered animal. +Feeling rather panicky, Jim turned to hurry back toward the gate. It was +too late. Unnoticed, the bull had slipped behind him and was now blocking +the way. The big animal was standing very quietly, looking straight at +Jim. There was a wicked look in the bloodshot eyes that indicated plainly +that he had no intention of remaining quiet long. + +With a sinking sensation in his stomach, Jim looked around frantically, +trying to figure which fence was the closest. It was rather a tossup as +to distance. Choosing the fence bordering the road as being the easiest +to climb, he began backing cautiously toward it, keeping his eyes on the +hostile bull. + +As Jim made up his mind which way to move, so did the bull. He snorted +several times, pawed the ground ferociously, lowered his head and charged +toward the boy. The powerful feet dug into the soft ground as the big +body gathered speed in a ponderous rush. Jim knew he would never make the +fence in time. He was frightened, but not too frightened to think. Once +the huge bull was up to top speed he couldn't change direction quickly. +As the thundering feet drew dangerously close, the boy darted quickly to +the right and ducked behind the nearest apple tree. The bull swerved and +roared by like an avalanche. + +Jim was safe for a moment, but he knew he would not have long to wait +until the bull charged again. The animal had turned around and was pawing +and snorting. Reluctantly Jim gave up all ideas of reaching the fence. He +grabbed the lowest branch of the apple tree and swung his stocky body +upward. He was just in time, for the bull rushed underneath him like an +express train. + +Giving a whistle of relief, the boy climbed higher. Finding what appeared +to be a comfortable perch, he settled down to consider the situation. +Apparently he would simply just have to sit there and hope the bull would +forget him. The bull decided to play a waiting game too. He pawed and +snorted for a time and then calmed down. Although he grazed quietly, he +showed no signs of leaving the vicinity. Just as Jim would begin to grow +hopeful, the animal would lift his head and gaze balefully up into the +tree. This began to appear very one-sided to Jim after a few minutes. +While the bull could amble around at his ease, the most Jim could move +was a few inches. What had appeared a comfortable seat began to grow very +irksome. + +He shifted around trying to find a soft spot. It was impossible. One spot +was as bad as another. There was a limit as to how long one could sit +comfortably in an apple tree. Now Jim grew really sorry for himself. How +he wished he could have gone into town with his family. That was the most +exciting event of the week. First they took the cream to the Springdale +Creamery, where he could walk around inhaling the clean smell of steam +and butter. It was fascinating to watch the huge revolving churns. He +supposed today would be one of those times when Mr. Slemak would offer +everyone a drink of cold buttermilk. + +The grocery store was fun too. Probably Jean was sampling the cookies +now. When his father paid the grocery bill there was always a bag of +candy for both him and Jean. He hoped Mr. Higgins wouldn't forget him +just because he wasn't along. Jim sighed miserably. Instead of smelling +the odor of newly ground coffee, here he was up in a tree smelling apple +blossoms. The scent which was so wonderful before was getting rather +tiresome now. + +"What a mess!" he said to himself. He looked down at the bull, his anger +mounting. "Go away, you big dope!" + +That did no good either. Jim remained uncomfortably in the tree. To make +matters worse, bees began to buzz around entirely too close to his head. +Holding on to the tree with one hand and swatting at bees with the other +was not pleasant exercise. Suddenly he remembered he hadn't closed the +orchard gate behind him. If the bull did wander away, he would be +perverse enough to head straight for the gate. The yard gate was open +too, so the way onto the road was clear. Once he was out on the road +there was no telling where the animal might stray. Now Jim was torn +between hoping the bull would go away and wanting him to stay. Either +way, he decided he was in a pickle. His parents would either come home to +find him trapped in the apple tree or else would find the bull loose and +strayed to parts unknown. + +The thought of Colonel Flesher came like a ray of light. The stock buyer +was supposed to arrive about three o'clock. If the bull were still +standing guard beneath the tree, the colonel could come to the rescue and +all would be well. Jim shifted his perch slightly and hoped the stock +buyer would arrive soon. It seemed as if he had been in the tree for +hours. He reached in his pocket but his hand found nothing. With a +horrible sinking feeling he realized his precious watch was gone. It must +have bounced out of his pocket while he was racing for the tree. With an +effort he kept back the tears. He looked back along his recent path, +hoping to catch the glint of gold. There was nothing in sight but the new +green grass. If the bull had trampled on it during his mad rush, the +watch was probably broken and buried in the soft earth. Completely +dejected now, Jim sat in the tree and mourned. It was certainly a +heartbreaking day. + +He was so deep in his misery that he did not notice a strange cavalcade +coming over the hill until the creaking of wagon wheels and the neighing +of a horse caused him to look up in surprise. The procession, which was +nearing the yard gate, was so unusual and interesting that Jim forgot his +woes and stared in excited curiosity. First there was the oddest wagon he +had ever seen. It was a large wagon with a sort of house built on the +chassis. The house had a flat roof which stuck out in front and overhung +the driver's seat, and the board sides contained two small windows. +Initially Jim thought it was a ranch chuck wagon, for he had been reading +Western stories; but then he changed his mind and decided it was more +like a circus wagon or like the wagons he had seen in the movies used by +traveling road troupes in the old days. + + [Illustration: Caravan of horse trader] + +Seated on the high driver's seat was an old man in a sombrero, whistling +cheerfully and clucking to a team of huge black horses. The team was +ambling along slowly, drawing the wagon with effortless ease. But what +attracted Jim's gaze most was the procession following the wagon. Strung +out behind were at least twenty horses of all sizes and colors--big gray +Percherons, medium-sized brown horses, sorrels, some dark bays, light +grays and a few whites. Jim looked at each horse in turn until finally he +came to the last in the string--a lean little mouse-colored horse whose +small body contrasted oddly with the other broad-rumped work horses. + +The fascinating cavalcade drew still nearer until it reached the gate. +The driver gave a slight tug on one rein and the wagon started turning. +Jim was so interested and delighted that he almost lost his seat in the +tree. The strange wagon and all those horses were coming in their yard! +Almost doubting his eyes, he saw the vehicle progress down the lane and +come to a halt, the long string of horses bunching up behind the wagon +until they too finally stopped. The old man climbed down from his high +perch and looked around inquisitively. Seeing no one in the yard he +started toward the house. + +"There's nobody home but me," shouted Jim loudly. + +The stranger turned around to look toward the orchard, and Jim got his +first good view of the visitor. He was a tall stringy individual with a +long gray handle-bar mustache that drooped from his upper lip and hid +much of the lower part of his face. He was obviously a very old man, but +there was nothing old about his movements nor the way his bright eyes +searched in the direction from which the voice had come. He looked +puzzled, for all he could see was apple blossoms. + +"And where are you?" he asked. + +"I'm up here in a tree," said Jim, poking his black thatched head as far +through its frame of apple blossoms as he dared. "The bull won't let me +climb down." + +"Treed are you?" asked the man, laughing at what Jim didn't think was a +funny situation. "Just how mean is that bull?" + +"Dad handles him without any trouble," replied Jim. "Once in a while he +has to hit him on the nose with a stick." + +"Be with you in a minute." The stranger hunted around until he found a +big piece of wood for a club. + +The bull decided he wasn't quite so ferocious when he saw a determined +man approaching with a sizable club. He gave a few disgruntled snorts and +then ambled off to the far end of the orchard. Thankfully Jim climbed +down from his uncomfortable haven. + +"Thanks, Mister," he said with feeling. "Now I've got to find my watch." + +He hurried back along the path of his recent flight from the bull, +searching the ground anxiously. About thirty feet from the tree he found +his watch, lying bright and shining in the sun. He picked it up and held +it to his ear. It was ticking away merrily. With a huge sigh of relief, +Jim put the watch in his pocket. + +"You really got me out of a mess," he said, as they walked toward the +gate. "I was trapped in that tree, the orchard gate was open, and my +watch was lying on the ground." + +"That looks like a pretty good watch to be carrying around in your +overalls." + +"It's about the best watch in the world I guess," said Jim proudly. "I +don't usually carry it every day." + +"Now you can do me a good turn," said the stranger as they went out of +the gate, fastening it this time. "I'd like to water my horses." + +"Sure, bring them over to the tank." + +Jim pumped more water into the big cement tank while the man led his +horses over to drink. First he watered the team he was driving and then +started with the string of horses behind the wagon. + +"How come you've got so many horses?" asked Jim, his curiosity getting +the better of his manners. + +"I'm a horse trader. Not many traveling horse traders left any more. I +usually have a lot more horses than these, but I sold fourteen +yesterday." + +"Gee," said Jim, "it must be a lot of fun to have so many horses." + +"It is if you like horses. It's a lot of work too. Most people find two +or three too much to take care of the way they should." + +"Do you live in that wagon?" asked Jim. + +"All but about three months of the year," replied the horse trader. "Now +let me ask a question. When's your pa going to be home?" + +"About five o'clock, I 'spect," Jim informed him. He looked at his watch. +It was not quite three. He hadn't been in that tree nearly so long as he +had thought. + +"Think your pa will want to trade or buy any horses?" + +"I don't think so," replied Jim. "We've got two teams that are pretty +good." + +The old man led the last horse to the trough for a drink. It was the +small brown horse that Jim had noticed at the end of the string. It +wasn't an impressive horse at all. It was very thin, the hip bones making +big bumps as if they were trying to push their way through the poor +horse's hide. There was an ugly, partially healed sore on his back, and +he limped slightly on his right foreleg. His coat was a shaggy lusterless +gray-brown. It was hard to tell what either the tail or mane was like as +both were so matted with cockleburs and bits of weed. Lastly, the little +horse didn't hold his head as he should, but kept it cocked to one side +as if he were looking at something very odd and interesting. To most +horse fanciers this odd position of the head would have been the crowning +defect of the long list, but it was just this feature that attracted Jim. +The pony seemed to be looking at him quizzically. As Jim looked closer he +was certain he saw a twinkle in the horse's eye as if the animal were +trying to share some sort of joke with him. + +Jim stopped pumping water and moved closer to the little horse. He was so +painfully thin and that sore looked so tender that Jim felt a surge of +sympathy. He wished the horse could stay there and rest. The object of +Jim's compassion lifted his muzzle from the trough, shook his head, and +snorted until he had blown the water from his nostrils. Then he looked +squarely at the boy and winked. This time Jim was certain the horse +grinned too. It was very plain what the pony meant. He seemed to say: +"Thanks for the water and your kindness. I'm rather deceiving in +appearance and am in much better shape than most people would think." + +Walking around to look at the horse from the other side, Jim spied a mark +on the pony's left shoulder. It was an _H_ lying on its side like this: + + [Illustration: Letter H lying on its side] + +"That's a brand, isn't it?" asked the boy excitedly. + +"Yep. I reckon that is the lazy-_H_ brand." + +"Where did he get it?" + +"Well, this is a Western mustang. The man I bought him from said a +carload of cow ponies was shipped in from Texas a couple of years ago. He +picked up this feller at the sale." + +"A real Texas mustang," said Jim, reverently. + +"He's a bit small even for a Western cow pony," said the trader, sitting +down on the edge of the water tank. "In fact there's a lot of things +about this horse that are different from most mustangs." + +"What?" + +"Well," drawled the old man, filling his pipe, "I'm in no hurry to get up +on that jolting seat again. Just set here awhile and I'll tell you a +little about Western horses, specially this one." + +"Swell," said Jim enthusiastically. "Can I hold the horse?" + +The old man passed over the halter rope and Jim sat happily on the well +platform holding on to the end of the tether. The horse looked at both of +them for a moment and then calmly started to crop the grass. + +"Western horses usually run pretty wild for three years or so," began the +old man. "Then they're broken for riding. They break Western horses quick +and rough and most of them buck every time they're saddled. A ranch horse +is worked only four or five months a year and then only three or four +days a week. Most of them, except the favorites, never get to know a man +real well and so usually they don't show much affection." He paused to +relight his corn-cob pipe. Reflectively he gazed on the glowing coal and +drew on the pipe stem noisily while Jim waited impatiently. + +"This little feller is different. Plenty of spirit, but about as gentle a +horse as I've ever seen. Gentle, that is, if he likes you. In the five +days I've had him I can tell he'd develop a real likin' for anybody that +treated him at all reasonable." + +"I'll bet he would," agreed Jim, looking at the horse. + +"He's a good horse, but I don't know just what I'll do with him. He's not +a work horse--too small for heavy work. He's really a saddle horse and +people in these parts don't go much for saddle horses unless they're rich +people. Then they want something fancy like a Kentucky saddle horse. But +I felt sorry for this critter and I bought him." + +"Felt sorry for him? Why?" asked Jim with great interest. + +"He was bein' mistreated. You can't be a horse trader for fifty years +without becomin' real fond of horses. It gets you mad to see anyone treat +an animal mean. So I picked up this pony mainly to get him away from the +skunk that owned him. Look how thin the horse is. Why I'd bet money he +hasn't had a feedin' of grain in the two years that man had him. Of +course, these Westerns are tough. They run wild all winter and find feed +where other breeds would starve. But this pony was turned out in a field +where there wasn't enough grass. Nothing to eat except straw. That +strawstack was all the shelter he had too. You can tell from that long +shaggy hair that he was out all winter. It will take a lot of curryin' +and plenty of oats to get that coat in shape." + +"You mean he was out in the snow and everything?" asked Jim. + +"The snow isn't so bad. He's probably used to that. But when horses run +loose in the winter out West, they don't have nothin' else to do but hunt +for feed. This horse has been rode all winter too. See those saddle +galls?" said the trader, pointing. "They're recent. A horse can't do much +work on a diet of straw and then stay outside in the cold to boot. He +needs a layer of fat to keep him warm." + +"How did he get those saddle sores?" inquired Jim. + +"Been saddled wrong." + +"They look awful sore." + +"They were, but they're healing now that I'm givin' them a little +attention. If nobody rides him for a while, they'll clear up all right." + +"He's lame too," pointed out Jim. + +"Yep, nail in his foot. The owner just pulled the nail out--nothin' else. +I was sort of takin' a chance buyin' the horse at all. He might have +developed lockjaw. Once a horse gets lockjaw you might as well shoot him. +But I pared out the hoof, soaked his foot in a lysol solution, and worked +some iodine into the puncture. I've given him a couple of treatments +since and he's out of danger now. In a week you'd never know he'd stepped +on a nail." + +The long story of the mustang's mistreatment and ills had aroused Jim's +sympathy. He looked at the horse with even greater interest than before. +Several times the little horse raised his head and appeared to give the +boy a good-natured nod. The fact that the pony was still gentle and +apparently in high good humor after all he had been through particularly +appealed to the boy. + +"How much would you sell that horse for?" he asked impulsively. + +"Well, I reckon he's worth about forty dollars," said the old trader +appraisingly. + +"Gee," said Jim sorrowfully. "I guess he's worth that all right but I +only got three bucks." + +"I'm afraid three dollars would be a mite too cheap," said the man +laughing. "I know he looks like three dollars now, but he'll shape up. +Feed him properly and take care of him and you'd be surprised at the +improvement. I haven't had time to work on his coat or tail but a few +weeks would do a lot." + +"How old is he?" + +"Six years, I figure. He's a good sound horse. You take a good look and +you'll see that he has his better points." + +It was true. On closer inspection the first bad impression began to fade. +The pony had a short barrel, straight unblemished legs, and a deep chest. +Aside from their extreme thinness, his hind quarters were well +proportioned. Both eyes were bright, clear and alert. + +"He sure looks like a good horse to me," said Jim truthfully. He knew +nothing about the finer points of horses, but the little mustang appealed +to him. He liked the horse and that settled the matter. Naturally he was +a fine animal. + +"He is a good horse. No fancy gaited animal but just a good sturdy ridin' +horse. Some of these days I'll find someone who'll appreciate him and +take good care of him." + +"I'd appreciate him," thought Jim enviously. "And I'd take awfully good +care of him." + +Apparently the horse read Jim's thoughts, for he raised his head, cocked +it even farther to one side, and stared straight at the boy. It was a +friendly look that clearly said, "Yes, I know, Jim; we'd be good +friends." + +Sorrowfully the boy watched the old trader tie the mustang to the end of +the string and then climb up on his wagon. How he would like to own that +horse. A real mustang with a brand. He and that pony certainly could have +fun together. + +The wagon turned around and started down the lane. Jim felt as sad and +lonely as if his best friend were departing forever. If only he could +have gone to town. Then he would not have seen the little mustang and +wanted him so. He pulled out his watch. Three-thirty. Time had passed +rapidly enough while he was looking at the mustang. Now it would drag +again. Suddenly he looked at the watch as if he were seeing it for the +first time. His grandfather's watch--his most prized possession. He +couldn't possibly part with it. He raised his eyes and saw the mustang +going out the gate. Headlong he ran after the wagon. + +"Hey, Mister! Wait a minute please!" + +The horse trader heard the frantic cry and pulled his team to a halt. He +looked down inquiringly as Jimmy rushed up beside him. + +"Would you trade that mustang for my watch?" Jim asked in a rush of +words, as though afraid that if he hesitated he would lose his nerve. + +"Well, I might now," answered the old man. "What kind of a watch is it?" + +"Here it is," said Jim, pulling out his precious watch. He stood on +tiptoe to hand it up to the trader. + +The old man examined the watch carefully while Jim watched nervously. The +trader held the watch to his ear, removed the back and inspected the +shiny works. + +"Look, son," he said finally, "this is _your_ watch, isn't it? Not your +father's?" + +"It's mine, really mine," said Jim in desperate eagerness to be believed. +"It was given to me on my birthday." + +"How about it? Would your father and mother be mad if you traded it for a +horse?" + +"I don't see why. It's my watch," protested Jim. The thought made him a +little uneasy. He wondered if they would care. His resolution began to +waver. Then he looked at the mustang and his doubts vanished. How he'd +like to have that horse! + +"Well," drawled the old man slowly, "I got my doubts about how this is +goin' to set with your pa. But I know you want the horse more than you do +the watch. It wouldn't be an uneven trade either. This is a good watch +but not an awful expensive one." + +"Then I can have the horse?" asked Jim in eager anticipation. + +"If you're sure that's what you want. I hate to be the cause of any +trouble though. Tell you what I'll do. I'll be back by here in about +three, four months. You tell your father that. My name's Ned Evarts--Old +Ned Evarts. In fifty years of horse tradin' no one has ever accused me of +tellin' a lie. When I come back I'll still have the watch. If you're not +satisfied with the horse, we'll trade back." + +"That sounds fair," said Jim judiciously. + +The trader reached inside the wagon and pulled out a bridle. + +"Here's the bridle I got with the horse," he said, climbing down from the +wagon. "You'll need a bridle, so I'll throw that in. Now the horse has on +a rope halter. It doesn't look like much but it's sturdy. You can have +that too if you want." + +"Thanks, Mister," said Jim, beginning to be overwhelmed by all his new +property. + +"Now I'll tell you something," said the old man. "There is such a thing +as an honest horse trader even if people don't think so. A trader that +deals square will tell a man about any defects that he knows of inside +the horse. About his wind, whether he has the heaves, and things like +that. Anything that shows outside the horse, it's up to the buyer to see. +If he can't tell what he's buyin', it's his tough luck." + +"This horse looks all right to me," said Jim, stoutly defending his new +property. + +"He is," said the trader. "Since you're a young feller and haven't had +much experience tradin', I'd tell you if anything was wrong. This mustang +hasn't any defects we haven't already talked about. There's that saddle +sore, the lame foreleg, he's pretty lean, and his coat needs a lot of +work. Other than that he's sound. Now I want you to take notice of the +way he holds his head. It's kinda cockeyed. Now lots of folks would look +at him and figure him to be a mean horse. He isn't. That horse isn't a +bit mean; he's been mistreated and he's a little worried about whom to +trust. You be good to him and he'll be as gentle as can be." + +"He'll like me," said Jim confidently. + +"I think he will. One other thing--that mustang is a smart critter. +Horses are like people; some are just naturally dumb and others are +smart. I've been handling the animals so long I've kinda got a sixth +sense about 'em. Now this little feller is one of the smartest I've ever +run across." + +Evarts untied the mustang from the end of the string and handed the rope +to Jim. + +"Well, he's your horse. Good luck." + +"Good-by," said Jim as the trader climbed back on the wagon. "That's a +good watch too." + +Jim watched the wagon, with its trailing string of horses, move off down +the road. He felt a twinge of pain as he thought of his beloved watch +slowly moving into the distance. Then he felt a tug on the rope he held. +The horse was looking at him quizzically. + +"No, I'm not sorry I traded," said Jim, as if in answer to a question. +"But I'm going to miss that watch. I know what I'm going to do. I'll call +you 'Ticktock' after my watch." + + + + + Chapter Two + The Reception + + +After tying Ticktock to the orchard fence, Jim stepped back and regarded +his property with admiration. Ownership had caused the mustang to take on +new beauty in the eyes of the boy. There were so many things to be done +that Jim was uncertain where to start. He had to feed the pony, comb out +his mane and tail, give him a good grooming and do something about that +saddle sore. After much thought, Jim finally decided the most important +and most enjoyable thing to do was to win his horse's confidence. He ran +happily into the house and down the cellar stairs. There were still a few +apples left, he knew from frequent trips to the barrel. + +"Here you are, Ticktock," he said, returning with an apple. "It's a +winesap and no worms in it either." + +Cutting the apple in half, he carefully removed the core and offered +one-half in his outstretched hand. Ticktock moved forward cautiously. +After a few moments of doubtful sniffing, he picked the apple delicately +from the boy's outstretched palm. He ate it with obvious relish. + +"Liked it, didn't you?" asked Jim, getting more pleasure than if he had +eaten the apple himself. + +Ticktock didn't reply. He stuck his head forward and sniffed at Jim's +other hand. + +"Say, you're pretty smart," said Jim admiringly, as he gave the pony the +remainder of the apple. "You know there's two halves to an apple." + +By this time Jim felt confident enough to begin stroking the mustang's +head. Next he gently scratched the horse's ears. He knew dogs liked their +ears scratched, so why not horses? Ticktock didn't seem to mind, for he +stood patiently. Jim had progressed as far as the neck when there was an +interruption. Colonel Flesher drove in the yard in his little truck. The +fleshy stock buyer climbed out of his car and walked toward the boy. + +"Good afternoon, Colonel," said Jim, glad to see the visitor. Now here +was a man who would appreciate the finer points of a beautiful horse. +"Come see my mustang." + + [Illustration: Selling a mustang] + +"Mustang, eh?" asked Colonel Flesher jovially. + +"Yep. A real Western. Isn't he a beauty?" + +Colonel Flesher looked at the little horse doubtfully. He pursed his lips +searching for the right thing to say. The boy's enthusiasm left no doubt +as to what sort of answer was expected. + +"Well, he's a bit thin yet to be called a beauty," he said, evading +nicely. + +"He may be a little thin," admitted Jim unwillingly, "but I'll fix that +up in no time. He's a Texas ranch horse." + +"That so?" asked the colonel, glad to be off the subject of the mustang's +appearance. "Where'd you get him?" + +"Traded a gold watch for him. I made a fine deal. He's worth a lot more +than a gold watch, isn't he?" + +"Well, that all depends on the watch," answered the stock buyer +cautiously. "There are all sorts of watches you know, some cheap, some +valuable." + +"I've never seen a watch that was worth half as much as this horse," said +Jim hotly, realizing that Colonel Flesher wasn't too enthusiastic about +Ticktock. + +"Hm-m-m, well," hedged the colonel, trying to be truthful and still not +hurt the boy's feelings. + +"You wait," said Jim confidently. "Wait until I get him spruced up a bit; +then you'll see. He's probably the smartest horse in the whole state." + +"That could be true enough," said the stock buyer, glad to find something +on which they could agree. "I'd like to spend more time looking at him, +son; but I'm in a big hurry. Can you tell me where the calf is that I +bought from your father?" + +Jim led the calf out of the barn and over to the truck. The two carried a +small stock chute to the back of the truck. By dint of much pushing, +pulling and coaxing, the calf was finally loaded. + +"Here's the fifteen dollars for the calf," said the colonel. "Thanks a +lot for helping me." + +Jim returned to his horse. Colonel Flesher's lack of approval didn't +bother him in the least. He shrugged his shoulders. After all the stock +buyer bought cows largely, and probably wasn't able to see Ticktock's +wonderful qualities. He went out to the barn for a curry comb and brush. +Now he hoped his family wouldn't be back for hours. He had visions of the +mustang looking like a show horse by the time they returned. + +Currying Ticktock turned out to be a much bigger job than Jim had +anticipated. After the first ten minutes he sadly conceded that it would +be a matter of weeks instead of hours before he could have the pony's +coat sleek and glistening. He tried unsuccessfully to comb out a few +strands of the matted mane and gave up. Instead he started to work on a +shoulder--that looked easier. After twenty minutes of hard work, he was +resting his tired arms when the family drove in the yard. Jim ran +excitedly over to the car, jumping on the running board as the car +stopped. + +Since the driver's seat was on the side toward the orchard, Mr. Meadows +saw the mustang first. + +"Where did that nag come from?" he inquired. + +"Nag!" said Jim, astounded. "Why that's a real Texas cow pony with a +brand and everything." + +"All right," said Carl Meadows, grinning at his son. "Where did that real +Texas cow pony come from?" + +"I traded for him," said Jim proudly. + +"You did what?" + +"Traded for him." + +"Traded what?" asked Jim's father. + +"My gold watch. I got the horse, a halter and a bridle, all for my +watch." + +Mr. Meadows said nothing, but the grin vanished. Very slowly and grimly +he got out of the car and walked toward the horse. Mrs. Meadows and Jean +followed, all gathering in front of the mustang. Ticktock stopped grazing +and looked up inquiringly at his suddenly large audience. + +"You traded your grandfather's gold watch for _that_," Mr. Meadows asked +finally, with a contemptuous wave of his hand toward the horse. + +"Uh-uh." Jim sensed that matters were rapidly becoming difficult, so he +tried to ease the situation as much as he could. "He's the smartest horse +you ever saw." + +"I don't know how smart the horse is," said his father, "but I'm +beginning to have some doubts about you, Jim. I gave you that watch +because I thought you would take care of it and appreciate it." + +"But I did appreciate it!" cried Jim in a hurt voice. + +"Not enough, apparently, to prevent you from trading it off for a +broken-down piece of horseflesh." + +"He isn't broken-down," replied Jim, coming to the defense of Ticktock. +"He's a beautiful horse." + +"Well I'll be--" + +"Carl!" said Mrs. Meadows sharply. + +"Well, it's enough to make a man swear," said Mr. Meadows. "Jim, who +palmed this crazy-looking nag off on you? I'm going to take it back and +get your watch back." + +"I don't want to trade back," cried Jim. "I want to keep Ticktock." + +"Who was it?" repeated his father. Mr. Meadows' usually good-natured +expression was replaced by one of angry determination. Jim knew he had +best answer the question. + +"A traveling horse trader named Ned Evarts," he replied. + +"A traveling horse trader!" shouted Mr. Meadows, grabbing his head in his +hands in despair. "That is the last straw. There's no telling where the +rascal is now. Still, I'm so disgusted that I've half a mind to phone the +sheriff to see if the man can be located." + +"Don't do that, Dad," Jim pleaded. "He asked me if I was sure it would be +all right with you." + +"Well that is about as low a piece of swindling as I've ever +encountered," said the older man, "taking advantage of a boy!" + +"He wasn't a swindler. Besides, he said he'd be back this fall and if I +wasn't satisfied, he'd trade back." + +"Back this fall," scoffed his father. "Why he'll have that watch in the +first pawn shop he finds. He's probably laughing now at how he got rid of +such a broken-down old plug." + +Miserable as he was, Jim was not going to let anyone make remarks about +Ticktock. "He isn't broken-down and he isn't old either. Only six years +old." + +"Six years old!" said Mr. Meadows scornfully. "Why he's closer to +sixteen. Did you look at his teeth?" + +"No." + +"Well, I'll show you something about your valuable horse!" said Carl +Meadows, advancing toward Ticktock. + +The mustang had been watching and listening to the argument with +interest. He couldn't understand the words, but there was little else +that he missed. The frequent looks of contempt that Carl Meadows had +given him hadn't passed unnoticed. Ticktock was a horse of considerable +independence. He wanted people to like him, but if they didn't, he wasted +little time in trying to win their favor. Affection was a two-way affair +with him. Mrs. Meadows and Jean were neutral and puzzled respectively, so +Ticktock reserved judgment on them. But the mustang definitely did not +like the tall man. When Mr. Meadows reached out confidently to open his +jaws, Ticktock promptly took a nip at one of the outstretched hands. It +wasn't a savage bite--just a moderate bite, as the mustang didn't hate +the strange man. He merely didn't want to be handled by anyone who +disliked him. However, the nip was enough to take the skin off one finger +and draw blood. + +Mr. Meadows jerked his arm back and really cursed this time. He shook the +injured hand and glared with hatred at the pony. + +"That settles it. That mean-tempered beast has got to go. I won't have a +vicious horse on my place. The next thing you know he will kill someone." + +Jim was very alarmed at the accident. He hadn't expected outright +approval of his trade, but he certainly had not anticipated such violent +opposition. Now the biting had climaxed the situation. He felt sorry +about his father's injured hand but somehow he knew how Ticktock felt and +was in sympathy with him too. + +"He isn't vicious, Dad. He's just not used to you. Look here." + +Before his father could stop him, Jim stepped forward and took hold of +Ticktock's muzzle. He opened the mustang's mouth easily. + +"Want to see his teeth?" + +"No thank you. I've felt them; that's enough." Mr. Meadows was a very +tolerant man, but he was human and had a streak of stubbornness. He had +taken his stand and was not going to back down. "I've said all I'm going +to say about that horse. Come help me get the groceries out of the car." + +All through the chores Jim and his father maintained strict silence about +the mustang. Jim performed his routine work from habit, for his mind was +busy with its overwhelming burden of misery. After the chores he went +quietly in the house and washed for supper. During the meal he sat +abjectly staring at his plate, eating scarcely anything. Mr. Meadows +could not help noticing his son's misery; but Jim's father was angry and +determined, so he too sat in tight-lipped silence. Mrs. Meadows +maintained her stand of complete neutrality. That left only Jean, who had +forgotten the argument and just wondered why everyone was so silent. + +After supper Mr. Meadows went into the living room. Jim waited a few +minutes and then followed, determined to make another attempt to change +his father's stand. Mr. Meadows had always been very reasonable before. +Jim's mother left the dishes and went in the living room also, fearing a +peacemaker might be needed. + +"Look, Dad," said Jim, trying to approach the subject gradually, "there's +an empty stall in the barn." + +"I said the horse was not going to stay," said Mr. Meadows. "I simply +will not waste feed on a useless, mean-tempered horse." + +"He won't use any feed," Jim pointed out. "Just grass." + +"In the winter there is snow covering the grass," said the older man +dryly. + +"I'll earn money this summer to feed him through the winter!" declared +Jim confidently. "Besides, I already have three dollars." + +He reached in his pocket to make certain he still had his precious three +dollars. His hand found the fifteen that Colonel Flesher had paid for the +calf. In the excitement he had forgotten to give the money to his father. + +"Here's the fifteen dollars Colonel Flesher gave me for the calf." + +Mr. Meadows pocketed the money. "It's a good thing he didn't come before +the horse trader, or you probably would have thrown in the fifteen +dollars with the watch." + +"I would not," said Jim bitterly. He was now even more hurt than before. +"The money wasn't mine but the watch was. You gave it to me." + +Everything seemed to mount up in Jim's mind. He had felt like shedding +tears several times since his family's return, but he was no crybaby and +had held them back. Now once again he began to choke up dangerously; so +he started to leave the room. + +Mr. Meadows began to be somewhat sorry about his last words. He realized +that in his anger he had spoken rather hastily, and he saw his son was +deeply hurt. + +"I'm sorry, Jim," he said finally and rather awkwardly. "I shouldn't have +said that. I know you would never be dishonest or trade off anything that +didn't belong to you. I did give you the watch and it was your property. +It's just that I attached a lot of sentiment to the watch and thought you +would too." + + +Mrs. Meadows had been weighing the problem all evening. She hadn't been +too favorably impressed by Ticktock, but she knew with a mother's +instinct how precious the rawboned pony was to her son. Now that her +husband was in a slightly more softened mood she decided to strike. + +"Carl, come in the kitchen a few minutes," she said. + +As Jim waited anxiously, he could hear low voices coming from the +kitchen. He knew his parents as well as they knew him and suspected that +his mother was coming to his rescue. When his parents returned to the +living room, Mrs. Meadows was looking determined and a trifle triumphant, +while her husband was embarrassedly trying to look indulgent. Jim sat up +expectantly. + +"Your mother and I have talked over this matter," announced Mr. Meadows. +"We've decided to arrive at a compromise with you. You can keep the horse +this summer providing he isn't too mean and causes no trouble. But this +fall he goes. I will not feed him through the winter." + +"Hurrah!" shouted Jim and dashed out of the house. + +When you are not quite thirteen a summer is a lifetime. The fall seemed a +million years away--a tiny cloud away over on the horizon. Why school +hadn't even ended for the summer as yet. Jim went up to where Ticktock +stood, still tied to the orchard fence. He stroked the mustang's head and +told him the good news. + +"It's all set, Ticktock. You can stay. We've got the whole summer +together. You're going to get fat and really like it here. Now don't mind +if Dad doesn't seem to like you. He's really an awful nice Dad. It's just +that grown-ups don't understand a lot of things. You sorta have to make +allowances for them. We'll show everybody what a good horse you are. Only +if we're going to make a good impression you can't go around biting +people." + +The mustang took the good news very calmly. + +"Come on, old boy; I'll show you your new stall. It might rain tonight +and we don't want you to catch cold." + + + + + Chapter Three + The First Victory + + +The next few weeks were busy ones for Jim. School took most of the day, +while after school there were chores to do. Since Mr. Meadows maintained +his hostile attitude toward the mustang, Jim was very careful not to +shirk any of his farm work in order to spend additional time on Ticktock. +In spite of the full schedule, he managed to spend an hour or two on his +pony each day. He went over the pony's coat for an exhausting hour every +evening and worked on the matted tail and mane. A few applications of +methylene blue to the saddle sores caused them to start healing, while +the remaining lameness quickly disappeared. + +The first week-end Jim laboriously put in an entire new floor in +Ticktock's stall. He carried fresh clay from a hill on the other side of +the farm and packed it firmly over the floor of the stall. He kept the +pony's quarters scrupulously clean and filled with fresh straw for +bedding. + +While Jim was at school, the little horse cropped busily at the spring +grass and waited for his master's return. He sensed that Jim was the only +member of the family who was ready to lavish affection on him. Mr. +Meadows' hostility was quite open and apparent. Jim's mother, while at +least neutral, was seldom seen by the horse. As for Jean, Ticktock hadn't +quite made up his mind. Jim's little sister hadn't decided whether to be +scornful of the horse or to like him as she did all the other animals +around the farm. + +Under the circumstances it was not strange that the mustang welcomed Jim +home from school each afternoon, particularly since the reunion usually +meant an apple. The little pony had never had anyone really love him +before and he was quick to respond. Like most horses, the mustang had +always wanted to be close friends with some man. While the cow hands on +the range had treated him well, no one had ever singled him out for any +particular attention. He had been roped, saddled and worked. That was the +beginning and end of his ranch existence. Perhaps his very gentleness had +kept him from notice, as many cowboys preferred a rather wild and +unmanageable horse. Ticktock didn't lack spirit. He simply didn't see any +sense in bucking and kicking up a fuss. + +It was three days before Jim ventured to ride his horse. He examined the +saddle sores and decided they were not too tender and that he could avoid +sitting on them. He put on the bridle for the first time and led Ticktock +up beside a small platform by the feed shed. Gingerly he climbed on the +pony's bare back. Mrs. Meadows, unobserved, watched nervously from the +kitchen window. Secretly she thought the mustang looked somewhat +mean-tempered, but she kept silent. Her fears were unfounded, for the +pony stood calmly while Jim climbed awkwardly on his back. The horse +craned his head around as if to make certain his rider was firmly seated +and then stood waiting for orders. + +Jim sat puzzled for a moment. He had ridden their broad-backed farm +horses many times, but this was different. He had heard somewhere you +never clicked to a saddle horse--and he wanted to do things right. You +said "giddap" to a work horse, but that sounded a little undignified for +a Western ranch horse. Finally he just pressed with his knees, lifted the +reins and said: "O.K., Ticktock, let's go." The pony seemed to +understand, for he started off at a brisk walk. Once outside the yard +gate, Jim gave another press of the knees and they were off at a trot. It +wasn't a very comfortable trot, as jolting along bareback on a spine as +prominent as Ticktock's still was, couldn't possibly be anything but +painful. But Jim enjoyed every moment. As he was still being careful of +the pony's tender foot, he rode him only a short distance down the road. +The return trip was made at a full gallop. Ticktock was not slow, so the +horse and rider made a triumphant entry into the yard. + +As Jim slid off there was no doubt in his mind that Ticktock was the +fastest as well as the finest horse in the world. + +After the first trial, Jim went for a daily ride, each one growing +longer. He led the horse into the yard, took the bridle over to the +platform, gave a shrill whistle, and Ticktock would trot up to be bridled +and mounted. Then they would go dashing off down the road, chasing +rustlers, carrying the mail, or acting out whatever happened to be the +current daydream. + +Springdale no longer held any fascination for Jim. Saturdays were too +precious to be wasted in town. There were too many odd jobs to be done. +He repaired Ticktock's feedbox, and built a rack for a bucket in one +corner of the stall. He wasn't going to ask anyone to water his horse +when he was away, and he had no intention of letting the pony be thirsty. + +The second Saturday after Ticktock's arrival, Jim was lying on the front +porch resting from his labors. He munched on a cookie and gazed +contentedly at his horse. Ticktock was in the front yard grazing. The +regular pasture didn't seem quite luxuriant enough to Jim. Besides he +planned to ride any moment now and wanted his horse near. The orchard +would have been the ideal spot but the bull was again occupying that +area. The boy thought about the bull and frowned. + +Jim wasn't the only one who disliked the bull, for Mrs. Meadows was very +nervous concerning the big red animal. She was also home this particular +Saturday. Her last words to her husband, before he and Jean left for +town, had been about the mean-tempered bull. + +"Carl, I wish you'd see Colonel Flesher and sell that ugly brute. When I +stay home without you I'm always afraid that he'll get loose." + +"I'll get rid of him this fall," Mr. Meadows had said, laughing. "He's +safe enough in the orchard and I'm certain there's nothing you'll want in +there today." + +Jim lay thinking about the time he had been trapped in the tree. He was +still angry about that and wished he could think of some way of evening +the score. Besides, that orchard would certainly make a nice private +pasture for the horse. Grazing in the yard was not too satisfactory. His +mother had objected at first on the grounds that Ticktock would eat or +trample her flowers. They had finally compromised by agreeing that the +mustang could graze on the strip between the drive and the orchard fence. +As Jim disliked tethering his horse, he had to watch carefully; but it +was worth it. The pony was near and each mouthful he ate was that much +less lawn to be mowed. + +Jim was turning over the weighty problem of whether to go for a ride now +or to try arguing his mother out of another cookie, when he noticed the +bull coming through the orchard gate. Either the gate had been insecurely +fastened or else the latch had been broken. He jumped to his feet in +alarm. + +"Mother, the bull's loose!" he shouted. + +His mother came through the door onto the porch just as Jim started down +the steps. She made a frantic grab and caught her son by his overall +suspenders. She pulled him, kicking and struggling, back to the center of +the porch. + +"Where do you think you're going?" she demanded. + +"Ticktock is in the yard," pointed out Jim, almost beside himself with +fear for his precious horse. + +"The bull won't bother a horse," Jim's mother reassured him. + +"He will too!" cried Jim. "I saw a movie of a bull-fight and bulls +sometimes kill horses." + +"Nevertheless, you are staying right here," said Mrs. Meadows firmly. "If +anybody gets hurt, it is not going to be you. Besides, Ticktock is a +ranch pony. He can take care of himself." + +The bull took a long curious look at the mustang who continued to graze +peacefully. Ordinarily the bull stayed clear of the large work horses but +the pony looked small enough to intimidate. He gave several snorts and +began to paw with his front foot. Ticktock just went on grazing, ignoring +the bull completely. The big animal lowered his head and prepared to +rush. Jim squirmed and struggled in another attempt to get free but his +mother now had him by the arm and showed no intention of letting him go. +Jim wasn't quite certain what he could do if he were free. All he could +think of was that his pony was in danger. + +"He's going to rush!" he shouted. + +"You couldn't stop him," said his mother. She too began to wonder about +the mustang's safety. + +The bull lunged forward, gathering speed as he went. His short legs +worked furiously, like pistons in a racing engine. Just as he seemed +certain to smash into the pony's side, Ticktock jerked his head up and +made a quick wheeling movement. The bull rushed past harmlessly. + +"There!" said Mrs. Meadows, with a huge sigh of relief. "Ticktock can +take care of himself." + +"I guess he's too smart for an old bull," said Jim with more confidence +than he really felt. + +The bull turned around and was pawing again. After his experience in the +orchard, Jim was well acquainted with the ugly animal's tactics. + +"Look out, Ticktock!" he shouted. + +The mustang needed no warning. He was watching the bull with a quizzical +look. He seemed amazed, as if he couldn't quite believe that a "cow +critter" could possibly be stupid enough to try any tricks on a smart +ranch pony like himself. He cocked his head and stood waiting as if he +were saying, "I'll just wait and see if this is really true. Maybe I just +imagined that bull was rushing at me." + + [Illustration: Bull and pony fighting] + +The bull rushed all right. He came ploughing across the yard like a +freight train, the driving hooves taking huge chunks out of the smooth +green sod. Ticktock calmly and neatly side-stepped. He decided this time +that he hadn't been mistaken. The bull was actually trying to scare +_him_. The whole thing was ridiculous. As the bull came charging back the +third time the pony decided he had enough of such foolishness. He wheeled +sharply when the animal was a few feet away. As the bull roared past, +Ticktock lashed out sharply with both hind feet. Running the open range +as a colt had taught the mustang how to use his only weapons, his feet. +He had learned well, as the bull now discovered. Ticktock planted a firm +kick squarely on the fat side of the big red animal. The bull, almost +knocked over by the force of the blow, gave a loud bellow of pain and +surprise. Jim jumped up and down on the front porch, cheering as if at a +boxing match. + +"Sock him, Ticktock; let him have it!" + +By now Ticktock had his ears back and his teeth bared. He stood watching +the bull, willing to give him another lesson. The bull, however, needed +no more instruction. He promptly dropped all ideas regarding the little +pony, moving a respectful distance away. Snorting in baffled rage and +disappointment, he walked across the yard and began pawing furiously in +the flower beds. + +"My flowers," moaned Mrs. Meadows. "Now I know that bull is going to be +sold. I could kill him with my bare hands." + +"I'll chase him out," volunteered Jim. + +"No you don't. You are still staying here," insisted Jim's mother. + +Jim gave a whistle. "Come here, Ticktock." + +The mustang trotted up to the porch. Jim climbed on confidently. He had +no bridle but he was long since past the point where he needed reins to +make his wishes known to the pony. He rode over to the nearest tree and +broke off a substantial switch. + +"Come on, boy; after the bull." + +Ticktock went after the big animal. Cutting steers out of herds, chasing +back strays, and all such maneuvers were old routine with him. He needed +few directions; all he required was to know where Jim wanted the bull to +go. They turned the animal back and, after a few trys, chased him through +the orchard gate. + +Once inside, Jim gave the defeated and lumbering bull a triumphant swat +with his switch. The big beast broke into a reluctant run. Shouting and +waving his arms like a wild cowboy, Jim chased the vanquished bull to the +far end of the orchard. + +When finally there was no place farther to go, he relented. Returning, he +fastened the gate securely and slid off Ticktock. + +"You're the bravest and smartest horse in the world, Ticktock. I'm going +to get you something for a reward." + +Jim swaggered into the kitchen, trying to walk as he thought a bow-legged +cowboy would. + +"Ticktock is really a smart horse, isn't he, Mom?" + +"He seems to be very intelligent," admitted his mother. + +"We can handle that bull all right," boasted Jim. "Why we can chase him +all over." + +"I noticed you did," said Mrs. Meadows dryly. "I don't say he didn't +deserve it this time, but don't make a practice of chasing him. That bull +is going to be sold and there is no use running the fat off him." + +"Oh no, we won't run him," protested Jim. "But any time you want him +handled, just call on us." + +"All right," laughed his mother. "Now go get the apple you were planning +on asking for. And you can have a cookie for yourself." + +"One down," said Jim as he gave Ticktock his apple. "Mom's all for you. +We'll show the others too. You wait. If only you hadn't taken that bite +at Dad." + +The mustang stopped munching long enough to grin. + + + + + Chapter Four + New Allies + + +By the time school was over for the summer, Ticktock had filled out +considerably. His hip bones no longer appeared as if they were about to +poke through his hide, his neck was less scrawny, and his backbone, +though visible, no longer resembled the ridgepole of a tent. Jim could +ride him bareback without the painful discomfort of the first few weeks. +While the daily grooming had improved the pony's coat a good deal, there +were still patches that were far from satisfactory. Over all, the horse +presented a rather mottled appearance. As some of the snarls in the +pony's tail proved too much for Jim's patience, they had been removed by +means of scissors. The result was rather weird--some strands were long +and flowing while others were short and ragged. The mane was likewise +irregular. Jim couldn't bring himself to clip the mane short, as all the +cowboys' horses he had ever seen in the movies had long manes. So again +he had clipped where he couldn't untangle, ending up with a mane that +resembled a comb with half the teeth missing. But at any rate the horse +was free of burrs. + +There was no questioning the mustang's health or vitality. He frisked +about like a colt, showing that his wiry constitution hadn't suffered +permanently from his past mistreatment. Since to Jim the horse had +appeared beautiful in his original state, by now he was the embodiment of +all that was perfect in horseflesh. Ticktock ran to meet the boy each +time he appeared, even though it might be ten times a day. It had become +second nature to obey the boy's whistle. The two were on a perfect basis +of friendship and understanding. + +A few days after the summer vacation began, Jim hung on the orchard +fence, deep in thought. The summer was just beginning, but he hadn't +forgotten his father's decision the night he had traded for Ticktock. +Fall had to come someday and then the mustang would have to go. Mr. +Meadows had shown no signs of relenting toward the pony. He ignored the +mustang as much as possible and when he did have to notice the pony, his +eyes contained as much dislike as ever. + +Something had to be done, decided Jim. Perhaps he could think of some way +to earn money. If he could get enough money to pay for Ticktock's feed +for the winter, his father's chief objection would be overcome. Then with +his mother on his side, Jim felt he might win a reprieve for his horse. +He thought over the possible ways of earning money. There weren't many +jobs a boy could do on a farm that brought in cash. Certainly there was +plenty of work, but you did that anyway and didn't expect pay. Now a boy +in town could deliver papers, cut the neighbors' lawns and run errands. +Here on the farm it was different. Of course you could pick wild +blackberries and huckleberries and sell them, but it would be some time +before either were ripe and he couldn't afford to wait. No, things were +tough. Now he knew why boys left the farm. Feeling discouraged he went +into the house to see if there was something to eat that would take his +mind off his troubles. + +"Jimmy," said Mrs. Meadows, as her son ambled into the kitchen, "You +won't get that cake I promised. I forgot to get any vanilla extract when +I was in town." + +"Gee," said Jim disappointedly. Things certainly were tough. He sat +thinking a few minutes. + +"Look, Mom," he said brightening, "I'll just ride into town and get the +extract. It won't take long." + +Mrs. Meadows looked at her son's eager face for a moment and then gave +her permission. "All right. But you be careful of the cars when you get +in town. Motorists don't expect cowboys on mustangs to ride through the +streets." + +"Anything else you need at the store?" + +"How are you going to carry anything? You have to have your hands free +for the reins." + +"I'll take a burlap bag, put the things in it and then hang it across +Ticktock's back," said Jim with decision. At least if this errand didn't +earn any money it would prove to his mother that Ticktock was useful. And +then a cake wasn't to be sneezed at. + +Jim and Ticktock jogged contentedly into town, enjoying the warm +sunshine. Arriving at the town's sleepy main street, Jim looked around +thoughtfully. Where would he tie Ticktock while he was in Mr. Higgins' +grocery store? Hitching posts had long since vanished in Springdale. +Finally he spied a fire plug. Sliding off the pony's back, he looped the +reins over the plug. Perfect, he decided. He could use the fire plug to +climb back up on Ticktock when he returned. + +Mrs. Meadows had made quite a list of groceries, so Jim was gone some +time. Also he made no effort to hurry away from the store, as it was his +first visit to town since he had acquired Ticktock. He stood by the +coffee grinder and inhaled the wonderful odor of freshly ground coffee +while Mr. Higgins served the two customers ahead of him. Finally he got +his groceries, carefully stowing them in the burlap bag so the weight +would be equally distributed between the two ends. He tied the bag but +stuck the bottle of extract in his shirt pocket for greater safety. + +Carrying the bag of groceries over his shoulder, Jim returned to his +steed. The town constable, his star shining brightly on his blue denim +shirt, was standing by the fire plug eyeing the mustang with angry +disapproval. + +"This your horse?" the constable asked as Jim approached. + +"Sure is," said Jim proudly. + +"What do you mean tying him to a fire plug?" demanded Constable +Whittaker. + +"I couldn't find any other place to tie him," explained Jim reasonably. + +Robert Morgan, the younger of Springdale's two lawyers, came strolling by +at this moment. He stopped to listen to the conversation and to examine +Jim's horse. + +"Well, you can't tie him to a fire plug," said the constable. "It's +against the law." + +"Where will I tie him?" asked Jim. "I'm in town on business and I've +gotta leave my horse somewhere." + +"I don't know where you'll tie him, but fire plugs are out. Why I could +throw you in jail for this." Whittaker fingered his star, looking at Jim +threateningly. + +Jim began to be decidedly frightened. Desperately he tried to think of +something to say. + +"Don't believe you could, Whit," said Robert Morgan with a grin as he +entered the argument. "I was reading the town ordinances last night. It's +against the law to park a car within fifteen feet of a fire plug but I +don't remember a word being mentioned about horses. You wouldn't have a +leg to stand on in court." + +"Do you mean this kid can tie his nag to a fire plug and get away with +it?" demanded the big constable irritably. + +Ticktock, in the meantime, had been watching the argument intently. He +hadn't cared for the way Whittaker had glared at him during Jim's +absence. The horse could sense when anyone disapproved of him and was +quick to reciprocate. He had about decided he didn't like the constable +before any conversation started. During the argument he kept glancing +back and forth between Jim and the huge law officer. He had no idea what +it was all about but he could see that Jim was becoming frightened. As it +was quite plain that the constable was the cause of all the trouble, +Ticktock decided it was time to go into action. He edged around until his +hind quarters were close to the curb and pointed in the proper direction. +After looking over his shoulder to see if Whittaker were at the proper +range, Ticktock laid his ears back and a mean glint flickered in his +eyes. + +"Look out!" yelled Morgan. He pulled Whittaker back just in time, as +Ticktock lashed out with his left hind leg. + +"You not only haven't a leg to stand on," said Morgan, roaring with +laughter, "but you won't be able to sit down for a week if you argue with +this boy while his horse is around!" + +By this time there were a dozen onlookers present, all laughing at the +embarrassed constable. The latter, however, refused to join in the +merriment. He stood glaring at Ticktock. + +"You leave that horse on the main street again and I'll arrest him for +being a menace to the public health and safety," the constable threatened +Jim angrily. + +"I don't think you can arrest a horse," pointed out the persistent +Morgan, who was enjoying himself tormenting the law officer. "Besides, +you can't quarter a horse in the town jail. It would be unsanitary." + +At this wisecrack the bystanders became hilarious. One man was busily +jotting down notes on the back of a letter. + +"Nevertheless, don't let me see this horse alone on the main street," +warned Whittaker. He strode off, red and angry. + +"Thanks a lot, Mister," said Jim to the lawyer. He was glad the argument +was over. + +"Robert Morgan is the name," said the young attorney, extending his hand. +"I'm happy to have been of service. Any time you need any further legal +advice come to me." + +"I will," promised Jim seriously. "But I'm not planning on getting into +trouble if I can help it. My father wouldn't like it--and then I can't +afford a lawyer." + +"There are no charges," said Morgan laughing. "Just between you and me, I +wouldn't tie your horse to the fire plug even if it is technically legal. +I just wanted to bluff Whittaker since he was trying to scare you." + +"Tell you what," said the man who had been taking notes. "You can leave +your horse in back of my newspaper office whenever you want. You ride him +around there now and I'll show you where you can tie him. Then I'd like +to get your name and a few details if you don't mind." + +Jim rode Ticktock around to the alley to a small green plot in back of +the newspaper building. The editor and Robert Morgan were waiting for him +there. + +"Tie him to that tree," said the editor, "and come on inside for a +minute." + +Jim dismounted and followed his new friends inside. He looked curiously +at the presses and linotype machines. He would like to have examined the +machines more carefully but the two men went directly into a small office +with the label "Editor-in-Chief" written on the door. + +"Have a chair," offered the editor. "My name is Arnold, Bill Arnold." + +"Glad to meet you," said Jim politely. "I'm Jim Meadows." + +"I just want to get down a few facts for the _Gazette_," said Arnold. +"What is your horse's name?" + +"Ticktock." + +"That's an odd name," observed Arnold. + +"I called him that because I traded my watch for him." + +The editor seemed genuinely interested, so Jim told him about the +mustang. The boy had been longing to find someone who really wanted to +hear about Ticktock's merits, so he became very enthusiastic. He +described how he had traded for the pony and how quickly the horse had +learned. Very carefully he avoided mentioning that his father had been +angry and was not going to permit him to keep Ticktock permanently. + +"Thank you very much," said Arnold when he had finished taking notes. +"Watch for the _Gazette_ on Thursday. Ticktock will be in it. Now I think +we all ought to adjourn to the cafe and have some ice cream and a coke." + +Jim approved of that idea heartily, so the three went across the street +to the cafe. They joined a tall lanky man who was seated in a booth +drinking coffee. + +"This is Doc Cornby," said Arnold. "Doc, I want you to meet a young +horseman friend of mine, Jim Meadows." + +"How do you do, Jim," said Dr. Cornby gravely, shaking hands. + +"Bob has just been acting as legal counsel for Jim," continued the +editor. "He saved Jim's horse from the law and also the law from Jim's +horse. For details read your local newspaper when it arrives on the +stands Thursday." + +"Doc is a good man to know," said Morgan to Jim. "He's the best as well +as the only veterinary in town. If there's anything wrong with your +horse, call on him." + +"Oh, Ticktock's healthy," said Jim, "but I'll remember in case anything +does happen." + +Finishing his ice cream, Jim thanked the editor and got up to leave. + +"Look," said Morgan suddenly, "Let's hire Jim to distribute the bills +about the Co-op. He could take them around on his horse." + +"Good idea," approved the editor. "Do you know the countryside pretty +well, Jim?" + +"Why sure," said Jim. "I've lived here all my life." + +"Well, we will give you a dollar and a half a day. The idea is to deliver +bills advertising the new Farmer's Co-operative that we are forming. We +want to put a circular in the hands of every farmer within a radius of +ten miles. I have a big map at my office on which we can mark out the +territory. Want the job?" + +"I sure do," said Jim enthusiastically. + +"You be at the office tomorrow morning at nine or so. The circulars will +be printed by then and we can get started." + +Jim said nothing at home about his day's adventures, other than to +mention that he had a job for the next few days. The following morning he +hurried through his chores, gave Ticktock a hasty grooming, and then +rushed into the house to change into clean overalls. His mother had +prepared a lunch, which was ready for him, packed in a brown paper bag. +Jim looked inside to make certain he would have enough. Riding all day +would not ruin his appetite. There were three thick sandwiches, two +pieces of cake and two apples. It would do, he decided after some +consideration. + +"Thanks, Mom," he said. "Ticktock and I'll be home in time for supper." + +"All right, cowboy," smiled his mother. "Don't get lost now." + +"Get lost!" snorted Jim indignantly. "Why even if I did, Ticktock would +be able to find the way back." + +He went outside in high spirits, opened the orchard gate and whistled. It +was no longer an orchard in his mind but a corral which was the private +domain of the mustang. Of course, the bull was often there but Jim and +Ticktock ignored that animal as being beneath their notice. + +The pony trotted over to the feed shed for his bridle. As Jim put his +paper lunch bag inside the burlap sack, he thought longingly how handy a +saddle would be. You could tie things such as your lunch to the saddle +horn or, even better, get your mother to make some canvas bags to fasten +behind the cantle. The way it was now, you had to have equal weights in +both ends of the burlap bag to make it lie across the mustang's back. +Even then it was always sliding off. Well, decided Jim, that was one of +the problems of life. He did not have a saddle, but he did have a +wonderful horse--which was the important thing. + +While he was debating what to put in the bag to balance his lunch, he +realized suddenly that he had nothing for the horse to eat. There would +be plenty of green grass and clover by the roadside, no doubt, but they +would be on the move most of the time with few pauses for Ticktock to +crop. Also a horse needed something solid when he was on the go all day. +Feeling rather guilty, Jim went to the corn-crib and picked out six +choice ears of corn. He would tell his father that night, he decided. +After the remark Mr. Meadows had made about having no feed to waste on +Ticktock, Jim felt rather underhanded in giving the pony any grain. He +would offer to pay for the corn, now that he was earning money. + +The Springdale _Gazette_ was being run through the presses when Jim +arrived in town. He hung around the shop watching the machinery with +absorption. The inky smell and the activity of the print shop fascinated +him. It must be fun to write things and then see your words appear in +print. When Bill Arnold finally found a free minute and motioned for Jim +to follow him into the office, the boy went with reluctance. Perhaps he +could manage to be both an editor and a rancher when he grew older. + +The editor and Jim went over the area to be covered. Arnold outlined the +region on a huge county map which hung on the office wall. Jim made a +rough sketch, took a huge bundle of bills and started off to work. As he +jogged out of town with the bills in two bundles hanging over Ticktock's +back, he again found himself longing for the convenience of a saddle. + +It was pleasant riding in the warm June sun along the country roads. +There were flowers by the roadside, the fields were a bright green, and +the air was filled with the heady scent of the rich earth and its new +blanket of growing life. Birds sang in the trees while quail scurried +across the road or took off in their short plummeting flights. Jim felt +like taking off his shoes and wiggling his bare toes in the fertile +ground. + +It was fun delivering the bills. He and Ticktock developed a system after +the first few farms. They would jog along at a comfortable easy pace +until they reached the lane leading from the road. Then they would break +into a mad gallop, dashing into the farmyard as if on a mission of life +and death. Most of the men were in the fields working, but such tactics +invariably brought at least the woman of the house out on the porch to +learn the cause of the excitement. If there were any children present, +they crowded around to stare at Jim and Ticktock. Jim felt proud and +important, particularly if there were boys about his age. He would hand +his circular to the woman with a flourish. + +"Be sure to read that carefully," he told each one. "It's very +important." + +He was usually able to deliver the bill to someone without dismounting. +After he made his short speech, he would wheel Ticktock quickly and +gallop furiously out the lane, knowing that the envious eyes of the +children were following him. As soon as they were well out of sight, +Ticktock would lapse into a pleasant ambling walk until they reached the +next farm. The mustang seemed to enjoy the game as much as his master. +Each time he resumed his walk after a spectacular delivery he would turn +his head around to grin at Jim as if saying, "We certainly put on a show +that time, didn't we?" + + [Illustration: Galloping back to the farm] + +The first day passed rapidly. The second morning Jim was stiff from +riding all the previous day, but the soreness soon wore off. Noon found +the two near Briggs Woods, a heavily wooded area about six miles from +home. Jim's route was such that the shortest way took him along the one +road leading through the center of the forest. It was lonely and silent +once the high trees closed behind him, but the semi-gloom appealed to the +boy. He stopped beside a small stream in the middle of the forest to eat +his lunch. As he munched his sandwiches he could see narrow trails which +led back into the trees and hinted of mystery and excitement. There must +be pools in the depths of the woods, decided Jim, for the air was filled +with the croaking of frogs. A turtledove was giving its plaintive, +mournful coo in the distance and there were rustling sounds in the +underbrush that hinted of wild animals passing near by on their +mysterious errands. Jim inhaled deeply of the odor of pine needles and +moulding leaves. This would be a secret rendezvous belonging to him and +Ticktock. When he had finished this job, they would explore the forest +together until they knew it well. Somewhere, back up one of these little +winding trails, they would find a perfect spot for a hidden camp. + +After lingering so long in the woods, Jim was late in covering the area +he had mapped out for the day. He delivered the last bill and turned +Ticktock impatiently in the direction which he thought home to be. After +going several miles, he not only recognized no landmarks, but the farms +looked increasingly unfamiliar. He stopped and puzzled over his map. That +didn't help a great deal. He made a grimace and unsuccessfully tried to +figure out his bearings from the rapidly setting sun. Very crestfallen, +he had to admit that he was lost. + +Knowing that he could stop in at any farmhouse and ask directions, Jim +was not worried. However, he felt that to do so was to admit defeat. He +and Ticktock were a self-reliant team, and it would hurt his pride to +admit that they couldn't handle any situation. Also he knew these +Missouri farm women. They were kind--too kind to suit his purposes. They +would give him very complete directions and then insist that he have +something to eat. That would be fine, for he certainly was hungry, but +matters wouldn't stop there. They would promptly call his parents to keep +them from worrying. That was the last thing Jim wanted. Not only had he +boasted to his mother about not getting lost, but both she and his father +might forbid his delivering circulars again the following day if they +were afraid of his losing his way. No, there had to be a better way out. + +Ticktock looked around at his rider with a question in his eyes. He was +hungry too and couldn't quite understand what they were waiting for. + +"O.K., boy," said Jim suddenly. "You figure it out. Take us home." He let +the reins go loose. + +Ticktock set out confidently at a brisk trot. He turned right at the +first corner without hesitation. He was going somewhere, there was no +doubt of that. Jim hoped that it was in the right direction. After three +or four miles, Jim's confidence in Ticktock was justified, for the +countryside began to look familiar. + +"You're the smartest horse in the world," said Jim, patting Ticktock +fondly on the neck. "There's nothing we can't do. We'll really explore +that woods now. At least _you_ won't get lost." + +Mr. Meadows was reading the _Gazette_ when Jim arrived. The boy rushed in +the house full of the news of this fresh evidence of the mustang's +brilliance. + +"I didn't mean to be late to help with the chores," he explained, "but +after I got ready to come home I was all twisted up in my directions and +was going to ask the way, but instead I just let Ticktock go and he +brought us right home." + +"I have to admit that nag seems to have a sense of responsibility where +you are concerned," said Mr. Meadows dryly. "But where others are +involved he seems to have a streak of meanness. I warn you to watch him +closely, because if he causes any trouble, away he goes. Here, read +this." + +With these ominous words Mr. Meadows handed Jim the _Gazette_, pointing +to an article on the front page. Puzzled, Jim started to read. + + + Law Tangles with Horse + + Constable Whittaker came out second best in an encounter with a horse + last Tuesday. Ticktock, a fiery mustang from the far West, was + peacefully standing on Main Street while his master, Mr. Jim Meadows, + was engaged in business in Higgins' grocery store. Constable Whittaker + appeared on the scene and threatened to arrest the horse for being + illegally parked in front of a fire plug. The horse, refusing to + comment without benefit of legal counsel, stood his ground. Mr. Robert + Morgan, of Springdale legal fame, learning that one of his clients was + in trouble, rushed to the scene. He arrived at the same time as Mr. + Meadows, the horse's owner. + + A long legal discussion ensued as to whether or not it is unlawful to + park a horse by a fire plug. Ticktock, becoming tired of the argument, + decided to settle the issue by kicking Constable Whittaker out of town. + Our worthy law officer was saved from this painful fate by the heroic + efforts of Mr. Morgan, who not only wanted to protect Constable + Whittaker from injury but wished to prevent the question of assault and + battery from entering an already involved case. The constable + threatened to arrest the horse as a menace to public safety but further + thought convinced him that the doughty mustang would doubtless kick his + way out of jail in short order. + + The whole matter was settled out of court. The Springdale _Gazette_, + with its usual public spirited policy, has placed the yard in back of + the _Gazette_ building at the disposal of Mr. Meadows and his horse + whenever they are in town. Citizens may often see the mustang + peacefully grazing there these days. Ticktock is very friendly and + welcomes visitors, but they are warned to make no slurring remarks or + threatening gestures toward Mr. Meadows, as the horse is quick to take + offense where his master is concerned. + + + + + Chapter Five + The Pony Express + + +It took three more days to complete the delivery of circulars. On the +last day, Jim had covered the remaining area by mid-afternoon and was on +his way home when he noticed a farm that he had missed. It was a +dilapidated old place with tumble-down fences and a few rickety unpainted +buildings situated well back from the road, almost hidden in a clump of +trees. The whole farm looked so neglected and run-down that Jim decided +to deliver a circular there for the chief purpose of obtaining a closer +look at the place. + +After riding up a long, weed-choked lane, he reached the farmyard. It was +a barren, grassless yard, littered with odds and ends of farm machinery +and an old model-T Ford touring car with no top. Seated beneath a huge +tree was a white haired old man, drinking lemonade. A pair of bright blue +eyes looked quizzically at Jim from beneath shaggy white brows. + +"Howdy, son," he said, the leathery old face wrinkling into a friendly +smile. + +"How do you do," answered Jim politely. "Here is a circular all about the +new Farmer's Co-operative." + +As he leaned down to hand the paper to the old man, his eyes rested +longingly on the pitcher of lemonade. The look did not escape the bright +blue eyes. + +"Light a while and have a glass," the old man invited. + +Jim promptly accepted, sliding from Ticktock's back. His host looked at +the circular casually and then stuffed it in his pocket. He examined Jim +and the mustang much more closely. + +"Right pert-looking horse you got there, son," he observed finally. + +"Smartest horse in the country," boasted Jim. "He can do anything." + +"That so?" asked the man. "Reckon he could catch that shoat over there?" + +Jim looked in the direction of the pointing finger. A small black and +white pig was wandering loose around the yard, stopping to root in the +earth here and there. + +"I reckon so," answered Jim. "I don't know why a horse would be needed to +catch a pig though." + +"That shows how little you know about pigs," said the old man. "That +shoat is part razorback, part snake and the rest deer as near as I can +figure it out. Leastwise you'd think so if you tried to catch it. Been +loose three days now. Not that I mind pigs being loose around the +yard--they're sort of company to an old bachelor like me. But this little +thing is the orneriest critter I ever run across. Yesterday it went over +there where those beehives are and knocked three of them over. Today I +dropped my plug of chewin' tobacco and hanged if that shoat didn't eat it +before I could lean down. It's started killin' chickens too. Nothin' +worse than a hog that kills chickens; never did know one to be cured." + +"Where's its pen?" asked Jim. + + [Illustration: Runaway pig] + +"Over there," said the old man, pointing to an open gate. "I fixed the +fence so it'll hold if I can ever catch the dad-blamed pig. I guess I'm +too old to catch a pig like that. Too lazy too. I retired twenty years +ago and aside from a few chores, I been mighty happy doin' nothin' for +years, and now this fool shoat has to come along to upset my peace of +mind. If I don't catch it, I'll find it in my bed one of these nights. +Already found it in the kitchen once." + +"I'll chase it in for you," said Jim, finishing his lemonade. He got to +his feet confidently. + +Getting the pig back into the pen was not so simple as Jim had thought. +He had considerable experience with pigs but he had never encountered one +as wily as this. He chased around the yard after the elusive animal until +he was exhausted, without so much as getting the pig near the open gate +of the pen. Panting heavily, Jim regarded the shoat, which in turn looked +back at him with insolent contempt. + +"Feared you might have trouble," said the old man, who had not stirred +from his seat beneath the tree, but was watching with interest. "That's +why I suggested the horse. Maybe you can tire out the little wretch." + +Accepting the suggestion, Jim mounted Ticktock. Around and around the +yard they went after the pig. The latter showed no signs of becoming +exhausted but finally grew tired of the scene. The animal headed through +a gap in an old fence and started across an adjoining pasture which +contained a shallow muddy pond. In the open pasture Jim and his horse had +a decided advantage. While in the cluttered yard his speed had been +retarded by having to duck and turn, now Ticktock could open up. The +pig's short legs worked like mad but the horse was always behind him. A +quick turn of the shoat would cause Ticktock to rush past, but Jim would +wheel the mustang and in a few strides they would again be practically on +top of the pig. The fleeing animal now began to show signs of exhaustion. + +In the excitement of the twisting, turning chase, both Jim and the +mustang paid little attention to where they were going but simply kept +their eyes glued to the pig. After being left behind on another turn, +they came rushing up on the animal, to discover suddenly that they were +heading straight into the pond. The exhausted and panicky shoat began +floundering in the mud. Jim realized the danger at the last moment and +tried to rein in Ticktock. The mustang braced all four legs, trying to +stop, but his speed was too great. He slid forward into the slippery mud +like a sleigh, passing directly over the bogged-down pig. As the +mustang's hind legs cleared the pig, they hit a particularly slippery +spot and collapsed beneath him. The pony sat down in the shallow muddy +water with a resounding smack. As Ticktock sat, Jim slid down the sloping +bare back and in turn landed in the water. However, instead of sitting in +the soft mud, he found himself astride the muddy and now terror-stricken +pig. The animal let out one piercing squeal after another, wiggling and +thrashing in the shallow water. Once the muddy water had dripped from +Jim's eyes so that he could see what was happening, he grabbed the pig's +ears. He firmly retained his seat astride the squealing animal. + +Jim knew that it was only a matter of minutes before the struggling pig +would wriggle free, since the muddy creature was almost impossible to +hold. However, after all the trouble, the boy was not going to let the +captive escape if there were any way of preventing it. The burlap bag +which he had been using for padding on Ticktock's back had slipped off +with him. Grabbing it, he quickly slipped the bag over the pig's head. A +floundering muddy struggle ensued. Occasionally Jim was on top but just +as often it was the pig. Finally when both were about drowned, the task +was accomplished. The pig was in the bag. Covered with mud from head to +foot, Jim dragged the bag to shore. + +The old man, laughing uproariously, was waiting beside the pond. + +"You did it, by gum!" he said, when at last he stopped laughing. "Mighty +strange method though. Do you always catch pigs that way?" + +"I caught him, didn't I?" said Jim a little belligerently. He didn't see +much humor in the situation. + +"Sure did," said the old man, still grinning. "You're all covered with +mud and glory." + +The pig was too heavy to carry, so the old man got a wheelbarrow in which +they trundled the captured animal back to its pen. + +"That watering tank is good and clean," suggested the old man. "Why don't +you jump in, clothes and all and get some of that mud off?" + +After enjoying himself splashing in the cool water for a few minutes, Jim +emerged much cleaner and in a better frame of mind. He wiped the mud off +Ticktock's hind quarters and prepared to leave. + +"Thanks, son," said the old man, his eyes twinkling. "Here's two +dollars--one for catching that pesky animal and one for the +entertainment." + +Jim grinned and thanked his benefactor. It had been a profitable day; +although he hoped he could sneak in the house without his mother seeing +his clothes. + +The money earned by delivering circulars and catching the pig proved to +be only a teaser to Jim. Now that it had been demonstrated that he and +Ticktock had the capacity to earn money together, his ambition knew no +bounds. He worried and fretted over his inactivity. Surely there must be +numerous jobs that he and his pony could undertake. He considered going +from door to door in Springdale, offering his services, but it seemed a +tedious method of obtaining work. Then Robert Morgan gave him a better +idea. + +"How's the Farmer's Co-operative doing?" asked Jim when he chanced to +meet the young lawyer on the street. + +"Splendid!" said Morgan warmly. "You did a wonderful job delivering those +bills. From what I hear you must have been going at a mad gallop the +entire time. How did Ticktock stand the pace?" + +"We just galloped while we were being watched," explained Jim, with a +grin. "The rest of the time we went at a slow walk." + +"Smart work," said Morgan. "We got a great deal of publicity out of that. +Publicity is what you need, Jim, when you are trying to start something +new. You have to create interest." + +Jim thought over the lawyer's words all the way home. He was turning in +the lane when he found the solution to his problem. Going upstairs to the +privacy of his room, he began work with a pencil and paper. After much +thought and many false starts, his writing began to take form. He labored +for several hours, hunting up words in the dictionary, correcting his +spelling, altering and revising his sentences. + +The following morning Jim bridled his mustang and departed eagerly for +Springdale. Arriving at the _Gazette_ building he sought out the editor. +Arnold was seated in his office relaxing; his feet up on the desk, his +swivel chair tipped back and a pipe between his teeth. To Jim he was the +picture of editorial genius at work. Being an editor must be a fine +occupation. + +"I have a scoop for you, Mr. Arnold," announced the boy. + +"You have?" asked the editor, picking up his feet and a pencil from the +desk at the same time. "Have you and that horse of yours started a riot +or a revolution?" + +"Neither," said Jim. "Something else though. I've written it up for you." + +Arnold took the proffered pages, reading them carefully. Jim watched the +other's face anxiously as he read. + +"A very creditable job of reporting for a cub," said Arnold solemnly. +"There will have to be a few minor changes. For example, you shouldn't +say 'errands run lickety-split.' It would sound better to use some such +phrase as 'speedy messenger service.' You see, the _Gazette_ is a +dignified paper." + +"That does sound better," agreed Jim. "Do you want the story?" + +"I think we can use it," answered the editor. "What are your rates for +literary services?" + +"Oh, you can have this free. I need the publicity." + +"Tell you what I'll do," offered Arnold. "In return for the news story, +I'll run an advertisement for you. Would that be satisfactory?" + +"Swell!" + +"It's a deal then. I'll draw up something appropriate." + +Jim rode home feeling proud and important. The recent article about +himself and Ticktock, even though it had caused rather unfavorable +comment from his father, had made the boy hungry for fame. When the +_Gazette_ arrived Jim was waiting at the mailbox. His article was on the +front page carrying what seemed to Jim enormous block headlines. + + + New Business In Springdale + + _Pony Express Incorporated formed by Jim Meadows_ + + Mr. Jim Meadows, local young business man, has announced the formation + of a new enterprise in our community--The Pony Express Incorporated. + This business offers a variety of services to Springdale residents. The + owners, Mr. Jim Meadows and his horse Ticktock, will drive cattle to + market, provide speedy reliable messenger service, do chores for + farmers absent from their homes, perform light freighting jobs + (anything moved that can be carried in a burlap bag), or even baby sit + providing no changing of diapers is involved. + + Mr. Meadows and his horse, who were recently mentioned in this paper, + are full and equal partners in the new business. The Pony Express, + Inc., will use R.F.D. #2 as its address, telephone Springdale 6207. Mr. + Meadows, the president, will take all telephone messages, as the horse + is a silent partner. The advertisement of the Pony Express will be + found on page 3 of this issue. + + Springdale is fortunate to be chosen as the seat of this new + enterprise. The variety of new services offered will no doubt make life + richer and fuller for everyone. It is not yet known whether the + Springdale Rotary Club will extend an invitation to Mr. Meadows and + Ticktock to join the organization. + +While the article was much changed from its original form, and the last +paragraph was entirely new to Jim, there were still enough of the +original words remaining to make him feel that he had appeared in print. +Glowing with pride he turned to see his advertisement. It was equally +satisfactory. + + Turn Your Odd Jobs over to + _The Pony Express, Inc._ + (Ticktock and Jim, sole owners) + Errands run, quickly and reliably + Pigs caught + Cattle herded or driven anywhere + Confidential Messenger Service + _For anything that man and horse can do_ + CALL ON US! + Phone 6207 Ask for Jim + +Jim said nothing to his parents but let them discover the article +themselves. His father was first to see the paper. He read the news item +and advertisement, grinning with amusement and pride. + +"So you are in business now," he said. "How did you get all this free +publicity?" + +"Wrote most of it myself," answered Jim frankly. + +"I think you'll do all right," said Mr. Meadows. "Well, I'll give your +firm its first job. The bull seems to be in disfavor around here. How +much will you charge to drive it to town?" + +"Fifty cents." + +"You're hired," said Mr. Meadows promptly. "As a matter of fact, I think +your rates are too low. I would have paid a dollar." + +"Well, I gave you a special discount," said Jim. "When you do business +with relatives they always expect discounts." + + + + + Chapter Six + The Saddle + + +Jim set out for town with the bull haltered and trailing behind Ticktock. +He would have much preferred to drive the animal to market, but he +decided that discretion was better than playing cowboy. If the animal got +loose in the village and caused havoc, his father would never trust him +again. + +The bull had learned his lesson well and plodded meekly behind the horse. +Uneventfully the little cavalcade made its way into town, across the +tracks, and over to the stockyards. Colonel Flesher came out of his +weighing shed, which also served as his office, and greeted Jim. + +"Good morning, young man. I see the Pony Express is delivering the male." +He laughed so heartily at his own pun that his enormous stomach shook up +and down. + +Jim, who was very pleased that the colonel had evidently read his recent +publicity, grinned politely. The bull was led onto the weighing platform +and after being weighed, was put in one of the enclosures of the +stockyard. + +"How's business with the Pony Express Incorporated?" asked the stock +buyer. + +"Fair," answered Jim. "Of course, just starting in business this way +things are apt to be a little slow." + +"Have any trouble bringing that bull to town?" + +"Not a bit," answered Jim proudly. "Ticktock comes from a ranch, you +know, so he really knows how to handle stock. We could drive a whole +herd." + +"I don't doubt it," said the colonel. "I have to admit that I was a bit +off base where that horse is concerned. He has certainly improved since +the first time I saw him. I think I'll have a job for you in a couple of +days. There's about ten head of stock I bought from a farmer three miles +south of here. You interested in driving them in for me?" + +"Sure," said Jim confidently. "Any time you say. Ten head at my usual +rates would be two dollars." + +"That's quite a wage for a young man," said the colonel considering. "But +then there's the rising cost of living and the upkeep on your horse so I +suppose that's fair. Anyhow its cheaper than trucking them in. I'll give +you a call. Probably day after tomorrow." + + [Illustration: Leading a bull] + +"All right, sir. If I'm away on business my mother will take the message. +She acts as my secretary," said Jim, trying to speak casually. + +The telephone message came through as expected, and very much excited, +Jim set out. This was a job to his liking--herding cattle like a true +cowboy. He arrived at his destination, collected the ten head of cattle +and started toward town. Driving the cattle along the country roads was +not difficult. He kept the herd carefully to one side to avoid trouble +with passing automobiles. Now and then one of the "critters" would see a +tuft of grass on the opposite side of the road and try to break away. +Ticktock would quickly demonstrate his prowess as a cow pony and drive +the offender back into line. Altogether the trip to Springdale was +accomplished without any untoward incident. + +As they started through the edge of town toward the stockyards, +difficulties began to develop. At the sight of the wide inviting lawns on +each side of the street, the cattle really began to be troublesome. As +fast as one was chased back into the herd another would stray. Jim and +his pony both began to work up a sweat. About halfway through town, the +crisis came. One stubborn old cow, taking a fancy to some lettuce in a +vegetable garden, went ambling across the sidewalk with a determined +glint in her eyes. As Jim turned the pony after her, a steer broke ranks +and headed across a front lawn on the opposite side of the street. It was +a tough spot. You couldn't chase two strays in opposite directions and +herd the remaining eight cattle, all at the same time. With a sinking +feeling that he was failing at his first big job, Jim considered +desperately what to do. + +Leaving the reins dangling on Ticktock's neck, Jim slid from the horse's +back. "Keep 'em herded, Ticktock," he shouted, and started after the old +cow in the vegetable garden. + +Ticktock followed his instructions remarkably well. He seemed to sense +what was wanted and faithfully kept the remaining eight cows tightly +bunched. Shouting and waving his arms, Jim chased the old cow from the +garden before any damage was done except a few deep hoof prints in the +soft earth. As he herded the straying animal back across the sidewalk +toward the main herd, he looked for the stray on the opposite side of the +street. Dismayed he saw the steer was already across the well-kept lawn +and almost to an orderly flower garden which nestled at the side of a +little white bungalow. + +Just as the frisky young bull was about to plow into the little flower +bed, a liver and white shape came hurtling around the corner of the +bungalow, barking furiously. Ferociously, the dog went after the steer, +which turned tail and fled back toward the street. Nipping at the steer's +heels, the dog chased the animal across the sidewalk. + +"Here, boy. Come here, old fellow," shouted Jim as invitingly as he knew +how. He was deeply grateful to the dog for helping save the day, but he +didn't want the barking warrior to get the whole herd excited. Then there +would be serious trouble. Fortunately, the dog was well trained and +stopped his barking, trotting obediently up to Jim. It was a springer +spaniel with beautiful markings. Jim longed to reach down and pat his new +friend's head but the cattle seemed more important at the moment. By now +the herd was altogether again and Ticktock was doing a magnificent job +keeping the cattle tightly bunched. The little mustang was slowly +circling the herd which was now at a standstill. + +Since there was nothing available from which to climb up on the mustang's +back, Jim decided to walk the remaining short distance to the stockyards. +Moreover, it would be easier to keep the cattle under control with +himself on one side and Ticktock on the other. He started the cattle +moving once more. As they proceeded down the street, the spaniel +followed. At first, Jim tried to get the dog to return to his home, +fearing that the animal would start barking and stampede the cattle. But +the brown and white springer seemed determined to accompany him. He +turned out to be a very competent helper, trotting along on one side of +the herd very quietly until one of the cattle attempted to break from the +knot. Then the little dog would bark furiously and chase the offender +back into place. + +With perfect teamwork such as this, the rest of the journey was +uneventful. When they arrived at the stockyard Ticktock was on one side +of the herd, the dog on the other, and Jim walked behind. Colonel Flesher +came out of his office, watching the last stage with open-mouthed +amazement. + +"That certainly takes the prize," he observed when the cattle were safely +penned. "You, that horse and the dog all working together like clockwork. +I hope you didn't walk all the way to town." + +"No, just the last half-mile. It was simple out on the country road. +Going through town, I figured out this was the easy way to handle 'em." + +"Well, I have to admit you did it beautifully," said the stock buyer in +admiration. "I forgot to tell you, but that little road over there west +of the yards comes in parallel to the railroad tracks. There are no +houses or yards along that. It might be a little longer in case you have +to circle town to get to it, but it would probably be less trouble in the +long run." + +"I'll take that next time," said Jim, who didn't care to repeat his +recent experience. + +"Where'd you pick up Doc Cornby's dog?" asked Colonel Flesher, paying Jim +his two dollars. + +"Oh, I just recruited him on the way," said Jim very off-handedly. + +"Well, it's a mystery to me how you get these animals to work for you so +easily," said the colonel, shaking his head. "I'll have another job for +you in a few days." + +Thanking the stock buyer for the money, Jim climbed back on his horse and +whistled to the dog. He felt it was only fair to return the spaniel to +his home after the assistance the dog had given him. Arriving at the +bungalow, Jim dismounted and walked up to the door. His knock was +answered by a very pleasant-faced woman. + +"How do you do, Mrs. Cornby," he said politely. "I brought your dog back. +He was helping me drive cattle." + +"I saw what was happening from the window," said Mrs. Cornby, smiling. +"It was a good thing Horace was here to help you. That steer was heading +straight for my flowers. If it had ruined my prize begonias, I would +never have forgiven you." + +"He's certainly a smart dog. He was a big help." + +"He spent the last summer on my brother's farm. Bert taught him to go +after the cows each evening, so I guess he enjoys helping herd cattle." + +Mrs. Cornby had solved the mystery of why the dog had helped herd so +intelligently, but Jim was slightly disappointed. He would have preferred +to think that animals instinctively knew what he wanted. + +"If he likes to drive cattle, I'd be glad to take him along the next time +I bring some in," volunteered Jim. + +"Thank you very much, but I think not," said Mrs. Cornby. "He runs away +too much as it is and if anything happened to him the children would be +heartbroken. I suppose you're Jim Meadows of the Pony Express that we +have been reading about in the paper." + +"That's right," said Jim proudly. A sudden thought struck him. The editor +and Dr. Cornby were close friends. "Would you do me a favor, Mrs. Cornby? +Don't let Mr. Arnold hear about the trouble I had with the cattle. He +might print it in his newspaper and bad publicity like that could ruin my +business. I'm going to drive cattle by a different route after this, +anyhow." + +Mrs. Cornby laughingly promised she would remain silent. Jim got back on +his horse and headed home for lunch. He would get a smart dog like Horace +some day, he decided. But first, before taking on any more liabilities, +he wanted to solve the problem of keeping Ticktock permanently. Mrs. +Cornby had been nice, agreeing to keep quiet about the incident. He was +glad the steer hadn't ruined her begonias, though why anyone set such a +store by ugly waxy-leaved plants like begonias, he didn't know. Women are +hard to understand, he decided. + +After two more successful and uneventful trips driving cattle to town, +Colonel Flesher offered Jim an additional job. + +"How would you like to work for me Saturday afternoons and evenings at +the sales barn?" asked the stock buyer with a wave of his fat hand toward +the huge auction barn near the stockyards. + +"That sounds swell, sir," said Jim. He had attended part of the auction +one afternoon with his father and had enjoyed it immensely. + +"I'll give you a dollar and a half and your supper. Since I don't suppose +you'd consider a proposition that didn't include your horse, I'll throw +in feed for him too," offered the colonel. + +"It's a deal," said Jim, shaking hands. "When do I start?" + +"Three o'clock this Saturday." + +Anything and everything was sold at the colonel's Saturday sales. There +were horses, sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and poultry auctioned off in the +big barn. The farmers who always came to town Saturday afternoon or +evening to do their shopping brought whatever they wished to sell. You +could buy garden tools, tractors, chairs, setting hens or pianos. +Anything that was offered was put on the block and sold to the highest +bidder. There were items ranging from fifty cents to five hundred +dollars. + +Each sale was as fascinating as a circus to Jim. There was always a huge +throng of people gathered under the big roof--men, women and children +from all over the surrounding countryside. There is some form of +contagious excitement at an auction. When the crowd surged forward to bid +on some choice item, the tenseness and excitement of the group would grip +Jim too. He would hold his breath as the colonel skillfully maneuvered +the bidding higher and higher. + +Jim gained a new respect for Colonel Flesher at the auctions. He had +always wondered secretly how a man could be as fat as the stock buyer +unless he were lazy, but he changed his mind at the sales. The big man +was going from three in the afternoon, when the sale opened, until it +ended, usually about nine in the evening. It was a mystery to Jim how the +colonel's voice managed to keep up its steady flow, hour after hour. He +never lost his enthusiasm either. He would shout as jovially and +interestedly while selling a fifty-cent used ironing board as he would +over a prize cow. The auctioneer was particularly adept at keeping the +crowd in a good humor. If the bidding were not progressing well, he could +always manage to bring up a joke or story to get the crowd laughing. + +"Now look men," he might say, while selling a used washing machine. "You +can't let this washing machine go for a paltry ten dollars. No wonder the +divorce rate is rising. You tell a woman you love her, and then, after +you are married, you would rather let her break her back over a washboard +than spend more than ten dollars. Now let's have a bid that will show +chivalry is not dead. Besides, I think with a little bit of trouble you +could hook an ice-cream freezer to this motor. What am I bid? Fifteen, +fifteen, fifteen, sixteen, sixteen, eighteen, who'll make it twenty. +Twenty dollars by the man over there who loves his wife. +Twenty--twenty--going at twenty. Going, going, gone! Sold for twenty +dollars." + +In the beginning Jim was baffled by the methods used in bidding. During +the first few sales he jerked his head back and forth frantically trying +to locate the various bidders but he seldom saw more than half of them. +After a few experiences helping the colonel upon the platform, he began +to solve the mystery. Some men would lift a finger while others would +wink an eye or use a nod of the head. Whatever the signal, the colonel +seldom missed it. He seemed to have an uncanny knack of knowing who was a +likely bidder on each item, so that often it was unnecessary for a bidder +to announce himself as a party to the bidding even on his initial offer. +It seemed of particular importance on expensive items, such as large farm +machinery, that the bidders maintain secrecy. + +"They don't want the other bidders to know who their competition is," +explained the colonel to Jim. "Everybody knows everybody else and about +how much money he has. If a man knows who's bucking him at an auction, he +knows just about how high the other fellow is willing to go. That's bad +at a sale. For example, if a good milk cow was being sold and everybody +knew old man Wilkins was bidding, they might get discouraged because they +know he's wealthy and stubborn. On the other hand, he doesn't want people +to know he's in the race as someone might run up the price just to spite +him." + +Jim enjoyed his duties at the auction. He led out cows and horses to be +sold, handed small items to the colonel, or even held up an occasional +article for the inspection of the crowd while Colonel Flesher sold it. +When there was an unusually large amount of stock to be sold, part of it +was kept at the stockyard and driven over as required. Those instances +were the only times that Ticktock's services were needed. However, Jim +always kept the pony tied in the stock barn during the sales. He liked +the mustang close by, and Ticktock seemed to enjoy the sale as much as +the boy. + +There was a half-hour pause at six o'clock while the colonel and his +helpers ate a quick supper. The meal usually consisted of several hot +dogs or hamburgers, a piece of pie and coffee. The food was obtained at +the lunch counter just outside the main entrance to the sales barn and +was taken into the colonel's office to be eaten. Jim always looked +forward to the brief meal. Not only did he like hot dogs and hamburgers, +but also he enjoyed the conversation. + +"That big gray horse went dirt cheap, didn't it?" the sales clerk, Carl +Mason, would say. + +"Yeah, it was a steal," Colonel Flesher would agree. "I tried my best to +get the price up on that. That tractor was way overbid though. Sold for +twice what it was worth." + +Jim began to have a very shrewd idea of what various articles were worth, +ranging from mops to gang plows. + +At Jim's fourth auction, a saddle was offered for sale. He saw it just +before the sale opened, stacked in a corner with a pile of miscellaneous +household articles. Climbing over two galvanized washtubs, he managed to +get close enough to inspect it carefully. It was a Western saddle with a +high horn and cantle. The pommel, the cantle and the leather leg +protectors were all covered with fancy tooling. + +The saddle had been used just enough to deepen the color of the leather +to a beautiful dark brown. Nowhere was it worn, and apparently it had +been well cared for, as the leather was soft and pliable to the touch, +indicating that plenty of saddlesoap and elbow grease had been used by +the owner. It looked just right for Ticktock. Jim gazed at the saddle +with longing and admiration. He had looked at the prices of saddles in +the Montgomery Ward and Sears catalogs at home and knew a saddle such as +that must have cost at least a hundred dollars. Probably more, as he had +never seen a saddle with tooling such as this one. + +In his mind he counted his money. He had only two dollars with him, but +the total of his earnings now amounted to nineteen dollars. The saddle +couldn't conceivably go for such a price as that, he decided dismally, +even if it were an off day at the sale. Besides he didn't have the money +with him and the sales were always for cash. Regretfully he stopped his +minute inspection and went about his duties. + +In spite of being resigned about the saddle, Jim made certain that he was +present when it was sold. It seemed forever before it came up on the +block. For the first time Jim took little interest in the bidding on +various other articles offered. When the saddle was finally brought +forward, he stood on the edge of the crowd, tense with excitement. + +"What am I offered for this fine saddle?" asked the colonel. "A +hand-tooled saddle in fine condition. None of your Eastern foolishness +about this. It's a serviceable as well as a beautiful Western job. +There's a good saddle blanket here that goes with it. What am I bid? +Who'll make me an offer?" + +Jim found himself criticizing the colonel's sales methods for the first +time. He wished the auctioneer wouldn't praise the saddle in such glowing +terms. + +"Ten dollars," came the first bid from somewhere in the crowd. + +"I have an offer of ten dollars. Who'll make it twelve?" boomed the +colonel. + +"Twelve," was the answer from another quarter of the room. + +The bidding went to fourteen dollars and hung there for a moment. Jim +couldn't bear the thought of that beautiful saddle going to someone else +for a mere fourteen dollars. He resolutely shoved his fears about money +for Ticktock's winter feed into the background. + +"Fifteen dollars," he shouted in a high voice. + +"I'm offered fifteen," said the colonel, glancing quickly at Jim. +"Sixteen, sixteen, am I bid sixteen?" Someone gave the signal and the +offer went to sixteen. The auctioneer looked over at Jim questioningly. +Feeling very nervous and uncertain that he was doing the proper thing, +Jim nodded. His bid stood only a moment until the ante was raised to +eighteen. Again the colonel looked in his direction and Jim nodded. + +"Nineteen, I've been offered nineteen; who'll make it twenty, twenty, +twenty. Twenty it is. Who'll make it twenty-one?" + +Colonel Flesher looked questioningly at Jim, who had to shake his head +sadly. He had reached the limit of his means. The bidding went on briskly +until it reached twenty-five dollars. There it hung. + +"Twenty-five, twenty-five, who'll make it twenty-six? Going, going, gone. +Twenty-five dollars. Sold to the Pony Express Incorporated for +twenty-five dollars." + +Jim opened his mouth in astonishment. For a moment he doubted what he had +heard. He had stopped bidding at nineteen. He didn't think he had made +any signal after that which the colonel could possibly interpret as a +bid. He started to shout out a denial and then thought better. He would +put the auctioneer in a bad spot if he denied the bid. He tried to think +of some way out of the delicate situation. The only solution was to see +Colonel Flesher as soon as he could and explain that not only had he not +bid any such sum as twenty-five dollars but that he couldn't possibly pay +it anyhow. + +All afternoon he worried about the matter. The sale seemed to drag on +forever. Finally it was time for supper. Jim collected his food at the +lunch wagon and headed for the auctioneer's office. Troubled as he was, +his appetite still remained. + +"There's been a mistake, Colonel Flesher," Jim said as the big man +entered. "I stopped bidding at nineteen dollars on that saddle." + +"I know you did. My eyesight isn't failing yet." + +"I thought I heard you say it was sold to the Pony Express at twenty-five +dollars." + +"That's right. I got to thinking how nice that saddle would be for your +horse. It's worth seventy-five dollars easily. I looked over at Ticktock +and he seemed interested in it too. After you finished bidding I got +three separate and distinct winks from your horse. Since I understand +he's a full partner of the firm I considered his bids binding and sold +him the saddle." + +Jim was still too troubled to worry whether the colonel was kidding him +or not. He wouldn't put it past Ticktock to have winked at the +auctioneer. The idea that the mustang might bid on the saddle didn't seem +at all absurd to Jim. + +"But I have only nineteen dollars," he protested weakly. + +"Perfectly all right," said the colonel jovially. "This is one exception +we'll make to the rule of cash on the barrel head. I've already paid for +the saddle. I'll take it out of your wages. Now quit worrying about the +matter." + +Jim quit worrying. He gulped down his piece of pie, thanked the colonel, +and rushed out of the sales barn. He found his newly acquired saddle and +blanket. He stroked the leather fondly. It certainly was a beauty. +Tenderly he carried it over to show Ticktock. + + + + + Chapter Seven + Horace + + +Ticktock was becoming sleek and fat by the end of June. Decked out in his +handsome new saddle he was enough to fill Jim with a reasonable pride and +all the other boys with envy. Mrs. Meadows made two sturdy saddlebags of +canvas which Jim had fitted out with straps and buckles at the +harness-maker. The completed outfit cost him a dollar and a half, which +he hated to spend from his slowly accumulating hoard of feed money, but +he felt the saddlebags were a necessary part of his business equipment. +He also squandered three dollars on a poncho which he felt any +self-respecting cowboy should own. Besides, who could tell when it would +rain and a poncho be vitally needed? + +With his poncho rolled in a tight bundle behind the saddle, and his +saddlebags securely in place, Jim often rode into town. Whether he was +going on an errand for his mother or to work at the sales barn, he always +arranged his route so that he rode through part of the residential +district. The boys who lived in town and attended the Springdale School +always took an infuriatingly condescending attitude toward the pupils of +a tiny country school such as the one Jim attended. Their manner clearly +indicated that they thought boys such as Jim were country bumpkins. Jim +felt it his duty to enlighten these Springdale boys as to the advantages +of living in the country. While he wouldn't admit that he was trying to +make them jealous, he felt he should display Ticktock and his beautiful +saddle as often as possible in order that his city acquaintances wouldn't +get any exaggerated ideas concerning the worth of a shiny bicycle. Then +he would be starting to Springdale Junior High that fall and he thought +he might just as well start building up his reputation and fame. Now and +then he would stop to talk with friends or even take a boy for a short +canter. Other times his business would be pressing so he would gallop +through the streets with a brisk clatter, fully enjoying the envious eyes +that followed him. + +Mr. and Mrs. Meadows had rather opposed Jim's job at the sale at first on +the ground that it kept him out after dark. The sales often lasted until +nine o'clock and neither of Jim's parents fancied his riding home in the +dark with automobiles on the road. Jim did his best to quiet their fears +by explaining that he always rode carefully along the shoulder of the +highway where no car would possibly hit him. However, to end the matter +he was forced to add another piece of equipment--a portable electric +lantern. He purchased a little dry-cell hand lantern that he at first +tied to his belt. After he acquired the saddle, the light was hung on the +saddle horn. He either left the lantern turned on continuously while he +was riding or flashed it on when cars approached. He objected to anything +as modern as an electric lantern for a cowboy, but, giving in to +progress, decided it was a very useful piece of equipment to own. The +problem of cars approaching from the rear was solved by fastening a small +round red reflector, such as is used on automobiles, to the rear of the +cantle. He felt that added to the appearance of the saddle. + +Ticktock and his rider became so well known throughout the community that +Robert Morgan, the lawyer, decided to carry out the joking suggestion +that had been made in the Springdale _Gazette_ when the Pony Express was +first formed. Jim's name and that of his horse were duly proposed to the +Rotary Club at one of its weekly luncheons. The members present, falling +in with the attorney's facetious mood, voted unanimously to offer the two +partners of the Pony Express an honorary membership. A few days later Jim +received an important-looking letter through the mail. + + SPRINGDALE ROTARY CLUB + + _Messrs. James Meadows and Ticktock_ + _Pony Express, Incorporated_ + _R.R.#2_ + _Springdale, Missouri_ + + _Gentlemen:_ + +_By a unanimous vote the Springdale Rotary Club has decided to offer you +both an honorary membership (no dues are required from honorary members). +It is hoped that you will accept this offer and join our ranks._ + +_A dinner is being held Thursday evening June 23, at 7:00 P.M. at the +Springdale Hotel. You are cordially invited to attend as our guest of +honor. We hope to be able to prevail upon you at that time to make a few +remarks about your new enterprise, its hazards and remunerations._ + +_Due to hotel regulations we will be unable to accommodate Ticktock at +the banquet table but the Springdale_ Gazette _has offered its usual +facilities in the rear of the newspaper office._ + +_We hope to receive your reply in the near future_. + + _Sincerely yours,_ + _Robert Morgan_ + _Chairman, Membership Committee_ + +Jim was quite excited about the letter but he was uncertain as to what +certain portions of it meant. Particularly the word "remunerations." He +took the letter to his father. + +"I'm a member of the Rotary Club, Dad," he said proudly, "but I don't +understand all of this letter." + +Mr. Meadows read the letter over with a smile. "You are becoming quite +famous. You've been voted an honorary member and don't have to pay dues +as the rest of them do. Also you are invited to a banquet next Thursday +where they want you to make an after dinner speech." + +"What's that 'hazards and remunerstuff'?" + +"Well, they would just like you to tell them about the risks you take in +your business, the profits in it, how you like it and so on," said his +father. "You should write a reply to this, accepting the invitation." + +"I'd like to go," said Jim, "but I don't think much of making a speech or +writing a letter either." + +"Well, that is one of the penalties of rising in the world," said Mr. +Meadows dryly. "You have more public responsibilities. You have to make +speeches, contribute to charities and things of that nature." + +Jim got a paper and pencil and after an hour's labor finally composed an +answer. + + _Dear Mr. Morgan:_ + + _Thank you for inviting me to the Rotary Club. I will be at the hotel + at 7:00 P.M. on Thursday._ + + _I never made a speech before but I will tell you what I know about the + Pony Express._ + + _Sincerely yours,_ + _Jim Meadows_ + +The next few days found Jim wishing a dozen times that he had given some +excuse and not promised to attend the dinner. He was afraid of getting up +before all those men and talking and, what is worse, he had not thought +of a single thing to say after two whole days' concentration. He would go +over and over the matter in his mind and never get beyond: "I want to +thank everybody for inviting me to join the Rotary Club and for having me +at your banquet." That sounded very impressive and polite as a starter +but he couldn't stop there if they expected a speech. He began to dread +Thursday night. However, he had promised, so he felt that he had to go +through with it. + +When Thursday came, Jim put on his best clothes. For the first time he +found himself wishing he had his gold watch. That watch would look very +impressive before all those business men. However, if he hadn't traded +off the watch, he wouldn't have been in a position to be invited. + +He rode into town feeling very nervous. Robert Morgan and Bill Arnold met +him at the newspaper office and took him over to the hotel. Jim's dismay +increased when he entered the banquet room. He looked at the big +horseshoe table and decided there must be at least fifty members. He had +never seen such a crowd before. Fortunately, he was placed between Robert +Morgan and Dr. Cornby; so he didn't feel too lost among strangers. + +Never having been at a banquet before, Jim was uncertain whether the +speeches came before, during or after the meal. However when the standard +banquet plate of creamed chicken, peas and mashed potatoes was set before +everyone, he decided there was little point worrying. He might get rid of +the hollow feeling in his stomach if he ate. + +After the meal there were several short speeches and reports about Rotary +activities. Then Robert Morgan got to his feet. + +"Gentlemen, there has been considerable fame achieved by a new business +firm in our city. This company has brought a new type of service to our +community. I refer to the Pony Express. While one of the members of this +organization has preferred to stay in back of the print shop and eat +grass rather than sit with us, Mr. James Meadows, the other partner, is +here tonight and has accepted our offer of an honorary membership. We +would like Mr. Meadows to tell us how he got started in his present +business and something about it. What is the future of the Pony Express +and does he expect competition? Gentlemen, I present Mr. Jim Meadows." + +Jim got to his feet. While the clapping was still going on, he looked +about nervously. He felt his knees shaking, and his throat was so dry he +was certain he could never speak. Then he began to see a few familiar +faces. There was Mr. Slemak, the buttermaker, Colonel Flesher, Mr. +Higgins from the grocery store and Bill Arnold. Everyone was smiling in a +very friendly manner. He thought about Ticktock. Well, if everyone wanted +to hear about his horse, that was one subject he could talk about. + +"I want to thank everyone for inviting me to join the Rotary Club and for +having me here tonight," he said, going over the opening he had rehearsed +so many times. From that point on the speech was extemporaneous. Jim just +talked. "The way I got started in business was that I traded my gold +watch for my horse Ticktock. I guess everybody thought I got stung on the +deal except me. But I didn't because I knew he was an awfully smart +horse. After I got him, I decided I had to earn some money to feed him. +There's a lot of overhead in my business--feed, a saddle, saddlebags and +things like that. As for the remuner-remunera-, whatever that word is +that means profits, I guess there isn't much. I'll be working all summer +for Colonel Flesher to pay for my saddle. I have twenty-three dollars now +in cash. That seems like a lot of money. It's more than I ever had +before, but I don't know how much it will take to feed Ticktock all +winter. I'll probably end up broke. There aren't many hazards in my +business. I was lost once, but Ticktock found the way home. He's got +horse sense. Of course when he was thin and I didn't have any saddle I +used to get kinda sore behind now and then. + +"I don't think I'll have much competition. In the first place, not many +boys have a gold watch they can trade for a horse. Even if they did, they +couldn't find as smart a horse as Ticktock. Maybe the Pony Express has a +big future ahead of it once I get my saddle paid for. But whether I make +much money or not, it's sure a lot of fun." + +Jim sat down to loud and prolonged applause. His speech was +unquestionably a huge success. When everyone had finished congratulating +him on his prowess as an orator he walked back with the editor, Dr. +Cornby and Robert Morgan to the newspaper office. + +"Thanks a lot for coming, Jim," said Morgan sincerely. "Your speech was +the best and the frankest that club has heard in a long time." + +"Jim is getting to be quite a famous business man," commented Arnold. "If +he were only a little older, we'd invite him to join our Thursday night +stag parties." + +Jim said good-by and went out to his faithful mustang. He had had an +enjoyable evening and felt rather guilty that Ticktock had such a small +share in his glory. After all the horse was a full partner. + +"I guess you wouldn't have enjoyed chicken and peas anyhow," he said as +he mounted. "Anyway we got some very good publicity. Everybody knows +about us now and we should get lots of work." + +It was ten-thirty and the evening had been much more exhausting than Jim +had realized. The effort of making a speech had been as tiring as a day's +hard labor and Jim felt like relaxing. Ticktock knew the way home as well +as he, so the boy let the mustang take charge. After a short distance the +steady jog-jog of the pony's easy walk lulled him to sleep. Slumping in +the saddle, he dozed. + + [Illustration: Dozing in the saddle] + +Everything was serene for about a quarter of a mile, when Jim sensed +something was wrong. Sleepily he opened his eyes and tried to figure out +what was amiss. Finally he realized Ticktock had stopped and was standing +still at the edge of the road. + +"Come on, Ticktock. It's late. Let's get on home," he said in a drowsy +voice. + +Ticktock didn't move but stood looking down into the ditch. Jim had the +greatest confidence in his horse and as he gradually became fully awake, +knew that the pony must have some reason for stopping. Then he heard a +whimpering sound in the dark. + +Feeling a little frightened, he slipped the loop of his lantern from the +saddle horn and flashed the light into the dark ditch beside the road. +There was a dog lying on its side. + +"Why, it's Horace!" exclaimed Jim. "He's hurt." + +Dismounting, he climbed down the bank beside the dog and looked at him +carefully. The spaniel gazed up at him and whined piteously. Cautiously, +Jim began to feel the animal. The hind legs seemed sound enough but when +his hands touched the forelegs the dog suddenly growled viciously and +snapped at him. + +"He's hurt in the front legs," Jim informed Ticktock. "I guess a car hit +him and broke them." + +So long as Jim did not touch the injured legs, the dog regarded him with +pleading pain-filled eyes. Jim was in a quandary. He could ride back into +town and inform Dr. Cornby that his dog was hurt and lying beside the +road. However, the dog might be hurt internally also and minutes might be +precious. By the time he reached town and then led the doctor back to +find the dog it might be too late. On the other hand, how would he take +the dog to town himself. The poor animal snapped at him each time he +touched the injured legs and moving him might be the wrong thing to do. +Jim's knowledge of first aid was very limited but he had heard that +moving a broken limb was sometimes unwise. Horace decided the question by +looking up once more and crying pitifully. Jim just couldn't leave him +there alone in the dark. + +Returning to his horse, he untied his poncho. He carefully spread it out +flat beside the helpless dog. Then, talking gently and reassuringly, he +gradually inched the injured spaniel over onto the center of the poncho. + +"We're going to be as gentle as we can," he told the dog. "If this hurts +a little, it won't be because we mean it." + +He folded the edge of the poncho under so the dog's head would be clear +and pulled up the corners. By maneuvering the sides of the poncho he was +able to roll the dog onto its back very gently. Then he tied the three +free corners together. Leading Ticktock down into the ditch, he finally +managed to lift the dog and hook the knotted corners of the poncho over +the saddle horn. He mounted very carefully and with the dog suspended as +comfortably as possible in his makeshift sling, started the journey back +to town. + +Jim was on his way to the veterinarian's home when he remembered the +words at the newspaper office. Doctor Cornby was probably still there +playing cards, as it was before midnight. Since the doctor's office was +only two doors from the _Gazette_ building, Jim directed the mustang to +the main street. There were still lighted windows in the newspaper +office, so his guess proved correct. + +He left Ticktock at the curb and went up to the front door. He found it +locked, so he banged loudly. Bill Arnold came to the door in his shirt +sleeves. + +"Hello, Jim. What are you doing back?" + +"Is Dr. Cornby here?" asked Jim. + +"Sure, come on in. Something wrong?" + +Jim followed Arnold back to the office. "Your dog's out here with his +front legs broken," he announced to the startled veterinarian. + +"Good heavens!" said Cornby. "Where?" + +Everyone followed Jim out to his horse where Horace was still lying in +his poncho sling. He was lifted down tenderly and carried into Cornby's +office. + +"Mary said he ran away sometime this afternoon," said the doctor, as he +examined the moaning dog. "But he's done that so often I didn't think +anything about it. Where'd you find him, Jim?" + +"I didn't. Ticktock found him. I had gone to sleep and woke up when +Ticktock stopped. I tried to get him to go on, but he wouldn't so I +flashed my light over to see what was bothering him. There was Horace in +the ditch with his legs hurt. How is he?" + +Cornby straightened up from his brief examination of the injured spaniel. +"He doesn't seem to have any internal injuries. Of course, two broken +legs are enough, but they can be fixed." + +"I hope I didn't hurt his legs when I eased him onto my poncho," said Jim +worriedly. + +"Not a bit. You did a good job. I don't know how to thank you for finding +him. My kids would never recover if they lost Horace." + +"Do you mind if I use your phone?" asked Jim. "Mom will be worried about +my being so late." + +"I'd be glad to drive you home," offered a stranger who had been in the +card game. + +"Jim has a horse," said Morgan to the speaker. "He wouldn't think of +riding in a modern contraption. Let alone leave Ticktock behind." + +"Thanks anyhow," said Jim politely. + +"It begins to look as if I am going to have to assign a reporter to +follow you," said Arnold. "Wherever you and that horse go, there's news." + + + + + Chapter Eight + Exile + + +The account of Jim's speech before the Rotary Club and his subsequent +finding of Horace by the roadside received prominent mention in the next +issue of the Springdale _Gazette_. As usual, Bill Arnold gave the account +of both episodes with many asides and much humor. Mr. Meadows read the +paper with amusement and considerable pride. He had been very intrigued +when the first account and the advertisement of the Pony Express had +appeared. Now his pride in his locally famous son grew even greater. He +was well aware how hard Jim had been working and saving and knew without +question what the purpose was behind all the industry. With quiet +satisfaction he watched his son going out to drive cattle, run errands, +or work at the auction. + +Jim's father was also becoming reconciled to Ticktock. As the mustang +blossomed under Jim's loving care, the older man could see that he had +been rather hasty in his first judgment. Much against his will, he had to +admit, at least to himself, that Ticktock was an unusually smart horse. +Now that he had put on some flesh he was also a rather smart-appearing +pony. In spite of all his observations, Mr. Meadows said nothing. Like +most men, he hated to admit that he had been wrong. Also, he was +reluctant to abandon a stand that he had definitely taken. He had said +that Ticktock must go when fall came, and he hated to eat crow. In his +own mind he resolved to say nothing further about the matter but instead +just let events take their own natural course. + +He knew Jim would never dispose of the pony until he was forced to; so if +nothing was said the pony would simply remain by silent agreement. Mr. +Meadows knew that he would ease his son's mind a great deal if he could +tell the boy about his change of heart, but somehow he never seemed to +find the right moment. After all, he decided, the worry was doing Jim no +harm but merely making him work harder to earn money for feed. So the +days went by and nothing was said on either side about the pony's fate. +Jim could sense a little lessening of the hostility on his father's part, +but he was still worried. Mr. Meadows seldom changed his mind when he +made a decision and thus far Jim did not want to play his trump card +about paying for Ticktock's feed. However, it was still summer, and he +felt there was plenty of time. + +Jim made himself a lariat and began practicing. It was a slow process but +he was determined. After about a week's exercise he was able to whirl an +open loop over his head. Then he began lassoing fence posts, tree stumps, +and even occasionally his sister Jean. After several trials of the +latter, however, he had to abandon Jean as a target. She objected rather +loudly to being roped and wouldn't play unless Jim let her take turns at +lassoing him. Jean had been rather lonely all summer anyhow, as Jim spent +most of his time with Ticktock instead of playing with her as in former +years. Jim would give in and let her try roping him, but half a dozen +unsuccessful attempts would usually end with Jean hitting him in the eye +with the rope. Although he was very fond of his young sister, he had a +great deal of contempt for women as cowboys. + + [Illustration: Lariat practice] + +Ticktock watched all this practice with good-natured scorn. He had seen +experts twirling a lariat and had no illusions about Jim's ability. A +number of times when Jim would fail miserably in a cast at a fence post, +Ticktock would open his jaws and give an unmistakable horse laugh. +However, he was an indulgent horse and realized Jim was young. So, when +Jim got to the stage of attempting to lasso from horseback, Ticktock +patronizingly cooperated. + +A dummy was constructed of bags wrapped around a pole set in a heavy +wooden base. This fake man was set up in the drive and Jim would dash +past madly, astride Ticktock, whirling his lariat. About one cast in four +his noose would encircle the dummy. Then the end of the lariat would be +wrapped around the saddle horn and the horse and rider would drag their +victim triumphantly down the drive. + +Practicing one thing for too long a period grew tiresome, especially when +the average of success was as low as it was with Jim's roping endeavors. +So he would alternate with teaching Ticktock to jump. First a long +two-by-four was laid on two bricks about six inches from the ground. Jim +would ride up to the improvised bar at a full gallop, part of the time +swerving away or stopping, and other times urging his horse over the bar. +Ticktock caught on to the new game in a surprisingly short time. He was +prepared to jump or swerve at the slightest sign from his master. The bar +kept creeping higher and higher until Jim was certain his mustang could +sail over any ordinary fence. + +Jim was feeling particularly jaunty and complacent one morning, for he +had made three perfect casts in a row during his roping practice. After +the third cast he jumped off his horse, freed the dummy from the noose, +and carelessly set the apparatus upright very near a small evergreen tree +bordering the drive. Remounting, he went all the way to the front gate +for his next approach. He came down the lane at a full gallop swinging an +exceptionally large noose. As he tore past the dummy, he swung wildly. +Out of the corner of his eye he could see the loop encircle the dummy. +Jim wrapped the end of his lariat around the saddle horn and braced +himself as if he had just roped a huge steer. It was well he did, for +unfortunately the noose caught the evergreen also. There was a terrific +tug on the lariat and before the horse and rider could stop, half the +branches on the little evergreen had been ripped off and were being +dragged down the lane with the dummy. + +Jim stopped the pony and wheeled to gaze in dismay at the havoc he had +wrought. It was a sorry-looking tree with the upper half naked and torn. +While Jim was considering what to do next, he discovered that he wasn't +the only one staring at the tree. His mother was standing on the front +porch, hands on hips, looking at the evergreen. Her face boded no good +for the cowboy and his horse. Mrs. Meadows was very proud of her lawn and +flowers. The trim little evergreen had been one of her pet trees. + +"Young man, what do you think you are doing with that rope of yours?" she +demanded sternly. + +"Lassoing," said Jim humbly. + +"So I see. Well, there will be no more lassoing around here if you have +to practice on my trees." + +"I didn't mean to," explained Jim. "I was roping the dummy." + +"And the tree got in the way," said Mrs. Meadows, nodding her head. "Do +you have any idea how much it would cost to replace that tree?" + +"How much?" asked Jim hoping that it would be some such sum as three or +four dollars. He would then offer to pay for a new tree and settle the +matter. After all, it couldn't be much, as there were evergreens all over +the hills. + +"About twenty-five dollars; that's a golden cypress." + +Jim's heart sank. He couldn't afford such a sum as that, so instead of +being able to offer casually to replace the damage he was forced to +mumble, "I'm sorry." + +"That doesn't replace the tree," said his mother sternly. "From now on +there will be no more roping around here. I want you to take a book over +to Mrs. Alsop. When you come back you can go down and help your father in +the garden. Perhaps if you are kept busy enough you won't be into any +mischief." + +Feeling very contrite, Jim took the book and went riding off to the +Alsop's. He completed his errand and turned back toward home. His spirits +began to rise on the way back. His mother didn't harbor a grudge long and +luckily his father hadn't witnessed the incident. He would rush down to +the garden as soon as he returned and work like mad to correct the bad +impression he had made. + +Mr. Meadows was busy in the garden picking watermelons. They had an +exceptionally large patch that year, and melons were bringing high prices +in Springdale. He carefully picked the largest and ripest and stacked +them near the fence. He rapidly collected a huge pile, all he could +possibly haul to town in one trip of the car. He had just about completed +his selection of all the ripe melons when Jim came tearing down the lane. + +Most of the fences were barbed wire around the farm and too dangerous, in +Jim's opinion, to jump unless there were some vital reason. However, the +garden was bordered by a relatively low board fence. It seemed the most +natural thing in the world to ride Ticktock directly to the garden and +thus show how anxious he was to help his father. + +Unable to see what was on the other side, Jim came sailing grandly over +the fence. It was a beautiful jump with a very inglorious landing. +Ticktock came down squarely on the center of the pile of watermelons. +Fortunately the mustang recovered his balance and didn't break a leg. As +it was, the result was bad enough. Broken watermelons were scattered far +and wide, the luscious juice dripping over the ground. + +"You wild Indian!" shouted Mr. Meadows. "Look what you've done!" + +Jim could only stare in consternation. There must have been at least a +dozen melons broken and no telling how many cracked. Numbed, he got down +from his horse. + +"Gee, I didn't know they were there, Dad." + +"Obviously. You've ruined half my morning's work with that crazy horse of +yours," said his father, the old animosity toward the mustang coming back +in his anger. + +"Ticktock just jumped where I told him to," explained Jim, who was +anxious above all else to remove any blame from his horse. "It was my +fault." + +Ticktock was very calm. He turned around to survey the damage and became +interested in the broken melons. He had never looked at a melon closely +before and was intrigued. He bent his head down and took a nibble at some +of the ripe red pulp. It tasted delicious. Curious as to just how a melon +was made, he reached out with a forefoot and pawed one of the remaining +unbroken ones. It cracked readily, exposing the red interior. Very +pleased with himself, Ticktock took another big nibble. + +"Will you look at that!" shouted the now enraged Mr. Meadows. "Not +satisfied with breaking half the pile, that fool horse has to crack +another melon and eat it." + +Jim hadn't been watching his horse too closely, but now he grabbed +Ticktock's reins to prevent further damage. + +"I'll pick some more," he offered. "I came down here to help you." + +"You're certainly a big help," said his father. "Get that horse out of my +sight. I'll do better without you. There's been enough of this +irresponsible jumping and chasing around here. You should never have +taught him to jump in the first place. How are you going to keep him any +place when he can jump fences?" + +Sadly Jim led his pony out of the garden gate. It had certainly been a +disastrous day. He left the mustang tied to the orchard fence and went +into the house. + +"Now what's the matter?" asked Mrs. Meadows, looking at her son's face as +he entered. + +"I jumped over the garden fence and landed on the watermelons Dad was +picking." + +Jim's mother was still irked about her tree; so she was not too +sympathetic. + +"You are entirely too wild with that horse of yours," she said sternly. +"It's time you stopped being so heedless." + +Jim considered this additional rebuke for a while in silence. Everybody +was angry with him and no one cared for Ticktock, he decided. They just +weren't wanted any more. The only solution was to go away. He had no idea +of running away permanently, but he felt he had to get away from his +troubles. + +"Can I have some sandwiches?" he asked. "I want to make a trip and get +away from it all." + +"I guess so," said Mrs. Meadows, trying not to smile at her son's doleful +countenance. "When do you expect to come back from this trip?" + +"What do you have for supper?" + +"Steak for one thing and apple pie for another." + +"I guess my nerves will be steady enough by suppertime," said Jim +judiciously. + +After he packed his lunch in his saddlebags, Jim rode off down the road. +He decided to carry out his long delayed project of exploring Briggs +Woods. He had been so busy recently that he had forgotten his resolve. + +The quiet gloom of the woods just fitted Jim's mood of black despondency. +After he reached the center of the forested area, he turned up one of the +little trails that led invitingly into the tangled depths. He followed +the first one for some distance. It was slow going, winding in and out +between the trees, trying to keep branches from slapping him in the face. +Finally the path just faded and disappeared, leaving him nowhere. The +second and third attempts were equally unsuccessful. Feeling that the job +of exploring was vastly overrated, Jim decided to abandon the false +trails. He struck off through the woods, following roughly the course of +a stream. He had no fears about returning, putting complete trust in +Ticktock's ability to find the way home. + +Deep in the woods he turned from the main stream and followed a tiny +brook up an incline. Suddenly, to his delight, he came out in a small +natural clearing. There was bright sunshine on the deep grass, while the +little stream trickled away merrily at one end of the clearing. The open +area which was almost flat was several acres in extent. Tall trees grew +on every side, giving perfect seclusion. + +"What a swell hideaway," Jim said to his horse excitedly. "There's plenty +of pasture and water for you and no one could ever find us." + +He began to make plans immediately for his secret camp. He would bring +over his roping dummy and his jumping bar. At one end of the clearing he +could build a brush hut. As he planned, his ideas grew larger. He would +make a big brush hut, big enough for Ticktock. In front of it he would +build a fireplace where he could cook. Then, if no one at home wanted him +and Ticktock, they would come here to live. He could cut some of the hay +for the winter. Perhaps he would also buy some grain and store it. As for +himself, he would trap and hunt for food. Now and then he would +mysteriously appear in town with valuable furs to sell. He would buy +candy and cakes and other delicacies and then disappear as mysteriously. +People would wonder where he lived and perhaps try to follow him, but if +anyone came too near the hide-out he would think up some plan to scare +them. Soon they would say the woods were haunted. + +Jim ate his lunch full of all these plans, while Ticktock unconcernedly +cropped the grass. As the afternoon wore on, Jim decided to wait at least +another day before he became a lonely woodsman. He would eat one more +supper at home since there was apple pie. He rode home and went in to +supper with an air of secrecy. + +There was no crisis at home that evening; so Jim further delayed his plan +of moving. However, the following day he did take his jumping bar and his +roping dummy to the new hide-out. He also took a hatchet and spent the +better part of several days building a brush hut which looked very +impressive, even though the brush roof did leak. In front of it he built +his fireplace. He thought about buying some weiners in town and holding a +weiner roast, but somehow the idea didn't seem too much fun alone. + +Ticktock and he seemed to be partially forgiven at home; so Jim stayed +on. There was no use becoming an exile if you didn't have to, he +concluded sensibly. Still, it seemed a pity to waste such a perfect +hideaway. He used it for roping practice and for jumping, but it seemed +there should be something more dramatic that he could do. + +It was hard to keep the secret of the hide-out to himself; so Jim began +to hint darkly to Jean about his lonely spot. At first that young lady +begged to be let in on the secret. She wanted to accompany him to his +hidden headquarters and teased and begged for several days. That suited +Jim exactly, and he went about acting mysterious and important. However, +Jean was not quite so guileless as her brother thought. Although she was +only ten, she knew a little about handling men, her brother in +particular. She dropped her attitude of pleading and began to scoff +openly. + +"You are just making up the whole thing," she said derisively. "You +haven't got a secret hangout any more than I have." + +Several days of complete indifference had its effect on Jim. He felt he +had to prove his story. He felt a bit guilty about neglecting Jean all +summer anyhow; so he planned a grand picnic. Riding to town, he bought +some weiners, marshmallows and cookies. The rest of his supplies he +secured at home and got permission from his parents for the excursion. + +With Jean mounted behind him, he rode to Briggs Woods. He felt that +revealing the general area of his hangout was not giving away too much of +his secret. Once in the woods, however, he insisted on blindfolding his +sister, extracting a solemn promise not to peek. She submitted to having +a large red bandanna tied over her eyes, even enjoying the mystery. Jim +then made his way to the hide-out, making several unnecessary circles to +confuse his companion. When they arrived in the middle of the clearing he +whisked off the bandage. + +Jean looked around at the little clearing expectantly. There was nothing +very exciting. + +"Why it's nothing but a big open space!" she exclaimed. + +"But look what nice pasture there is for Ticktock, with water and +everything," explained Jim, a trifle annoyed at the poor impression his +headquarters made. + +"Well, that's nice enough," admitted Jean who wasn't much interested in +such details. She wanted something smaller and much more secret. + +"There's my hut and fireplace," said Jim pointing. + +"I like that," said his sister finally, feeling she had to say something +complimentary since her brother had gone to such trouble to bring her on +the picnic. + +They played for a time and then gathered dry wood for a fire. After they +had roasted the weiners and marshmallows, and stuffed themselves with +cookies, Jim stretched out lazily on the grass. This was the life. He +began to daydream that he was a cowboy who was hiding his sister from +dangerous kidnappers. + +Jean, although she had enjoyed the day immensely, felt that there was +still something being kept from her. In her mind a hide-out couldn't be +two acres of open pasture, even though it was concealed in the middle of +a wood. She suspected there was more to the place than Jim had shown her. + +"I think I'll walk around a little," she said casually. + +"O.K., but don't go outside of shouting distance," warned her brother in +a superior tone. "It's awful easy to get lost unless you know the woods +like Ticktock and I do." + +One side of the clearing was bounded by a rocky hill which sloped up +abruptly. Jean chose this side to explore. She started climbing upward +through the rocks. After approximately half an hour went by, Jim decided +it was time that he had some word from his sister. He was about to shout +when he heard her calling him. + +"Jim, guess where I am," she shouted + +"I don't know; where are you?" + +"I'm in your hide-out, smarty!" + +Completely puzzled Jim started toward the hillside. He looked up at the +steep rocky slope in bewilderment. + +"I can't see you," he said finally. + +"Here I am," came her voice from almost over his head. + +Jim looked up as his sister appeared from behind a short stunted tree +about fifteen feet up the face of what was almost a cliff. + +"It's really a wonderful cave," said Jean. + +"Huh?" exclaimed Jim in complete astonishment. + +"Don't look so surprised because I found it. I knew there was more to +your hideaway than just a big field." + +Jim found a narrow ledge that made an easy path up to the tree. When he +pulled the stumpy pine tree to one side there was the narrow entrance to +the cave. It was a dark opening about two feet wide and four feet high. + +"As long as you found it you might as well see the inside," said Jim, +trying to talk casually. "I'll run down and get the flash light." + +He didn't quite keep the excitement out of his voice, and Jean looked +after him with growing suspicion. When he returned they made their way +inside excitedly. + +"How big is it?" asked Jean as she followed her brother through the +opening. + +"Why--uh--just medium," answered Jim, trying to flash his light around +quickly in order to answer the question correctly. + +There was only one room to the cave, but it was spacious and dry. The +ceiling arched above their heads at least twelve feet. Along one of the +stone walls there was a natural ledge at just the right height for a bed +or a seat. + +"This will make a swell place," said Jim incautiously. + +"I don't think you have ever been in here before," accused Jean. "Have +you?" + +"Well, not exactly," hedged Jim not wanting to tell an outright lie. + +"Is there another cave?" asked Jean. + +"Not that I know of. All there was to my hide-out I showed you. The trick +is in finding your way here. You don't seem to realize how important a +pasture is to a secret headquarters. A cowboy has to have some place for +his horse to graze. What good would a cave do? You couldn't keep a horse +in a cave." + +"I'd rather play pirate or robbers," decided Jean. "Then a cave would be +perfect. You wouldn't need a pasture or a horse either." + +As they resaddled Ticktock and prepared to leave, Jean continued her +argument. + +"I think the hide-out should be half mine since I discovered the cave," +she maintained. + +Jim pondered the question thoroughly. Jean's demands did seem fair, for +the cave certainly added tremendously to the hide-out. Still, if the +emergency arose and he had to return to his original plan of disappearing +with Ticktock, he didn't want Jean to know his whereabouts. A woman could +never keep a secret, and she would certainly tell her parents. No, unfair +as it seemed, he would have to keep his headquarters to himself. + +Protesting bitterly, Jean was blindfolded. "It isn't fair," she stormed. + +Jim was firm, however, so they rode off toward home. Since Jean felt her +brother was being very unjust, she decided she no longer had to keep her +promise not to peek. While Jim was busy keeping the branches from hitting +them in the face, she took cautious peeps from beneath the handkerchief. + + + + + Chapter Nine + The Lost Horse + + +Business took a midsummer slump, and Jim found time hanging heavy on his +hands. There were few calls for his services from the general public, and +even Colonel Flesher had no cattle to be driven to market. Jim tried to +persuade the stock buyer that it would be cheaper to drive hogs to town +than to truck them. While the colonel had much confidence in his young +assistant, he wisely concluded that driving hogs was beyond even Jim and +Ticktock. + +Jim still went to town almost daily, partly to exercise his mustang and +partly because he liked to hang around the newspaper office. He helped +wherever possible, but probably hindered more than he helped, as he had +so many questions. The linotype machine fascinated him, and he begged +Bill Arnold to let him learn how to operate it. + +"If I do," said the editor jokingly, "the first thing I know you'll have +that horse in here helping you. I'm afraid his feet would be too heavy +for the keys." + +"I need something to do," urged Jim. "There's a fierce depression in my +line of business." + +"Your overhead is low though," pointed out Arnold. "That cayuse of yours +is getting his feed from my back yard." + +"Operating expenses may be low right now, but there is a long winter +ahead," said Jim with a worried frown. His cash was accumulating too +slowly to suit him. + +One day Arnold came out of his office waving a slip of paper. "Here's a +fine opportunity for you and that wonderful horse to show your stuff." + +"A big job?" asked Jim excitedly. + +"Do you happen to know Mr. Hernstadt?" asked the editor. + +"I know where his farm is," said Jim. "He has all those big fat work +horses." Any horse that didn't resemble Ticktock in size and build was an +object of contempt to Jim. + +"Well, those big fat horses are very valuable Percherons. Hernstadt is +one of the finest breeders in the Middle West. Anyhow, his prize mare got +out of the pasture somehow and is lost." + +"Work horses must be dumb," said Jim with conviction. "You could never +lose Ticktock." + +"Young man, will you quit bragging about that mustang long enough to +listen to what I am telling you?" + +"I'm sorry," said Jim, who really wasn't at all. + +"This mare strayed away two days ago, and Hernstadt has looked all over +for her. Now he is advertising, offering a reward of twenty-five dollars +for her return." + +"Twenty-five dollars!" exclaimed Jim. "How I'd like to find that horse!" + +"This is scarcely ethical," said Arnold. "The paper isn't delivered until +tomorrow; so I'm giving you a twenty-four-hour advantage over my other +subscribers." + +"I wouldn't give you away for anything. When I find the horse, I'll wait +until the paper is out before I take it back to Mr. Hernstadt." + +"Rather confident, aren't you?" asked Arnold laughing. + +"Well, it couldn't very well be stolen; a big horse like that would be +too easy to trace. She's just strayed, and Ticktock and I will find her." +Jim got up decisively. "If I can take a look at your big map, I'll be on +my way to locate that dumb horse that got lost." + +After carefully studying the map, Jim drew a little sketch. He put Mr. +Hernstadt's farm in the middle and then drew in all the roads in the +surrounding territory. He mounted Ticktock and galloped importantly out +of town. It was only midmorning, and he explored the country roads and +lanes for several hours before hunger drove him home. + +"I have to be gone all afternoon on a very important mission," he +announced as he was eating lunch. + +Mr. and Mrs. Meadows just smiled and asked no questions. They were used +to Jim's acting mysterious and important. Jean, however, followed him out +into the yard. Her curiosity was definitely aroused. + +"Where are you going?" she teased. "I won't tell on you." + +"I gave a cowboy's word not to tell," said Jim saddling Ticktock. + +"Well, I think you're mean," said Jean. "You aren't good to me at all any +more." + +Jim considered this a moment as he cinched up the saddle. He still felt a +little guilty about the matter of the hideaway. After all, Jean wouldn't +be going anywhere to tell anyone. The secret would be safe. + +"There's a big reward going to be offered tomorrow for a lost horse," he +said finally. "I'm going to find him before anyone knows about the +reward." + +"What kind of a horse?" + +"A prize Percheron mare of Mr. Hernstadt's." + +"If you find her, how are you going to catch her?" asked Jean, who was a +practical young lady. + +"Why, Ticktock could catch any slow old Percheron," said Jim scornfully. +Actually he hadn't thought about what he would do after locating the +missing horse. + +"I don't mean catch up _with_ her. How are you going to put a halter on +her if she's the kind of horse that runs away?" + +"Well," drawled Jim, who had just had an idea. "I've been doing a lot of +practicing with my lariat. I think I could lasso a slow-moving horse." + +While his admiring and envious sister gazed after him, Jim rode away. All +afternoon he jogged back and forth, up and down the hills, carefully +covering the territory of his map. The sun was hot and the country roads +were dusty. + +What had begun as an adventurous hunt, turned out to be a tedious job. At +sundown he turned toward home. He was very tired and so was Ticktock. +Most of the roads were now crossed off the map. Only a few were left +unexplored. + +That night Jim lay in bed considering the problem. The mail would be +delivered at about eleven the next morning and then everyone would be on +the lookout for the missing mare. He would have to work fast. + +At breakfast the next morning Jim asked to be excused from the remaining +chores. + +"What is this mysterious mission?" asked Mr. Meadows good-naturedly. + +"Jean can tell you," said Jim who was deep in thought as to the possible +whereabouts of the stray. They would know as soon as the paper arrived +anyhow. + +"Mr. Hernstadt lost one of his Percherons. There is going to be a reward +in the morning paper and Jim is going to find her before anyone else +knows about it," said Jean importantly. It never occured to her to doubt +her brother's abilities or success. After all, he had said he would find +the horse so find the horse he would. + +"Oh, he is, is he?" asked Mr. Meadows. "How?" + +"He has a map," said Jean who considered that a final answer. "After he +finds her he is going to catch her with Ticktock and then rope her. All +he has to do then is collect the reward." + +"I hope it's as simple as it sounds," said Mr. Meadows. "Anyhow, I think +I can do the rest of the chores myself while you're off performing this +little task." + +Jim also hoped it was as simple as it sounded. As he rode off he wished +he hadn't spoken so confidently either to the editor or to Jean. He was +on the spot now. He had to find the horse. He urged Ticktock to a faster +pace. + +Noon found the boy and his horse covered with a blanket of dust and +discouragement. The allotted territory was exhausted and there was still +no horse. Of course, the Percheron could have strayed farther than Jim +had expected. He considered enlarging his area. That idea didn't seem too +promising, as by now everyone in the countryside would know about the +reward. Feeling rather low in spirits and very hot, he turned toward +Briggs Woods. He had already explored the road through the woods and all +the open trails, but at least it was cool there and Ticktock could have a +drink of water. + +Once in the cool cover of the forest, Jim turned toward his hideaway. He +would take a rest there and eat his lunch. He was picking his way moodily +through the trees when Ticktock suddenly decided to go off toward the +left. Somewhat annoyed, Jim pulled the mustang back in the direction of +the hideout. A few minutes later the pony again veered off to the left. +This time he put his nose in the air and neighed. + +"What is it, boy?" asked Jim. + +Ticktock stood still and neighed a second time. This time there was an +answer from the depths of the woods. Excitedly Jim urged the pony +forward, giving him his head. Ticktock threaded his way through the trees +confidently. After a short distance Jim suddenly saw through the woods +the figure of a big gray horse. + +"Hurrah! Ticktock, you found her!" he shouted. + +He uncoiled his lasso as he approached. He was going to make good his +boasts after all. Triumphantly he started to swing his rope. He made two +circles around his head and the rope caught on the limb of a tree and +fell in a tangle about his shoulders. He straightened out the lariat and +tried again. This time the noose caught on a limb and refused to come +loose. Feeling very uncowboylike, Jim dismounted, climbed the tree, and +freed his lasso. + +Half an hour later Jim was still trying. Either the rope would catch on a +branch or the horse would move away just as he cast. He couldn't use a +very large noose due to the crowding branches, and somehow a limb always +protected the mare's head or she moved just in time to make the small +noose whiz by harmlessly. Being hit on the head a number of times by a +rope wasn't making the Percheron any more approachable either. She was +definitely getting tired of the game and fast becoming skittish. + +Ticktock watched his master's endeavors patiently for a long time. He was +used to Jim's games and at first thought this was another form of roping +practice. Gradually, however, he began to realize that Jim was really +trying to rope the mare for some purpose. He could sense the +disappointment after each unsuccessful try. Also, Ticktock was getting +tired of going through trees after the mare. He had been going steadily +all morning and felt like stopping. So he decided to end all this +nonsense. While Jim was resting after a particularly strenuous cast, +Ticktock took charge. He gave a soft neigh and then waited. The mare +neighed back. + +Ticktock turned his head around and gave a long look at his rider. There +was no mistaking his meaning. "You've had your chance, now let me try," +he seemed to say. Very slowly and patiently he made his way toward the +mare. Jim sat quietly in the saddle. Finally Ticktock stopped and stood +waiting. After a few more exchanges of nickers, the mare walked over to +the mustang and the two horses began to rub noses. Gradually Ticktock +edged around until they were side by side. Jim reached over and slipped +one end of his rope around the mare's neck. The chase was ended. + +He led the mare back to the hideaway and tied her to a tree. He took off +Ticktock's saddle and the pony rolled gratefully in the tall grass. Jim +sat down to eat his lunch, feeling very satisfied and happy. Ticktock was +certainly a smart horse; he knew how to do everything. Now they could go +back home in triumph. That seemed even more important than the reward. +There was no question about it; his horse had saved the day. + + [Illustration: Roping a horse] + +As he thought about how creditable Ticktock's part had been, Jim began to +grow dissatisfied with his own performance. He had fallen down on the +roping. He couldn't very well go back and tell how he had finally caught +the horse. There wasn't anything very dashing about that. Something had +to be done. + +He got up, saddled Ticktock, and led the mare out to the middle of the +clearing. Very gently he undid the rope from her neck, talking soothingly +all the time. While the mare contentedly cropped the grass, Jim backed +Ticktock away a few feet. He swung his lariat quietly and slowly. He +leaned forward and when the mare looked up he cast. The noose dropped +squarely over her head. + +With a sigh of relief, Jim rode up to the mare. He tied a knot so the +noose would not choke the Percheron and then rode off through the trees, +leading his valuable captive. + +Home was only slightly out of his way to the Hernstadt farm and Jim could +not resist the temptation to display the mare. Trying to appear very +casual and unexcited, he rode up the lane. His father had just come in +from the field when he arrived; so the entire family came out to meet +him. It was a very satisfactory entrance. + +"Where did you find her?" asked Mr. Meadows who was plainly amazed. + +"Over in Briggs Woods. Ticktock found her and I roped her," said Jim very +calmly, but with a twinge of conscience. + +"You and that horse continually dumfound me," said Mr. Meadows. + +Jim went inside and telephoned Mr. Hernstadt that his missing horse had +been found. The pleased owner offered to come over after the mare but Jim +insisted on delivering her. Before he left he called the editor. + +"You can take that ad out of the paper," he told Arnold with a pardonable +amount of pride in his voice. "I am on my way to take the mare home right +now." + +Arnold insisted on knowing a few details which Jim gave him with +pretended reluctance. After all, as Mr. Morgan had said, what a business +needs is publicity. Besides it would look nice in the paper about his +roping the runaway horse. That would really make the other boys' eyes bug +out. + +When Jim delivered the horse that afternoon, Mr. Hernstadt handed him +twenty-five dollars gladly. He listened to the account of how the horse +had been found. + +"The man that helped me take care of the horses left a few months ago to +run a farm of his own," the horse breeder explained. "I've been so busy +that I didn't notice the fence needed repairing in one corner. That's how +she got out. Now that you have found the horse you don't suppose you +could find me a good man to help take care of her and the other horses?" + +"Well," said Jim considering the matter seriously, "the Pony Express does +all sorts of things. I'll see what I can do." + + + + + Chapter Ten + Ticktock Disappears + + +With the twenty-five dollars reward money added to his previous earnings, +Jim now had over fifty dollars. Fifty dollars was more money than he had +ever seen before and seemed like the largest sum in the world. It must be +adequate, he felt, to cover the cost of Ticktock's feed for the winter. +Mr. Meadows had not brought up the subject, and Jim was content to keep +the unannounced truce. His father seemed to be over his anger about the +watermelons. Jim reasoned that if the matter of Ticktock's board was +never mentioned, he would be foolish to call attention to it. It was +simple arithmetic--he would be fifty dollars wealthier if he let sleeping +dogs lie. If Mr. Meadows did raise the question, Jim was prepared. If +necessary, he figured he could even pay for Ticktock's keep elsewhere, +although it would have broken his heart to have the mustang where he +could not be seen and ridden daily. Still, such a course would be better +than having to give up the pony in the fall as his father had threatened. + +All over fifty dollars Jim felt he was free to spend. As he earned money +from odd jobs, he began using it to stock his hideaway. He bought cans of +pork and beans, sausages, corned beef, vegetables, fruits, soups, +condensed milk, and even one can of Boston brown bread. Anything that +came in cans or packages that seemed safe from spoilage was carefully +stowed away in the cave. He was frugal about the process, preferring to +take quietly those items that were in plentiful supply at home rather +than spend his hard-earned money. + +For quite a while now, Jim had been allowed to take food from the pantry +for his picnics and all-day trips without asking for specific permission, +provided there was plenty on hand of what he needed. In case of doubt, it +was understood that he ask his mother. It was the same with anything that +his mother had piled on the left-hand side of the attic. Both he and Jean +could take anything they wished from the accumulation there. + +Now, therefore, to the supplies which he bought with his own money, he +added from the family cupboard sugar, coffee, tea, salt, pepper and a +small quantity of flour. These he put carefully in jars that he picked +up. In the same manner he slowly accumulated a set of battered pots and +pans, two plates, and a few odd knives and forks, as well as an old +blanket and a torn quilt from the attic. + +The only difference between what he did this time and what he had done +before was that he didn't say a word to his mother about it all. Since +always before he had talked over his plans with her, he now had a guilty +feeling. + +"I'll keep a list of everything," he said to himself, "and show it to +Mother later on." + +It was so much more exciting to act mysteriously and in secret. It made +the cave a real hide-out, something that belonged to him alone. + +The quilt and blanket were the last items he needed to complete his +preparations. Since he couldn't very well ride out of the yard with them +without causing questions, he slipped out one evening and hid them a +respectable distance down the road. The next morning when he had finished +his work, he saddled Ticktock and rode off to recover them. As he stopped +to pick up his bedding, he was congratulating himself on how secretly he +had managed everything. He looked under the little bush where he had left +them the previous evening but the quilt and blanket were gone. With a +puzzled frown on his tanned face, he tried to figure out the mystery. +There was little traffic on the road past the farm and no reason why +anyone would be prompted to stop at this spot and discover his bedding. +Very annoyed, he looked up and down the road to see if there was any +other bush he could possibly have confused with this one. + +"Looking for your blankets?" asked a teasing voice. + +Jim looked up, and there was his sister Jean sitting on the opposite side +of the road. She held his missing loot in her arms. + +"What are you doing here?" Jim demanded, very crestfallen at being +caught. + +"What are you doing with these?" asked Jean promptly. + +"Oh, I was just going to use them somewhere!" said Jim in confusion. He +tried to think fast. "I thought I might go fishing and want a soft place +to lean back on while I fished." + +"Funny you'd go to all this trouble just to take some blankets with you +fishing," observed Jean with mockery in her voice. "You forgot your fish +pole too." + +"Well, it's none of your business," replied Jim lamely. + +"Yes, it is," said Jean. "You were taking them to the hideaway and the +hideaway is part mine." + +"Don't be silly. Whatever gave you the idea I was taking them there?" + +"Oh, I've been watching things," said Jean calmly. "Let's see, you've got +sugar, coffee, plates, cups and two jars of peaches. Of course, I don't +know what you might have bought in town. Where else would you take all +that stuff except to the cave?" + +"Well, all right, the stuff was for the cave. Now what good does it do +you to know?" + +"None, unless I know where the cave is. But you're going to show me now." + +"Like fun I am." + +"Either you spill the beans or I'll squeal." Jean had read enough comic +strips that she could talk like a thug, and this was an occasion when she +felt she had to act tough. + +"You promised not to tell when I took you to the hideaway," objected Jim. + +"Yes, but I didn't promise not to tell about all this stuff you've been +stealing." + +"It isn't really stealing," protested Jim. + +"It looks like stealing to me," said Jean with infuriating calmness. "You +took a bunch of junk but you didn't ask." + +Jim felt trapped. He still didn't consider his recent activities +thievery, but that wasn't the important part. If Jean talked, his parents +would ask embarrassing questions about what he had done with the +articles. They would know he had a secret headquarters, which spoiled +half the mystery. It was better that Jean knew, than everyone. Thus far +she had kept very quiet about what she already knew. + +"Tell you what I'll do. I'll take you there on your birthday," he offered +finally. + +Jean considered thoughtfully. "That's three weeks away." + +"Yes, but I'm awful busy now. Besides, wouldn't it be a nice birthday +present--making you a full partner in the hideaway. I've got a lot of +things there I bought at the grocery store and you can have half of +them." Jim hoped she would forget about the matter in three weeks. He +didn't expect it, but it was a possibility. + +"All right, on my birthday." + +"O.K. Give me the blankets and remember, don't tell anyone." + +"Oh, I won't, now that everything is going to be half mine!" said Jean +with decision. "What are you going to do with all the stuff anyway?" + +That question rather stumped Jim. He hadn't gone into the reason behind +all his activity in stocking the cave. He had long ago forgotten his idea +of going there to live the life of a hermit. In the thrill of secretly +gathering a hoard of food and utensils he hadn't given much thought as to +the purpose of it all. + +"Well, I hadn't thought about that too much," he admitted frankly. "It's +just fun to have the stuff in the cave. I can pretend I'm an outlaw +hiding out. Maybe Mother will let me camp out all night sometime." + +"Well, we could pretend we were shipwrecked on an island or that we were +in a war and surrounded by enemies, and lots of things," suggested Jean. + +"Good ideas," said Jim. "Well, I better be going. I'll take you there on +your birthday." He rode off feeling that Jean might not be such a bad +partner to share his hide-out. She was resourceful and she had +imagination. Also, there was still three weeks in which he could enjoy +the secret in solitary splendor. + +Jean watched her brother disappear down the road. She had earned a +victory, but three weeks was a long time. She walked back to the house +with a very thoughtful look on her determined young face. She had been +doing much thinking and observing, and she wasn't going to stop and wait +calmly for her birthday. + +Jim delivered his blankets to the cave. After gloating over his very +respectable pile of provisions, he made himself a pot of coffee. It was a +lot of trouble, and he didn't care too much for coffee, particularly with +a lot of grounds, as his somehow always managed to have. Still it was +fun. He washed the pot in the stream, scouring it carefully with sand +before replacing it in the cave. + +On his way back home he made a detour to go by the railroad tracks. It +was about time for the morning freight to pass by, and he enjoyed +watching the long train labor slowly up a hill which was about a mile +from the farm. Arriving at a good point of vantage near a stream at the +foot of the hill, he dismounted to sit by the roadside. Ticktock grazed +contentedly while Jim chewed on a long stem of grass. + +In a few minutes the train came whistling around the bend at full speed, +trying for a head start up the hill. Jim counted the cars as they +appeared, his largest total was fifty-seven and he had hoped this freight +would break the record, for the engine slowed and began laboring the +moment it hit the upgrade. As the sixteenth car appeared around the +curve, he forgot about counting. A figure was running along the top of +the boxcars toward the engine, looking frantically over his shoulder +every few minutes. About ten cars later Jim saw the cause of the +excitement. A second man was pursuing the first, but the latter did not +seem particularly worried. + +"Railroad cop," thought Jim. "He's trying to catch that hobo." + +The first man apparently realized that he didn't have too far to run +before he reached the engine. He stopped in his flight and began +clambering down the side of one of the freight cars. The train had slowed +considerably now that it was part way up the hill. The man looked down at +the ground and then up at the car tops where his pursuer was hidden from +view. Then he jumped. The leap occurred almost at the point where the +tracks crossed the trestle over the stream. Jim could not tell if the man +landed on the ground or in the water. In either case, he must be badly +shaken up, for although the train had lost much of its speed it was still +traveling at a respectable rate. + +It was several hundred yards to the trestle, so, deciding that it would +be quicker to ride than to walk, Jim dashed for his horse. Unfortunately, +Ticktock had strayed up the road looking for choice bunches of clover. By +the time Jim had run to his horse, mounted, and then ridden over to the +trestle, several minutes had elapsed. Pulling Ticktock to a dust-raising +stop that would have done credit to a Western movie, Jim slid to the +ground. There was no mangled corpse in sight. He rushed to the edge of +the bank bordering the stream and peered down. Still there was nothing to +be seen. As there were a number of bushes, weeds and stunted trees on the +steep banks, whoever had jumped might be lying unconscious behind some +clump. There was nothing to do but make a search. + + [Illustration: Searching near the track] + +Jim climbed up and down the sloping sides of the stream covering the area +where anyone might possibly have fallen. When his efforts turned out to +be fruitless, he decided there could be only one other solution. If the +man had landed in the stream, there was sufficient water to carry him +along to the shallows on the other side of the bridge. Although the water +was only a few feet deep, an injured or unconscious man could drown. +Working his way downstream under the bridge, Jim reached the shallows +about a hundred yards on the other side of the tracks without finding any +body. Puzzled, he decided to give up the search. Perhaps he had just +imagined someone had jumped. As he was slowly making his way back, he +heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats. Panic-stricken, he rushed as fast as +he could along the slanting banks. He clambered to the top and looked +around for Ticktock. The mustang was gone. + +He looked up the road and there disappearing in the distance was his +beloved horse. Hunched over the pony's back, urging him to greater speed, +was the figure of a man. + +"Come back, you dirty horse thief!" screamed Jim at the top of his lungs, +with rage and panic in his voice. + +He continued to shout uselessly as the figure of the horse and rider grew +smaller in the distance. Finally a curve in the road hid them from view. +Heartbroken, Jim sat down by the side of the road. He buried his face in +his hands and his body shook with sobs. It was a disaster much worse than +any he could possibly have imagined. His beloved mustang had been stolen. +He sat by the roadside for a long time before he looked up. The cheery +sunshine of a few minutes earlier had suddenly become hard and bitter. +The bright world had turned ugly, drab and cruel. + +Finally he got to his feet and started plodding dejectedly down the road. +It was a long desolate walk. Each step seemed to take him farther from +Ticktock. His parents saw him when he finally came forlornly up the lane. +With his slow pace and sorrowful face, he was a heartbreaking sight. + +"What's the matter, Jimmy?" asked his mother, running to meet him. + +"Someone stole Ticktock," he said with a quavering voice. + +"Stole Ticktock?" asked Mr. Meadows incredulously. "How did it happen?" + +"I saw a man jump off a freight," said Jim slowly. "I thought maybe he +was hurt. While I was hunting for him, he stole Ticktock. He must have +been hiding behind some bush." + +"Why the dirty rat," said Mr. Meadows, his rage mounting as he listened +to the details. While he had threatened to get rid of the horse a few +months earlier, now the idea that anyone would steal his son's mustang +made him furious. "I'm going in to call the sheriff. That horse is so +well known the thief won't be able to get far. We'll get Ticktock back, +Jim." + +Two days went by, and they didn't get Ticktock back. + +The sheriff passed the alarm to surrounding towns, while the Springdale +_Gazette_ carried big headlines warning everyone to be on the lookout. It +forgot its usual joking tone about Jim and his horse and seriously asked +everyone to cooperate in the search. Bill Arnold even had a front-page +editorial on the subject. + +Jim sat at the telephone waiting for news, but there was no joyous +message. He was grief-stricken and refused to be consoled. + +"Don't feel so bad," said Mrs. Meadows comfortingly. "You have money +enough to buy another horse." + +"I don't want another horse. I want Ticktock," said Jim. + +While he was deep in misery, Jim did not lose hope. Somehow he felt that +Ticktock would escape from the thief and return. He was confident that no +matter how far the mustang might be ridden he would discover the way back +home. The third day following the theft was Saturday. The family tried to +persuade Jim to go to town to take his mind off his loss, but he was firm +in insisting on staying home. A message was sent to Colonel Flesher that +he would not be in for work for the sale. Ticktock might possibly return, +Jim felt, and he wanted to be home to greet him. + +Jim sat sadly on the front porch after the family left for town, looking +up and down the road hoping to see the mustang. Three days was a long +time. A man could ride a horse a great distance in that length of time. +Still Jim kept gazing at the road hopefully. Suddenly he jumped up and +rubbed his eyes. He had been searching so long that he thought he was now +dreaming. He looked again and still saw the same wonderful sight. +Ticktock was jogging contentedly down the road toward home. + +Jim ran to the gate to meet his horse. He threw his arms around the +pony's neck and hugged him through sheer joy. + +"You came back, boy, you came back!" he cried happily. + +Ticktock closed one eye and winked. He wasn't a demonstrative horse. + +As Jim started to lead his prodigal pony into the yard, he noticed for +the first time that Ticktock wore no bridle. + +"So you had to slip your bridle to get away," he said. "Well, you did a +good job. We'll get another old bridle. I'll bet you're tired and hungry. +You must have come a long way; so I'll take the saddle off and let you +rest." + +When the saddle was removed, there was very little perspiration beneath +the blanket. The hair was scarcely ruffled. Jim stood back and looked at +Ticktock in puzzlement. + +"You don't look as if you had come so far," he observed. "In fact, you +look as if you had just been groomed." + +He opened one of the saddlebags. He usually carried a curry comb and +brush with him so that he could use them in odd moments. The implements +were still there, but it was hard to tell if they had been used. Whatever +the thief had used, Ticktock had obviously been groomed only a short time +before. The pony didn't look tired either, but acted quite fresh and +frisky. + +Noticing that the other saddlebag bulged suspiciously, Jim opened it. +There, folded neatly, was the missing bridle. + +"Now why would anyone fold up a bridle and put it in the saddlebag?" +asked Jim. + +Ticktock didn't answer but just nuzzled his master contentedly. + +"If someone wasn't going to ride you for a while," said Jim musingly to +his pony, "he would take off your saddle as well as your bridle. If he +was going to ride you in a few minutes, he either wouldn't take off the +bridle at all or at most hang it on a tree limb or the saddle horn. But +that bridle was carefully put away in the saddlebag. There's something +fishy here. I don't believe that thief is so far from here." + +The more Jim thought about the matter, the more puzzled he became. But no +matter what the solution, he was very angry with whoever had stolen his +horse. According to all the books he had read and movies he had seen, a +horse thief was considered three degrees lower than a murderer. Jim +agreed with the Western idea. Turning over such thoughts in his mind, he +finally came to a decision. He saddled Ticktock, put on the bridle and +then went into the house. He opened the closet to his father's room and +carefully got out a twenty-two rifle. He had been forbidden to touch his +father's firearms, but he felt this case was different. There was a heavy +deer gun in the closet too, but that looked too forbidding. He found five +twenty-two long shells in his father's bureau, which he carefully stuck +in his pocket. It was a single shot rifle, and he knew how to load it. + +Going back downstairs, he found a pencil and paper and wrote a short note +that he left lying on the kitchen table. + + _Dear Dad and Mom:_ + + _Ticktock came back and is all right. I have gone to look for that + low-down horse thief. If I catch him alive, I hope they hang him._ + + _Jim_ + +Very grim-faced, Jim mounted and rode off in the direction from which +Ticktock had come. He had no idea where he was going to hunt for the +thief, but to hunt anywhere was a form of action. He jogged along, so +overjoyed to be back on his horse once more that he paid little attention +to where the pony was heading. Suddenly he realized that he was entering +Briggs Wood. At the proper point Ticktock turned off the road toward the +hideaway. + +"Well, we might as well go there as anywhere else," said Jim cheerfully. +He really didn't have much hope of locating the thief anyhow. + +At the clearing, Jim dismounted to stretch his legs. He sat down +contentedly on a big rock by his fireplace. + +"Well, here we are, back together again at the old hangout, Ticktock," he +observed happily to the pony. + +He tossed a rock into the ashes of the fireplace. Nothing could keep him +and his mustang down. Then he noticed that the disturbed ashes were +smoking slightly. Alarmed, he poked in the fireplace with a stick. There +was no doubt that a fire had been built there recently. Clutching his +gun, he looked around at the trees. + +"Someone has been here in our hide-out," he confided softly to Ticktock. + +The pony was not grazing as usual but looking around inquiringly. +Frowning fiercely, Jim tried to feel as brave as he looked. Cautiously he +peered inside the brush hut. It was empty; so he began to make a slow +circuit of the clearing, staying well back in the trees. He was +approaching the lower end near the stream, trying to move silently over +the rocky ground when he stumbled over something projecting from a low +bush. He spun around with his rifle ready, completely forgetting that he +had never loaded the gun. There was a stir in the bush and then a man's +face peered out. Two sleep-clouded eyes looked at Jim and his rifle. The +eyes opened wide and lost their sleepiness. + +"Don't shoot! Don't shoot! I give up," said a frightened voice. + + + + + Chapter Eleven + The Conspirators + + +It was difficult to say which of the two was the more frightened, the man +in the bushes or Jim. The only difference was that Jim held a rifle. He +didn't know quite what to do with it as all his training had been to the +effect that he should never point the muzzle of a gun at anyone. So he +waved the gun around uncertainly, first pointing it at the man and then +away. The erratic maneuvers of the gun muzzle served to terrify the +stranger even more. + +"Don't shoot!" he repeated, his frightened eyes going back and forth as +they followed the end of the waving gun barrel with a horrified +fascination. + +The man presented a very odd sight. He was short, but with abnormally +broad shoulders and powerful arms. His heavily muscled body was stripped +to the waist, and he wore nothing but a pair of faded khaki trousers. +This garment was crumpled and dirty with several jagged tears in the +legs. He was both barefooted and bareheaded. His brown weathered face and +arms had numerous partially healed scratches and cuts. At first Jim +received an impression of villainous ferocity caused by the man's mangled +face. Then as he calmed down he saw the stranger had an ugly but rather +pleasant countenance. Also, that powerful chest looked rather gaunt, for +the ribs were beginning to show. Jim looked at his captive in +uncertainty, unable to decide whether to feel angry, terrified, or sorry +for the man. + +"Did you steal my horse?" he asked finally, when he found his voice. He +tried to sound stern, but his voice insisted on quavering. + +"No, sir!" denied the stranger, who was more frightened because Jim was +obviously excited than he would have been had the boy been calm and +steady. "I borrowed a horse a couple of days ago but I took good care of +him and turned him loose so he could go home." + +Jim thought this over for a minute. The evidence of the bridle and +Ticktock's recent grooming pointed to the truth of the statement. + +"Why'd you borrow him?" he asked. "I went down to the railroad tracks to +see if you were hurt, and you ran off with my horse." + +"I was scared," said the man frankly. "I didn't see you were a boy. A +railroad cop had just chased me off that freight. I thought maybe they +had rangers in this state like they have in Texas and one was after me +for bumming a ride. I just lost my head and ran." + +"How did you get here?" Jim was very annoyed at anyone's finding his +hideaway. + +"After I got on the horse I just rode away as fast as I could. When I +came to this woods I slowed down and let that little horse walk along. +All of a sudden he turned off the road and came here. It looked as good a +spot as any, so I stayed." + +The explanation was very logical. For once Jim wished that Ticktock would +refrain from displaying his intelligence to others. It was all right to +be smart, but to take a stranger to the secret hideaway was another +matter. + +"We'll go back to the clearing," he said firmly, motioning with his gun. + +"Yes, sir," the captive moved forward promptly. Jim marched behind the +man, his nervousness gone. His brown hands held the gun steadily, and +there was a serious frown on his normally cheerful face. He couldn't +quite figure out the situation. The stranger seemed perfectly frank and +straightforward in his manner and didn't look like a horse thief should. +According to Jim's conceptions, a horse thief should be a sullen, +villainous man with a mustache and a long scar on his cheek. This man was +a good-natured, honest-appearing person. + +When they arrived at the clearing, Ticktock was standing near the brush +hut. The man walked up to him and began patting him on the neck. + +"How are you, old fellow?" he asked in a soft persuasive tone. Ticktock +seemed to like the man. He looked over and winked at Jim as if he were +putting the stamp of approval on the stranger. + +"Nice horse you got here, son," said the man. + +"He sure is," agreed Jim. He always warmed toward anyone who appreciated +the mustang. Yes, this whole thing certainly was a puzzle. + +"Why did you let him loose?" he asked. + +"You don't think I'm a horse thief, do you?" asked the other indignantly. +"I could see that someone was taking awful good care of this pony and +must like him. So I turned him loose." + +"Look here," said Jim, "I can't figure this out. Why should you be so +scared just because you were riding on a freight? Lots of people do +that." + +"In some states they put them in a chain gang or jail too, when they +catch them." + +"That would explain your running off with Ticktock," said Jim, reasoning +out loud, "but it doesn't account for your staying here in the woods. You +look peaked and hungry to me. Why don't you go some place where you can +get something to eat? And where are your clothes?" + + [Illustration: Where are your clothes?] + +"I washed my clothes," said the other nervously. "They're hanging over +there in the bush." + +Jim's eyes followed in the direction of the pointed finger. There was a +shirt, undershirt and two socks hanging on a limb. They had obviously +been washed, although it was rather a poor job, since there had been no +soap and only the cold water of the stream. + +"That doesn't answer the other questions," said Jim stubbornly. "I think +you are hiding for some other reason." + +The man looked at Jim long and searchingly. Apparently he was reassured +by the appearance of the boy's frank face and steady brown eyes. + +"I think I'll tell you the truth," he said at last. "I think you'll +understand." + +"Go ahead." + +"Look, I'm kind of weak from lack of something to eat. Why don't we sit +down, because this is a long story? And how about pointing that rifle +just a little bit in the other direction? It makes me nervous." + +"All right," agreed Jim, sitting down on a log, "but I'm keeping this gun +handy." + +As Jim placed the rifle across his knees, he suddenly realized that he +had forgotten to load it. There was a hollow feeling in the pit of his +stomach and a big lump suddenly came up in his throat, threatening to +choke him. He couldn't very well reach in his pocket, extract a shell, +open the breech, and load the gun. Nervous as he was, he knew he would be +slow reloading it. He knew how, but had never had much practice and it +might take a long time. The other man was too close to permit such a +maneuver. There was nothing to do but try not to change expression and +stick it out. + +"You were right," said the captive, commencing his story and apparently +noticing nothing wrong in Jim's expression or behavior. "The law is after +me. I'm wanted for killing a man." + +"A murderer," said Jim involuntarily. He gulped. Matters were getting +worse by the minute. + +"I'm no murderer," said the man with indignant sincerity. "But I'm sure +in the worst mess that ever happened to any man. The police are after me, +I'm starving, and I don't have any place to go. All of it's an accident +too." + +The man's tone was full of so much woe that Jim felt a wave of sympathy +sweep over him. Somehow he couldn't help liking the man and believing in +him. He didn't look like a murderer. + +"How did it happen?" Jim asked. + +"I'm a horse trainer--one of the best in the country," said the other +proudly. "I've handled all kinds of horses, from big work teams to race +horses. The last few years I've been training race horses. I was working +for Mr. Medway and we had his horses at Churchill Downs just outside +Louisville. Last Monday--it seems like a year--I was walking along +outside the stables when I saw a jockey named Willie Fry in one of the +stalls. I don't suppose you know much about the things people do to +horses now and then at race tracks, but this jockey was doping a horse. +You can dope a horse several ways--you can give him something to make him +slow and dopey so he can't run well or you can give him a shot to make +him all hopped up." + +"What's that?" asked Jim, so interested that he forgot about the unloaded +rifle. + +"It's just like a man taking snow-cocaine, any kind of dope. It makes him +think he can do anything. Well, the same thing happens to a horse. A +horse that's hopped up can run much better than he would normally. It's +bad on his heart, bad all over for that matter. He's apt to strain +himself and be ruined. Sometimes a horse can run so hard he may go +blind." + +"Was he giving a horse that kind of dope?" asked Jim, full of +indignation. + +"No, this was the night before the race and he was doping a horse to make +him sick and slow. Judges can usually tell a horse that's hopped up, but +it's hard to tell when a horse has been given something to make him sick +or is just naturally not up to form. Well, I hate to see a horse doped or +mistreated in any way. What made me even madder was that Willie was +doping _my_ horse. Redwing was the horse, and she was a sure bet to win +the next day. I had most of the money I'd saved all summer on that race." + +"Why didn't he want her to win?" asked Jim, puzzled. + +"Well, there could have been several reasons. One--he was riding a horse +that was the second favorite, but he knew as well as I did that he didn't +have a chance against Redwing. Then he could have been paid by the +bookies--they are the men that take bets on the race--to fix it so the +favorite couldn't win. That way they could clean up, not only on not +having to pay off on any money on Redwing, but by putting money up +themselves on Willie's horse. Anyhow, I was really mad. I jumped on +Willie and he started to fight. He pulled a knife on me and so I grabbed +a bottle that was handy. I hit him over the head, and he dropped like a +sack. Blood started running down his face. I was really scared. I felt +his pulse and couldn't feel a thing. So I lit out of there and I've been +hiding ever since." + +"Why didn't you go to the police and tell them what happened?" asked Jim. + +"I was too scared to think straight and then there were a couple of +things against me. No one saw Willie doping the horse, or the fight, so +it would have been just my word about what happened. Then the worst thing +was that Willie and I had been in a fight the day before over a girl. I +warned him to stay away from the girl I was going to marry. The police +would play that up big and I wouldn't have a chance." + +"You sure are in a tough spot," sympathized Jim. "It's even worse that +you ran away." + +"I know it is," said the man mournfully. "That's why I was so scared when +I was on that train and when you came hunting for me. I figured that +everyone had seen the newspapers and was searching for me." + +"What were you planning on doing, just staying here?" asked Jim. + +"Well, when I first got here I thought that brush hut and fireplace had +been built by some hunters. The place didn't seem much used, and it +wasn't hunting season; so I thought I'd stay until things sort of quieted +down. That is, if I could figure out some way to eat. Then about noon +today I noticed those jumping bars for a horse. That and the way that +little horse brought me here made me think that someone was using the +place for something. So I decided I'd better move on. I turned the horse +loose and figured I'd leave when it was night. I didn't think whoever +owned the horse would be back inside of an hour. I was wrong. You showed +up and caught me asleep." + +"Haven't you had anything to eat since I saw you jump off the train?" +asked Jim solicitously. + +"I had two sandwiches that I had in my pocket," said the man. "I picked +them up the night before in a diner near a freight yard. But that's all. +I sure am hungry." + +"I think maybe I could get you something to eat," said Jim, considering. + +"I knew you would believe the truth when you heard it," said the +stranger. "You're not going to turn me over to the law?" + +"I believe you. I don't blame you a bit," said Jim. "Since I'm going to +trust you, I may as well put this gun down. I am pretty relieved anyhow, +because I forgot to load it." + +The man stared at Jim in amazement. "Captured by a boy with an unloaded +rifle! I'm certainly a desperate criminal." + +Jim grinned. "I think you better stay right here for a while," he said, +taking charge. "I can feed you here and you are better hidden than at any +place I can think of." + +"You found me," pointed out the late captive dubiously. + +"Well naturally," said Jim scornfully. "This is my secret headquarters. +No one else knows about it though. Besides, you haven't seen half of it +yet. If you'll promise never to tell, I'll show you everything." + +"You have the sacred word of Timothy Dinwiddie," said the man solemnly. + +"Follow me." + +Jim led the way to the hidden cave. He paused just outside the entrance. + +"Don't let anybody ever see you enter here." He pushed back the bush +covering the cave mouth. "I keep a flash light hanging here just inside +the door." + +Timothy followed the boy inside. He stood with mouth open as he followed +the flash-light beam around the walls. There were several rows of +cans--baked beans, vegetables, shoestring potatoes, chow mein, corned +beef and everything possible to preserve. + +"Food! Beautiful, beautiful food!" said Timothy in rapture. "This is the +most wonderful sight I've seen since a horse I picked won the Kentucky +Derby about ten years ago." + +"Pick out what you want," said Jim, very proud of his stock of +provisions. He was gratified that they were proving so handy. + +In a few minutes the two had a fire going. Baked beans were warming in a +pot while some weiners were simmering in a frying pan. The coffee began +to boil while Jim was opening a can of peaches. Timothy sniffed the +appetizing odors hungrily and put more wood in the fireplace. He finally +decided everything was warm enough and dished out a huge portion. Jim +wasn't hungry, but the enjoyment he received from watching Timothy devour +the food more than repaid him for all the trouble and expense he had +undergone in collecting his stock. After finishing the first helping, +Timothy filled his plate again. He ate everything down to the last bean. +Then he and Jim had a cup of coffee together. + +"That was certainly the finest banquet I ever ate," said Timothy leaning +back in satisfaction. "You really got a well-stocked kitchen here. And +that cave is about the trickiest hiding place I ever laid eyes on." + +"It is pretty good," said Jim glowing with pride. "I just laid in that +food in case I might need it sometime." + +"I'm certainly glad you did. It saved me from starvation." + +"I get to town quite often," observed Jim. "You look the stock over, and +anything you need or that gets low I'll pick up at the grocery store." + +"Look, Jim," said Timothy, reaching in his pocket. "I got about thirty +dollars. You better take twenty to buy groceries." + +"I don't want your money," protested Jim. When he decided to be friends +with anyone he made no reservations. "You may need it." + +"You are the one that needs it. You can't feed a hungry man like me for +nothing." Timothy shoved the twenty-dollar bill in Jim's shirt pocket. +"When you go to town, would you buy any Louisville paper you can find for +the last week. I'd like to know what they are saying about me." + +"I know I can get the recent ones," said Jim. "I'll be back tomorrow +afternoon. Right now I better get home before my folks, because I left a +note saying I was hunting for the man that stole Ticktock." + +Jim rode home bursting with excitement. He wished there was someone to +whom he could tell his exciting tale, but such a course was out of the +question. Others might not realize, as he did, that Timothy was the +victim of a bad break. Anyone who would try to dope a horse deserved to +be hit on the head, he decided. He had to guard the secret of Timothy +very closely, because if the police found him they might hang him. He +guessed that's what they did with murderers. + +The family had not returned when Jim arrived. He destroyed his note and +then began grooming Ticktock. He was busily at work when the Meadows' car +drove in the lane. Feeling full of mystery and importance, he hailed his +parents. + +"Ticktock came back!" + +"So I see," said Mr. Meadows. "How'd it happen?" + +"He just came trotting up the road. Got loose I guess." The explanation +seemed so tame compared to the story he could have told, but he held +himself sternly in check. + +The family gathered around to welcome the mustang back. Mrs. Meadows was +very relieved, as she had worried over her son's evident grief. Jean was +overjoyed. She was becoming almost as fond of the pony as was Jim. In the +general excitement, everyone talked at once and neither the father nor +mother noticed anything unusual in Jim's behavior. Jean, however, wasn't +to be deceived. She sensed that her brother was acting a little too +mysterious and self-satisfied to know as little as he did. She said +nothing, but watched him narrowly. + +On Monday Jim made some excuse and went to town early. At the local +store, which sold newspapers, he was able to get Louisville papers from +the preceding Friday through Monday. He was very conscious of his +exciting new role of helping a hunted man and played the part with all +his usual intensity. Afraid that it might look suspicious to hunt through +the papers while in town, he stuffed them in one of the saddlebags +without even a glance. While walking down the street he met Constable +Whittaker, to whom he gave a very cordial greeting. He grinned to +himself. Constable Whittaker represented the only forces of law and order +Jim had ever known. Being a conspirator who was outwitting Whittaker was +rare fun. + +After buying a few groceries at the store, Jim completed his errands by +purchasing a quart of ice cream and some cigarettes. They were to be a +surprise for Timothy. He didn't know if the fugitive smoked, but he +suspected that he did. He was rather nervous while buying the cigarettes, +as he knew they were not supposed to be sold to anyone under twenty-one. +However, he had occasionally purchased them for his father. + +"They are for a client of mine," he said casually to the druggist, who +didn't think of doubting Jim's motives. + +The ice cream was carefully packed so that it was still in good condition +when Jim arrived at the hide-out. + +"You certainly are the answer to a man's prayer," said Timothy, dividing +the ice cream into two equal portions. "Ice cream and cigarettes! I +really was craving a smoke. You put those ravens in the Bible to shame, +Jim. Imagine a bird delivering a quart of ice cream! I prefer a boy with +a horse. It's not so fancy, but it's a good deal more satisfying to the +stomach." + +Jim produced the papers and together they went over each page of all four +editions. They made a hasty search first and then examined each article +thoroughly. Even the financial pages were searched. There was not a +single mention of Timothy Dinwiddie or his victim, Willie Fry. + +"That's funny," said Timothy, scratching his head. "It happened on +Monday. You'd think there would still be some mention of the business on +Thursday. I might not be so important as I thought, but Willie Fry was a +well-known jockey." + +"Maybe they're keeping quiet on purpose," suggested Jim, who had read his +share of mystery stories. + +"What do you mean by that?" inquired Timothy nervously. + +"Sometimes the police keep very quiet in order not to let a criminal know +they are hot on his trail," Jim said ominously. + +"I hope that's not what's happened," Timothy said fervently. He looked +apprehensively around at the woods. + +"Well, I'll go to the newspaper office. The editor and I are pals. He may +have the old papers. I'll think up some story and get the missing ones +from Monday on," said Jim. "I can't go tomorrow, as it might look +suspicious to be going to town too often. But Wednesday I'll get them. +I'll bring you some fresh eggs and milk too. Also, we got a lot of melons +if you want one." + +"Boy, oh boy," said Timothy, shaking his head. "You think of everything. +I'm glad you're not a cop." + + + + + Chapter Twelve + Jean's Ride + + +The rest of the week went by without further news. Jim was unable to get +the Tuesday morning paper, the one most likely to contain news of the +murder. They searched all the others, but with no success. Timothy and he +were still completely in the dark as to what efforts the police were +making. They could only make guesses. + +Jim was enjoying himself however. He was playing an important part in a +serious and exciting game. He kept Timothy well supplied with food, +reveling in his mysterious errands. While at home, time hung very heavily +on his hands. He felt that he should be doing something. He was bothered +about Jean. He was not going to underestimate her again, and he knew she +was watching him carefully. Also, her birthday was approaching. She +mentioned the matter several times; so he knew she had not forgotten the +promise he had made. While he supposed Timothy could hide elsewhere on +that day, it would be difficult to remove all traces of his recent +occupancy. Also, part of the safety of the hide-out would be destroyed +once Jean knew the way. + +Before it had been merely a matter of personal pride that kept Jim from +telling Jean. Now it was a serious matter--a man's life was involved. + +To cover up his nervousness and unrest, Jim began teaching Ticktock a few +new tricks. He had long since taught the mustang to stand quietly in one +spot when his reins were dangling, not to crop grass while a rider was in +the saddle, and various other accomplishments of a good riding horse. Now +he tried a new idea. He enlisted the aid of his sister for the +instruction. + +Jim would go a few feet away from his sister and the horse, then Jean +would say, "Ticktock, go to Jim." When the mustang did as he was told, he +would receive a piece of sugar or apple as a reward. The process would +then be reversed and the pony told to go to Jean. They gradually +lengthened the distance until finally Jean was some distance down the +road. Ticktock caught on rapidly, trotting back and forth between the two +carrying out his orders. In a few days he was thoroughly schooled. + +Jim then began instructing Jean in riding. Much of his information had +been picked up only recently from Timothy, who had a vast store of +knowledge about horses and riding in general. The horse trainer had once +worked in a riding academy and had given riding lessons. Jim was an apt +pupil and followed his new teacher's advice religiously. He seldom had to +be told twice. He learned the proper way to sit in the saddle, how to +hold the reins correctly and various do's and don'ts of riding. For the +first time he heard of the art of posting. + +All this information was passed on to Jean. Jim spoke in such an +authoritative manner that Jean knew he was not inventing his technical +terms or making up his riding lore. There had been a noticeable +improvement in his riding lately which she hadn't failed to see. As a +detective, Jean put her brother to shame. She missed nothing. Aware that +Jim had not been visiting anyone she knew who was a riding expert, she +said nothing but continued to observe. She hadn't missed the frequent +trips to town and other rides in the direction of Briggs Woods. As for +the milk and eggs that disappeared, she had noted that bit of information +down too. When Jim slipped away with a watermelon, she definitely decided +something very mysterious was taking place. + +Jean considered the theory that someone was giving her brother riding +instruction and information for which he was paying in food. But why was +he so mysterious about it all. If he was openly taking lessons from +someone, he would be certain to talk about it, even boast somewhat. No, +there was more to the matter than was covered by such a simple +explanation. She was just as decisive as her brother and even though only +ten, when she made up her mind, she acted. So she devised a plan. + +Jean had long since gotten over her timidity concerning Ticktock and had +ridden him occasionally before. Now she applied herself and obediently +followed Jim's instructions. She began riding Ticktock daily around the +farm. Mr. Meadows was somewhat opposed to the idea, as he thought his +daughter was too young to be riding Ticktock. Although small for a +mustang and called a ranch pony, Ticktock was far from being any Shetland +pony. Any fall from his back would be a long distance for such a small +girl. Although he no longer had any worries about Jim and Ticktock, Mr. +Meadows still considered the mustang to be rather high-spirited and apt +to be vicious with anyone who didn't know him too well. In spite of the +parental disapproval, Jean spent more time each day learning to ride on +the little horse. + +Friday Jim had to help his father all day. At noon Jean asked to ride +Ticktock; so Jim saddled the horse and then went back to the field with +his father. After several hours of intermittent riding around the yard, +Jean decided that the time had come for action. Casually she went into +the house to find her mother. + +"I think I'll ride down the road a way," she announced. + +"Be careful," warned her mother, who did not share her husband's fears +about Ticktock. + +"Sure. I may be gone a little while so don't worry." + +As soon as she was out of sight of the house, Jean urged the mustang to a +faster pace and headed toward the woods. She knew the trail to the +hide-out began somewhere near the middle of the forest. It was very +gloomy in the heavy shade, but that just added to the excitement for her. +Resolutely she rode on. + +Had Jean allowed Ticktock to have his head once they were in the forest, +he would have undoubtedly taken her straight to the hideaway, as he had +Timothy. The way was old and familiar to him now. But Jean insisted on +directing the little horse. While she had taken quite a few peeks on her +blindfolded trip to the hide-out, she hadn't seen quite enough. Jim had +circled and doubled back, which misled her too. The woods were confusing, +one trail or stream looking like another. She knew they had roughly +followed a stream for a distance, so she chose one and boldly plunged +into the woods. + +It was difficult riding, trying to duck branches or push them out of the +way. Jean couldn't tell too well where she was going, and after some +distance she began to be discouraged and tired. She was determined, +however. Any trouble was acceptable if she could only show up her brother +and find the hideaway. She was certain that if she found the place she +would also solve the mystery of why he was now taking away perishable +food. + +Seeing nothing that looked familiar, Jean stopped for a few minutes to +rest and get her bearings. As she did so, she saw a tree loaded with +persimmons on the opposite bank of the stream. She dismounted and picked +a spot to cross. It was a tiny rivulet, but it had deep steep banks from +the spring floods. She walked upstream until she found a spot where she +could cross. Returning to the tree, she began climbing. She was reaching +out for a particularly large persimmon when she lost her balance and +fell. She landed on her back with a breath-taking thump and then tumbled +on down the bank of the stream. Her right foot hit a rock at the bottom +and doubled under her. There was a wrench and a horribly sharp pain. Her +scream of anguish brought Ticktock to the bank. He peered down at the +huddled heap at the bottom. + + [Illustration: Peering down at the huddled heap] + +Jean lay moaning and crying for some minutes. The pain subsided a little, +so she sat up and dried her tears. She wanted nothing now but to get back +to Ticktock and go home. Cautiously she tried standing. The slightest +weight on her foot brought a yell of pain. She got back on her knees and +tried crawling up the bank. It was too steep, the soft ground caving in +and letting her slide back down to the bottom. If she had had the use of +both legs, she might have managed to scramble up to the top, but it was +impossible in her crippled state. Discouraged and frightened, she gave up +and began to cry. + +No one could find her, she was certain. Ticktock couldn't get down to +where she was and she couldn't climb to him. She was tired, dirty, and +her ankle hurt. She looked at the injured member, which was swelling +rapidly. It was nearly twice as large as her left ankle. The sight +frightened her even more. Perhaps it was broken, and she would just have +to stay there and slowly starve. + +Ticktock looked down solicitously. He knew something was wrong but didn't +quite know what to do about it. He stepped closer to the bank to see +better, but it began to crumble. He moved back out of danger and waited +patiently. After Jean had cried herself out, she began to think calmly +once more. At least it was comforting to have Ticktock standing by, even +though she couldn't use him. + +Jean was a resourceful little girl who didn't give up too easily. She +considered all possible ways out of her predicament and finally had an +idea. She would send Ticktock for help. + +"Ticktock, go to Jim!" she ordered, sitting up. "Go on home to Jim!" + +Ticktock hesitated. He didn't want to leave Jean, as he knew she was in +trouble. Also, he had been taught to stand still while his reins were +dangling. He stirred indecisively. + +"Go on, go home to Jim," repeated Jean commandingly. + +It was an order; so the mustang decided to obey. He started off. He went +a few paces and then looked around mournfully over his shoulder, hoping +his instructions would be changed. Jean simply repeated her words. +Reluctantly he went back through the woods and headed for home. He began +trotting down the road. Repeatedly he stepped on his reins and jerked his +head down savagely. Finally one sharp jerk broke them and he went rapidly +down the road with his broken reins trailing behind him on the ground. + +Mrs. Meadows became alarmed about four-thirty at her daughter's long +absence. Finally she could stand the worry no longer. She went to the big +dinner bell in the back yard and rang it vigorously. It was used to +summon her husband from the fields, and she knew he would come running at +once on hearing the bell ring at this unexpected hour of the day. + +Mr. Meadows and Jim left their work and headed for the house immediately. +Jim's mother had just finished explaining when Ticktock appeared over the +hill, riderless. + +The little mustang was covered with sweat and dust. The farther he went +from Jean the more the pony realized something was decidedly amiss. His +only thought was to hurry home to Jim. Jim was his god and could solve +all things. He dashed into the yard and obediently slid to a halt in +front of the boy. He had carried out instructions. + +Mr. Meadows looked at the lather-covered mustang with his broken reins. + +"If that horse has thrown Jean and hurt her, I'll kill him." + +Worried as he was, Jim did not fail to rise to the defense of his beloved +horse. "He wouldn't throw Jean. Maybe she fell off and he came back for +me." + +"Well, I'm going to get the car and go back along the way he came," +announced Carl Meadows decisively. + +Jim tied a hasty knot in the reins and climbed up on Ticktock's back. + +"Take me to Jean," he said. "Go to Jean." + +Ticktock was not indecisive this time. He turned around and started back +rapidly down the road. Mrs. Meadows and her husband got in the car and +started slowly after him, scanning the ditches on both sides. They passed +Jim and went on up the road. He shouted at them as they went by. + +"You better wait at the corner and follow me. Ticktock will take us to +her." + +It was soon evident where the pony was heading. When the woods appeared +in view, Jim was certain of at least part of what had happened. Jean had +tried to find the hide-out. He felt positive about that. A thousand ideas +crowded into his mind. If she let Ticktock have his head, he would have +taken her to the clearing too. And Timothy was hiding there. Hearing a +horse approaching, he would naturally assume it to be Jim. And then +suddenly, if Jean appeared, what would have happened? He was positive +that Timothy would not have harmed his sister. Perhaps he might have +detained her though, afraid that she would spread an alarm. In that case, +what would he do? He would have to lead his parents to the hide-out and +betray Timothy. + +There were other explanations too. Jean might have suddenly seen Timothy +and become alarmed. If she rode off rapidly through the trees, it would +have been the easiest thing in the world to have been knocked off by a +low branch. In that case she might be hurt badly. Everything looked +black. Jean might be hurt; Timothy might be turned over to the police; he +might be taken for aiding a criminal; and lastly Ticktock was once again +in Mr. Meadows' bad graces. + +So certain was Jim that Jean had gone to the hide-out that he tried to +pull Ticktock back onto the road when the little horse started off +through the woods before reaching the usual trail. The mustang, who knew +exactly what he was doing, was stubborn and insisted in turning off the +road. + +"O.K., Ticktock," said Jim finally. "You usually know where you're +going." + +Jim waited for his parents to arrive in the car. They climbed out and +rather dubiously followed Jim into the woods. Every few yards they would +shout Jean's name. When they had penetrated about half a mile into the +forest, they heard a weak answer. Jean had heard them. Ticktock kept +going forward confidently until he paused on top of the bank above the +injured girl. + +Jean was a sorry-looking little girl. Her face was streaked with tears +and dirt while her clothes were torn, wet and muddy. But she was very +happy to be at last out of her predicament. She had been lonely and +frightened, waiting alone in the woods after Ticktock had gone. + +"I tried to climb the persimmon tree and fell down here," she explained. +"I couldn't get up; so I sent Ticktock for help." + +Jim listened to the vindication of his faith in Ticktock in silence. He +was very relieved to find Jean and know that she wasn't too badly hurt. +They were still too close to his hide-out to suit him though, and he +wouldn't feel safe until they were clear of the woods. Also, this was +scarcely the time to point out how intelligently Ticktock had acted. His +parents were still too absorbed in Jean and the extent of her injuries. + +Ticktock led the way back to the road while Mr. Meadows carried Jean in +his arms. When the little party reached the car, the others drove off, +leaving Jim to follow home alone. + +Jim let the little pony take his time on the road back. He felt much +relieved but still uneasy. He wondered what Jean would say if they asked +her what she was doing in the woods. He felt rather guilty about her +mishap. After all, it was mainly his fault. + +If he had shown her the way that first day, she would never have gone off +on her trip of exploration. It had been rather mean of him, considering +that she had found the cave, which was the most valuable feature of the +secret rendezvous. So if her leg were broken, he supposed that he was +really responsible. + +The doctor was at the house by the time Jim arrived. He was busy with +Jean; so Jim rubbed Ticktock down and put him in the orchard. + +"You're a hero, old boy," he said fondly. "You got me out of a pretty +ticklish mess by being so smart." + +"Just sprained badly," the doctor was saying as Jim entered the house. +"She'd better stay in bed a day or two. That's the only way I know of to +keep active children from moving around." + +Jean had her dinner in bed, rather enjoying being in the limelight. After +he had eaten, Jim got a chance to talk to his sister alone. + +"I suppose you were looking for the hide-out," he said hesitantly. + +Jean nodded her head. "I haven't told anybody though." + +"Good girl," said Jim with a thankful sigh. "It was mean of me not to +show you before. As soon as you can get around I'll take you there, even +if it isn't your birthday." + +"I haven't said anything about the milk and eggs you took either," said +Jean calmly. "What are you feeding?" + +Jim looked at his sister with hesitation. She certainly had shown that +she could keep a secret. She deserved to be in on the excitement, he +decided. Perhaps that would make up in some part for his having +indirectly caused her accident. + +"Look, Jean," he said, lowering his voice. "I'll tell you the whole +story...." + + + + + Chapter Thirteen + The Mystery Is Solved + + +The next morning Jim rode to Springdale for newspapers and supplies for +Timothy. Purchases were becoming rather difficult of late. Perhaps it was +merely his fancy, but he felt that the man in the store was beginning to +look at him curiously when he made his daily purchase of several +newspapers. As for cigarettes, Jim had bought what he felt was his limit +without exciting suspicion. He would have to think of some new solution +for Timothy's tobacco problem. The last quart of milk purchased had +brought forth a comment from the clerk. + +"Haven't you got any cows on that farm?" + +"Oh, sure," replied Jim, with what he considered magnificent nonchalance. +"This is for a customer. I run errands of all sorts you know. Don't need +a good rural delivery boy, do you?" + +Feeling that he had allayed suspicion for the moment, Jim rode off toward +the hide-out. While the intrigue he was carrying on with Timothy was the +most exciting adventure in which he had ever taken part, he had to face +facts. Avoiding questions was bound to become increasingly more +difficult. Also, the end of summer vacation was not too far distant. +Going to school, doing his chores at home, and continuing the operation +of the Pony Express was going to make a very stiff schedule without the +added labor of having to administer to the wants of Timothy. Cold weather +would add further complications. How would Timothy heat the cave? Also, +there was the matter of money. While he was still operating on the +original twenty dollars that Timothy had given him, sooner or later the +money would be exhausted. Jim didn't begrudge using some of his own money +to provide for his new friend, but if the proceeds of the Pony Express +were all used up for food, in time it would grow irksome. He could see +long years stretching ahead of him during which he would have to continue +the responsibility which he had assumed. The law didn't forget quickly; +there was no way of knowing when Timothy would come out of hiding. +Unquestionably what was now a thrilling escapade would develop into a +burdensome chore as time passed. + +Occupied with such worrisome thoughts, he arrived at the hide-out. +Timothy met him and was so cheerful that Jim soon forgot his forebodings. +He told the story of Jean's mishap, and they both agreed that their +secret had come perilously close to being discovered. + +"I had to tell Jean everything," explained Jim. "It was only fair, and +she can be trusted." + +"You can't keep a secret from a woman anyhow," said Timothy sagely. "Once +they suspect anything is being kept from them, you haven't got a chance." + +Together the two began their usual search through the papers for news +about Willie Fry or his assailant. There was nothing to be found; so +Timothy turned to the sport section to read the racing news. Suddenly he +let out a startled shout. + +"What's the matter?" asked Jim. + +"Look here!" said Timothy excitedly. "Fireball won the fourth at Havre de +Grace and was ridden by Willie Fry!" + +Jim examined the paper. Timothy was correct; Willie Fry had ridden in the +fourth race. + +"There aren't two jockeys named Willie Fry are there?" he asked. + +"Never heard of any other except the rat I socked," said Timothy. "I +don't get this." + +"Maybe you didn't kill him after all. Maybe you just knocked him out. He +probably came to and didn't even notify the police. That's why we haven't +noticed anything in the papers." + +"Well, he didn't have any pulse when I felt his wrist," said Timothy +wonderingly. + +"I think you need some lessons on how to feel pulses," suggested Jim +dryly. "You were probably so excited that you couldn't find his." He +began to look casually over the remainder of the sporting news. + +"Look! Here's a little article about Willie Fry," he said. "Listen! +'Willie Fry, well-known jockey, was married yesterday to Miss Alvina +Morgan, of Baltimore, Md. Miss Morgan is well known to racing circles, as +she has accompanied the Roudcroft Stables string as cook to tracks +throughout the country. In addition to serving delicious food to the +Roudcroft personnel, Miss Morgan is famous for always having a welcome +cup of coffee for any jockey, trainer or trackman. Track people will be +happy to hear that the new Mrs. Fry will continue at her old post in the +trailer which serves as her kitchen. Coffee will still be on tap. + +"'Willie celebrated his wedding day by winning the fourth race at Havre +de Grace, riding Fireball. This was the first race ridden by Willie since +he was struck down by an unknown assailant at Churchill Downs several +weeks ago.'" + +"See," said Jim, as he finished reading. "You just knocked him out. He's +probably just as anxious as you are to forget the whole thing. If he told +who hit him, you'd tell about his doping a horse." + +Timothy wasn't listening, however, but was staring incredulously at Jim. +"Let me see the paper," he said finally in a strained voice. + +"Alvina married to Willie! I'd never have believed it." Timothy shook his +head as if stunned. Slowly his disbelief turned to indignation. "Why two +weeks ago she was engaged to me! I spent a month's wages on a diamond +ring for her. And now she marries Willie Fry! + +"I guess I'm glad Willie Fry is all right," went on Timothy calming down. +"Just sort of shakes your faith in human nature, though, a thing like +this does. Kind of a jolt to be sweet on a gal and have her turn around +two weeks after you're gone and marry your worst enemy. Well, they can +have each other for my money. I wish them all the unhappiness in the +world. 'Spose I'm lucky to find out about Alvina in time. Just doesn't +seem possible though that a woman who can bake an apple pie like Alvina +does would turn out to be so fickle." + +"Well, it sure makes things simpler," said Jim happily. He could not be +bothered by such trivial matters as a broken heart. "Now I suppose you'll +go get your old job back as trainer?" + +"Not on your life!" said Timothy with great feeling. "I may not be hunted +by the law anymore, but my career at the tracks is ruined." + +"Why?" asked Jim, completely baffled. + +"Why I'd be the laughingstock of every track in the country. Willie has +probably concocted some story about how he scared me away and now he's +stolen my girl. Everyone in the racing business knew I was engaged to +Alvina. No siree, I can't go back to the tracks now." + +"What'll you do then?" asked Jim solicitously. + +"Well, maybe I can get a job taking care of horses at some riding stable +or breeding farm," said Timothy. "Somebody ought to need a good horse +handler." + +"I know where I can get you a job right around here," said Jim, as a +sudden thought struck him. "It would be handling big Percherons though. +Do you know anything about them?" + + [Illustration: Percheron draft team] + +"Sure. I once handled a whole stable of them. One of the big trucking +firms in Milwaukee used to have some beautiful teams. They used them for +some of their deliveries as sort of advertising. You get six big prancing +Percherons pulling a wagon and it's a beautiful sight." + +"Mr. Hernstadt raises Percherons, and he's looking for a good man," said +Jim. "I found one of his horses that had strayed; so I'm in good with +him. We'll go see him and I'll recommend you." + +"That sounds like a good idea," said Timothy. "I look pretty ragged, +though, to be applying for a job." + +"I'll ride in town and buy you a new shirt and overalls," volunteered +Jim. "Then we'll go see Mr. Hernstadt." + +Jim was back with the new clothes in slightly over an hour. After Timothy +had changed, they both mounted Ticktock and rode into town, where Timothy +had his hair cut. After eating lunch they set out for the Hernstadt farm. + +"I certainly owe you a lot," said Timothy as they approached their +destination. "Whether I get the job or not, you certainly have gone to a +lot of trouble for me. A guy that helps you when you're in trouble is a +real friend." + +"I knew you weren't a real crook," said Jim, embarrassed by Timothy's +gratitude. "The minute Ticktock liked you, I figured you could be +trusted." + +"I owe this little horse plenty too," said Timothy. "After he has carried +double for so far, I'm not sure he's going to like me anymore though." + +"Good afternoon, Mr. Hernstadt," said Jim when they arrived. "This is +Timothy Dinwiddie, a friend of mine. He's a very good horse trainer. I +remembered that you asked me to find you a good man to handle horses; so +I brought him over to see you. The Pony Express always gets its man." + +"Glad to meet you," said Mr. Hernstadt, shaking hands with Timothy. "What +experience have you had?" + +In a few minutes the two men were deep in horse talk, much of it far too +technical for Jim. It was apparent to the horse breeder, after a short +conversation, that Timothy definitely knew horses. The three of them made +a tour of the stables, Mr. Hernstadt explaining the various duties of the +job. Jim walked through the immaculate barns with their modern equipment, +his eyes wide with interest. Every convenience he saw he wanted for +Ticktock's stall. They finally ended their tour at a small shed that +contained a forge, an anvil and complete blacksmithing equipment. + +"It's rather difficult to find a good blacksmith these days," explained +Mr. Hernstadt. "Everyone uses tractors, and there isn't enough business +to keep a good blacksmith going. I had so much trouble finding a man who +really knew how to shoe a horse that I bought this equipment to do it +myself. Ever shoe a horse?" + +"Many a time," said Timothy confidently. "You haven't shown me anything +yet, Mr. Hernstadt, that I can't handle." + +"I believe you. If you want to try the job for a month, I'll be glad to +have you. There are nice quarters over that harness shed where you can +live. Come on and I'll show you." + +The details of salary and duties were settled and Timothy declared his +intention of going to work immediately. He was very enthusiastic about +his new job, liking his employer, and admiring the horses and all the +modern equipment. Feeling very satisfied at the way matters had turned +out, Jim prepared to leave. + +"What do I owe the Pony Express for finding me a good man to handle +horses?" Mr. Hernstadt asked Jim. + +"Nothing at all," answered Jim. "This comes under the heading of good +will. Employment service is a little out of our line. I was just doing +this as a favor to a friend." + +"Well, thank you very much," said the farmer laughing. + +"I'd like to do something for the Pony Express though," said Timothy. "I +owe the firm a lot. If it's all right with you Mr. Hernstadt, when I get +the time I'd like to use the blacksmith shop to shoe Ticktock." + +"Certainly, any time you like," agreed Mr. Hernstadt cordially. + +"Bring him over in about two weeks," said Timothy. "By then I'll know my +way around and be able to find the time. He needs reshoeing." + +"Thanks," replied Jim. "I've been wondering where I was going to get him +shod." + +"I'll float his teeth too," said Timothy. "I was looking at them one day +and they could stand it." + +"What does 'floating his teeth' mean?" Jim inquired. + +"Those back teeth are called grinders," explained Timothy. "They grind up +the grain and after a while they get sharp edges and points. Ticktock's +aren't so bad, as apparently he hasn't had too much grain. Anyhow, unless +you file away those sharp edges, the horse can't chew the way he should. +When the teeth get really bad a horse gets out of condition and sometimes +has colic. Filing down the teeth is called floating." + +"You weren't wrong when you said he knew horses," said Mr. Hernstadt to +Jim. + +As soon as Jim reached home, he told his sister about the happy ending to +Timothy's story. She was very pleased that the trainer was no longer a +fugitive from justice, but her pleasure seemed overshadowed by her worry +about Timothy's broken heart. + +"Don't be silly," said Jim, who couldn't understand her concern. "Why +should he worry about a woman when he's got twenty-three horses?" + +Later that evening Jim sat contentedly in the living room reading a book +about the West in the days of the pioneers. He was deeply engrossed in a +running battle between a wagon train and the Indians when the clock +struck nine. + +"Your bedtime, Jim," said Mr. Meadows. + +Jim was feeling too happy and satisfied with the world in general to put +up his usual fight against bed. He stood up obediently, and with his nose +still buried in the book, started to walk toward the stairs. + +"Jim," said Mr. Meadows, embarrassedly clearing his throat, "there's +something I wanted to say." + +"Yes, Dad," said Jim looking up in surprise at his father's rather red +face. + +"It's about that horse of yours," said Mr. Meadows lamely. "I guess I was +wrong about Ticktock. He's a pretty smart horse, the way he led us to +where your sister was. I think we can find room and feed enough to keep +him permanently." + +"Thanks, Dad," said Jim. "That's wonderful!" + +His world was very full of happiness. Knowing how difficult it was for +his father to make such a speech as he had just heard, he was deeply +appreciative. Jim, like his father, was unable to act very demonstrative, +so having expressed his thanks, he hurried upstairs to bed. They +understood each other, he and his father. Although they didn't say much, +each knew how the other felt. + +Jim dropped off to sleep with a contented smile on his face. Ticktock was +his forever, Timothy was safe now, and the hide-out was still +undiscovered. It was a very satisfactory world. + + + + + Chapter Fourteen + The Fire + + +Ticktock also went to sleep that night with a contented grin on his face. +As a reward for having carried double for so many miles, and in general +celebration of the happy state of affairs, Jim had given him two apples +and an extra large portion of oats. It was a moderately cool night with +few flies to bother him; so the mustang dozed off while still munching on +his last mouthful of oats. He stood swaying dreamily on his feet, while +visions of sugar cubes, dew-drenched clover, and whole bins full of oats +floated through his brain. In the midst of his dream, the sweet odor of +clover slowly changed to a smell that was foreign and unpleasant. The +mustang stirred uneasily and shook his head in annoyance but the +disturbing odor persisted. Sleepily he opened his eyes and then snorted +in sudden alarm. The foreign smell was unmistakably smoke! + +Mr. Meadows had completed the building of a new brooder house during the +day. The scraps of lumber, together with other refuse, had been dumped in +the incinerator and burned. The fire had been inspected just before dark +when everything had appeared to be burned with the exception of a few +small smoking embers. Unfortunately, the inspection had not been thorough +enough for there were a number of pieces of tar paper roofing in the back +of the incinerator. They smoldered harmlessly for several hours until the +night breeze shifted. Suddenly they burst into flame and burned as only +tar paper can burn. A shower of sparks went up into the night. + +Straw collects in every barnyard and the Meadows' yard was no exception. +There had been no rain for over a week; so the wisps of straw lying +around were ripe for burning. The wind had deposited a small pile of +loose straw against a lean-to which was built onto one end of the barn. A +spark landed in this pile and in a few minutes the straw was burning +merrily while the wind whipped the flames against the dry boards of the +lean-to, filling the interior with smoke. Since this shed joined one end +of the barn, smoke began to filter through the cracks into Ticktock's +stall. The fire was just catching the shed when the horse had awakened +with his start of alarm. + +Ticktock had been around many campfires with Jim, but he had always been +free to move a respectful distance away and to stand clear of the smoke. +This was a different situation, which was not at all to his liking. As +the smoke grew thicker he decided something was amiss. He snorted and +jerked his head as the acrid fumes began to tickle his nostrils and smart +his eyes. By twisting his neck he could see bright tongues of flame +through the cracks in the wall and he was inspired with fresh terror. The +smoke grew thicker until it interfered with his breathing. He moved +around as much as he was able in his confined stall, growing more +frightened each minute. He decided it was time to leave. + +The pony tried backing out of his stall, but he came to the end of his +halter rope in a few feet. He pulled until his neck ached but still the +rope held. Then he moved forward until there was a small amount of slack +in the tether. He gave a violent toss of his head. There was a painful +wrench as the rope snapped taut. This method was no more successful than +the first, but there seemed no other course but to try again. The smoke +was growing thicker and there was no time to lose. The frightened pony +gave several more violent tugs until finally, after one particularly +desperate yank, the rope snapped. As he backed from the stall, Ticktock +could hear the uneasy stirrings of the other horses and cattle, who +although farther from the fire than he, were now awake and becoming +frightened too. + +Freeing himself from the halter rope was only half the battle, for he +still had to get out of the barn. The door which was almost directly back +of his stall was the usual double barn door. The stock had been put in +the barn because it had looked very much like rain. However, the upper +halves of the doors had been left open, so that it wouldn't become too +hot inside. Ticktock stuck his muzzle over the lower half to breathe +gratefully the fresh night air. A few deep breaths restored his energy +enough and calmed him sufficiently for him to consider the remainder of +his problem. There was not room enough to try to jump over the closed +part of the door. After surveying the situation appraisingly, the little +mustang turned around until his back feet were pointing toward the +opening. His motto had always been, "When in doubt--kick." With no +hesitation he went into action. Kicking was one of his major +accomplishments; so three hefty blows were enough to break the door open. +If a horse can give a sigh of relief, he gave one when he bolted into the +open barnyard. Perhaps it was just a huge gulp of fresh air but it +sounded like a sigh of relief. + +Once outside, Ticktock could see the burning shed clearly. He trotted to +the other side of the yard where he was in safety and then turned to look +over the situation again. It was only a matter of time until the barn +proper was on fire, trapping all the animals in it. He could hear the +movements of these animals who were rapidly growing frantic. Although he +personally was out of danger, Ticktock knew that something terrible was +happening. His own feelings when he had been in the barn were still fresh +enough in his mind to make him nervous. He thought the matter over. That +blazing shed was wrong. It didn't fit into the proper scheme of things +around the farm. When anything was wrong, Ticktock had only one +thought--to go to Jim. Jim could solve everything. The mustang trotted +toward the fence separating the barnyard from the grounds around the +house. It was a formidably high board fence, higher than any he had ever +tried. Doubtfully he trotted back across the yard, knowing the sensible +thing to do was to keep away from the fire and forget that high fence. +The noise made by the trapped animals grew louder and more panicky. There +was a feeling of terrible urgency that told him he should go to Jim. +Dismissing his doubts, he started running toward the fence. + + [Illustration: Jumping a fence] + +The little horse made a magnificent leap, but the fence was too high for +him. His front legs cleared but his hind legs were a few sickening inches +short. His hooves hit the top of the boards with a resounding thud that +threw him off balance. He got over the fence but landed wrong. He felt a +terrible pain in his right foreleg as it crumpled beneath him. The night +was split with the heartbreaking scream of a horse in agony. + +Jim sat bolt upright in bed at Ticktock's first scream, alarmed and +confused. When the terrible piercing sound was repeated, he leaped out of +bed and tore down the hall, shouting as he went. + +"Dad! Mom! The horses! Something's happened to one of them!" He did not +say "Ticktock," as the idea that the shrieking horse could be his beloved +pony was too terrible to admit, even to himself. He was filled with +hideous misgivings, though, as he raced down the stairs. When he opened +the front door he saw the fire. + +"Fire! Fire!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. Mr. Meadows did not +need the second alarm, as Jim's first shout had been enough to jerk him +out of bed. He had pulled on his trousers and shoes and was starting down +the stairs when he heard the word "fire." + +Barefooted and in his pajamas, Jim raced toward the barn. Halfway there +he saw Ticktock. The little mustang was lying helplessly on his side, +screaming and kicking in terror and pain. Forgetting the fire, Jim raced +toward the stricken horse. He felt a sickening sense of calamity as he +approached Ticktock. He dreaded going nearer, yet he had to know what was +wrong. Then in the wavering light from the fire, he saw his worst fears +realized; Ticktock's leg was hanging limp and useless, broken between the +fetlock and the knee. + +Few people ever have to face sudden stark tragedy. There is usually some +warning or preparation that makes the shock more bearable. Jim was not so +fortunate. Out of a happy sleep he had awakened to this. There was no +bottom to the depths of his despair. This was a tragedy beyond his most +horrible dreams. A terrible numbing agony swept over him, leaving him +nauseated, blinded and stricken. There was a huge leaden mass where his +heart and stomach had been. He shed no tears but threw himself in a +hopeless heap on the ground beside the horse. Not knowing what he was +doing, he took Ticktock's head in his lap and began to stroke the +mustang's forehead. He mumbled softly and unintelligibly to the +trembling, terror-stricken horse. + +Mrs. Meadows, who had dressed by this time, came out into the yard +carrying Jim's shoes, shirt and trousers. She had turned on the yard +light; so she saw the horse and boy immediately. There was no need to ask +what was wrong. The crumpled leg was only too evident. Tears of sympathy +and grief started to her eyes, both for the little horse and for her son. +She glanced hesitantly toward the fire, feeling she should rush to her +husband's aid, but she knew what sickening grief was shaking her son. She +had to comfort him, if only for a moment. Saying nothing, she walked over +to put her hand on his shoulder. Jim looked up at her dumbly as if +struggling for recognition. Slowly he brought his mind out of its +numbness. + +"Broken," he said in a hopeless, tired voice. "Broken." + +"I know." + +"The fire," he said slowly. "I ought to help." + +"No, you stay--" she started to say and then thought better. His help was +needed and anything that would take his mind off Ticktock would help. +"Yes, Jim, there are other horses that are trapped in the barn. You'd +better help." + +"You help carry water," she warned him as he pulled on his clothes over +his pajamas. "Stay out of the barn unless your father tells you that you +can go in." + +Jean came out to drop beside Ticktock in sorrow almost as great as Jim's. +While the girl comforted the pony, Jim and his mother rushed off to help +Mr. Meadows. With misgivings, Jim's father permitted him to go into the +smoke-filled barn, for help was needed desperately. The terrorized +animals were threshing about in their stalls so violently that it was +dangerous work to get near them in the smoky interior to untie them. +Choking and blinded, Jim led out one cow, only to plunge back in again +after another. Mr. Meadows was racing in and out of the barn like a +madman, leading out the huge work horses. Mrs. Meadows ran back and forth +from the watering tank to the fire carrying water while anxiously trying +to keep tabs on both her husband and son to see that neither was gone too +long, perhaps lost and overcome by the smoke. Finally all the stock was +safely out in the yard and the two, coughing and sputtering, turned to +help Mrs. Meadows fight the still growing fire. + +They carried water until they were at the point of exhaustion and the big +water tank was almost empty. Mr. Meadows was the only one strong enough +to throw water onto the roof of the lean-to, which by this time was +burning fiercely. He scorched his face and arms while his hair and +eyebrows became singed and frizzled. With his face blackened with soot, +he continued to fight the fire with the water that Jim and his mother +pantingly lugged to the scene. At last they began to make headway and the +boards no longer blazed but smoldered. The lean-to was almost destroyed, +while one end of the barn was badly scorched and charred. When finally +there were no more bright blazes but only embers, Mrs. Meadows turned to +her son. + +"Go on back to your horse. We'll finish here." + +Jim returned to his stricken mustang. During the fire, excitement had +replaced much of his grief, but now it returned with all its former +force. Dejectedly he sat down beside Jean to stroke the horse's quivering +head. He was still dumbly patting Ticktock's neck when Mr. Meadows came +to stand beside him some minutes later. Jim looked up at his blackened, +begrimed father. + +"He broke his halter rope and kicked down the door," said the older man. +"Why he jumped the fence into the yard we'll never know. I guess horses +can do a lot more thinking than we realize. He may have wanted to warn +us. If that was his idea, he succeeded, although he had to break his leg +to do it. I suppose it's small consolation, son, but your pony saved the +barn and all the other stock." + +Ticktock had calmed down somewhat now that Jim was stroking his head +again. He was still trembling, but he no longer tried to struggle +futilely to his feet. The pain, while not the first horrible jabbing +agony, was still present. He rolled his eyes in fright and only Jim's +comforting hand kept him from writhing about on the ground. Mr. Meadows +knelt down, examining the leg carefully. He straightened up with a grim +expression on his face. + +"It's broken, son," he said. "I suppose you know that. It's pretty high; +so there isn't a chance. You better go in the house and let me put him +out of his pain." + +"No!" cried Jim, coming suddenly out of his stupor. "You can't shoot +him." + +"I don't want to," said his father gently. "But it's the only thing we +can do. The only thing that's fair to Ticktock." + +"Call Dr. Cornby," said Jim with a faint glimmer of hope in his voice. +"Maybe he can fix it." + +"If the break were lower, there might be some possibility of saving him," +said Mr. Meadows. "I hate to disappoint you Jim, but Dr. Cornby won't be +able to do anything." + +"We can see," said Jim with pleading insistence. + +"I'll go call the veterinarian," said Mrs. Meadows. She went inside to +the telephone. + +In a few minutes Jim's mother was back. "There was no answer at Dr. +Cornby's home, Jim. It's eleven-thirty; so I suppose he will be home +before too long. In the meantime I have no idea where to reach him." + +"What day is it?" asked Jim with apparent irrelevance. + +"Thursday, why?" + +"He's at the Springdale _Gazette_ office as usual," said Jim whose mind +was functioning again with its old sharpness. "Call him there and tell +him how important it is." + +Dr. Cornby was very surprised when he was called to the telephone. He +listened carefully for a few minutes. + +"Where is the leg broken?" he asked after Mrs. Meadows had explained what +had happened. + +"About four inches below the knee," replied Jim's mother. + +"That makes it tough," he said. "Not much chance with the break there." + +"That's what Carl said, but Dr. Cornby, you have to come out to see the +horse," said Mrs. Meadows desperately. "Jim is absolutely heartbroken. +Even if you can't do a thing, it will make him feel better. That's really +why I want you to come, for Jim as much as the horse. I want him to know +that everything possible is being done." + +"Certainly, Mrs. Meadows," said Cornby. "I'll be right out. I owe that +boy of yours a good turn anyhow. Keep the horse as quiet as possible in +the meantime." + +"What's happened?" asked the editor when Cornby hung up the receiver. + +"There was a fire out at the Meadows' place. That mustang kicked his way +out of the barn, jumped a fence, and woke up the family. The trouble is +he broke his leg in the process." + +"That kid'll never get over this," said Arnold sympathetically. "Any +chance of setting the horse's leg?" + +"I don't know," said Cornby, shaking his gray head slowly. "Depends on +what the break is like. It's pretty high, which is bad. However, I've got +to see what I can do." + +The two men went to the veterinarian's office, where the doctor got his +bag. After he had all his instruments carefully stowed, he pulled out a +heavy sack from the closet. + +"What's in that?" asked Arnold. + +"Quick-setting plaster," replied Cornby. "I hope we can use it. Otherwise +it's this." He pulled a forty-five from his desk drawer, examined it, +inserted a clip and stuck it in his pocket. + +"Look," said Arnold, "how about that new-fangled splint you used on your +dog? Wouldn't something like that work?" + +"Maybe, maybe not. That was a Stader splint, and it has been a godsend +for small animals and for men, too, for that matter. On horses, as yet, +it's use is no more certain to effect a cure than a plaster cast." + +"Why not?" asked the editor as they got in the car. + +"There's the same difficulty as with all methods of setting a horse's +leg. There's simply too much weight for such small legs. There's +experimentation going on all the time at colleges and veterinarian +schools. Every now and then you read an article that someone has +discovered a new method of repairing broken bones in horses, but the fact +remains that in most cases the horse is through. A plaster cast is still +the most widely used, and only in isolated cases is it successful. I hope +this is one of them." + + + + + Chapter Fifteen + A Long Night + + +Jim was still sitting on the ground beside Ticktock when Dr. Cornby and +the editor arrived. The veterinarian wasted no time, but after a short +greeting to the family, immediately went to work. Using a flash light, he +made a careful examination of the broken leg. Jim watched every move with +painful anxiety. Hopefully he looked at Dr. Cornby's face as the latter +stood up from his inspection. + +"Can you fix it?" he asked. There was desperate pleading in his voice. + +"I don't know, Jim. It's a clean break, no jagged edges, so we can try. +You can usually set a leg, but whether it will be successful is always a +gamble. Ticktock and you will play a much more important part in this +than I will. You have a much tougher job ahead of you than I have." + +"I'm willing to do anything," answered Jim promptly. + +The veterinarian looked around appraisingly and then issued instructions. +A long lighting cord was found and stretched from the nearest socket to +furnish illumination at the pony's side. The accident had occurred +beneath one of the large trees in the yard. Thoughtfully Dr. Cornby +looked up at a big limb almost directly overhead. + +"If we had equipment, the best thing would be to move him out to his +stall in the barn, but we'd need a tow truck or a derrick to do it. +However, there is always the possibility of doing still more damage by +moving him and, also, the sooner we set the leg the better. We are lucky +in that we can raise him right here, but if we do, he's going to be here +a long time. Now can you rig up some sort of padded frame like the side +of a stall so Ticktock can lean against it and rest?" + +"Certainly," replied Mr. Meadows. "We can do anything that's necessary." + +"O.K.," said the veterinarian. "Mrs. Meadows, you are going to have a +horse cluttering up your back yard for some time." She only smiled to +show her lack of concern, so he continued. "First, I need a good strong +block and tackle." + +The block and tackle was securely fastened to the limb overhead and then +Dr. Cornby produced a wide canvas bellyband to go under Ticktock's body, +a breeching and a breast strap. He worked rapidly with only an occasional +comment. + +"Got to put him out to keep him quiet," he said, producing a jug of +liquid and a complicated appearing apparatus with a long tube. "This is +chloral hydrate which I am going to administer intravenously in the +jugular vein. Just as simple as giving plasma to a person." + +Ticktock gave a start of pain and terror as the vein was pierced but in a +few minutes his nervous trembling had ceased, his legs relaxed, and his +head drooped heavily in Jim's lap. + +"I'll have to raise him to get at that leg," said the doctor. + +By dint of much pulling, pushing and lifting, the wide bellyband was +shoved beneath the mustang's body and the ends hooked to the block and +tackle. Slowly and carefully the limp horse was raised. When the inert +body was clear of the ground, they readjusted its position and then +secured the breast strap and breech band in place to keep Ticktock from +sliding out of the sling. The injured animal was then raised until his +feet dangled clear of the ground by a few inches. A final adjustment was +made so that his hind feet were slightly lower than his fore feet. With +his head hanging limply downward, poor Ticktock certainly presented a +forlorn and pitiful sight. + +In the meantime, Bill Arnold had been preparing the material for a +plaster cast. Dr. Cornby worked rapidly and soon had the leg set and +padded ready for it. + +"I wish I had a fluoroscope or some means of taking an X ray to see if I +have that bone in exact apposition," he said as he worked. "I have to go +by touch entirely, but I think I've got it right." + +After the plaster cast had been applied and was hardening, the +veterinarian sat down to relax for a few minutes. He lighted his pipe and +drew in the smoke gratefully. Jim gave a big sigh of relief and looked +hopefully at Dr. Cornby. He had been afraid to utter a sound while the +doctor had been working, but now he felt he could talk. + +"He's going to be all right now, isn't he, Doctor?" he asked anxiously. + +"I wish I could say yes definitely, but I can't, Jim. The battle has only +begun. Only the simple part is over. I'm not going to kid you but tell +you just what can and does happen in most cases." + +"O.K.," said Jim grimly. + +"A horse has one of the most sensitive nervous systems of all animals, +which is the one thing that makes matters so difficult when they have an +accident. They are particularly susceptible to any pain, which makes them +writhe around, kick and do everything they shouldn't when they have a +broken bone. On the other hand, you can't keep them quiet by keeping them +under dope because their nervous system just won't stand it for any +length of time. That's why a race horse seldom recovers from a broken +leg--he's such a nervous animal he won't keep still." + +"Ticktock's not nervous," said Jim promptly. + +"No, he's a rather calm little pony, but on the other hand, he's no +placid cow. I've seen times when he acted pretty spirited; so it won't be +beer and skittles keeping him quiet. And you've got to do it. Now you +notice how sloping a horse's leg is. It's difficult to keep a plaster +cast in place--if the break were above the knee it would be next to +impossible. The muscles in the leg are very powerful and if the horse +starts moving, the contraction of those muscles is enough to pull the +bones out of apposition, by that I mean out of line, and then he's done +for." + +"I'll keep him quiet," said Jim with determination. "I'll stay right here +beside Ticktock all the time." + +"It'll be a long vigil," said Dr. Cornby smiling sympathetically. "He's +going to be in that sling at least six weeks. Of course, the first two +weeks are the most important. After that the bone has begun to knit and +won't pull apart so easily. Now the next thing is to keep him happy and +eating. I don't know how to tell you to do this. You know the horse and +will have to figure it out for yourself. I've known some horses that +would absolutely refuse to eat anything when they were in pain. In one +case I tried feeding a horse through a tube to keep him alive. Now +Ticktock shouldn't be in pain after this, but he'll be nervous being in +that sling. You've got to keep him calm and happy enough to eat." + +Jim was not discouraged by this ominous warning. He felt confident that +he could keep the mustang quiet and contented. Ticktock would eat for +him. + +"Now there's one more problem," said Dr. Cornby. "We'll lower him in a +few minutes so that some of his weight is resting on his feet. I think +the way we have him set most of it will be on his hind feet. Each day +we'll put more weight on his feet until finally the sling will just be +there to keep him from lying down and for him to use when he wants to +rest. Now some horses never lie down to sleep. I've had farmers tell me +that some of their horses have stood as long as a couple of years without +lying down other than to roll when they were in the pasture. Still +there's danger when you force a horse to stand for six weeks in a sling +that he might get laminitis, or founder." + +"What's that?" asked Arnold. + +"It's the same thing that happens when a horse is overworked, allowed to +drink all the water he wants and then stand. The blood vessels in the +feet are injured. The blood from the arteries passes through tiny blood +vessels, called capillaries, into the veins and back to the heart. These +little blood vessels are permanently damaged and the coffin joint, inside +the hoof, suffers and drops out of position. The sole of the foot also +drops. You can help mild cases of founder, but the horse is never up to +much except very light work. Even if he recovers he is usually lame until +his blood warms up." + +"What can we do to prevent it?" asked Mr. Meadows while Jim listened +anxiously. + +"Well, building that padded barricade will give him a chance to lean +against it and rest. Also, it helps to groom the horse and massage his +legs. Don't touch the broken leg at all for a few days though. Beyond +that there isn't much that can be done but hope for the best." + +The veterinarian waited until Ticktock awoke, and then lowered him until +his feet touched the ground lightly. At first the pony was very groggy +and dopey, but as his head cleared he started to struggle. He could not +understand why he was hanging in the air and was unable to walk. + +"There, there, old boy. You're all right now," said Jim consolingly, +patting the mustang on the head. + +There was nothing further that Dr. Cornby could do. As it was after three +o'clock in the morning, he and the editor prepared to leave. As Dr. +Cornby wearily packed his bag, Jim awkwardly tried to express his thanks. +He was so grateful that he could find no words adequate to convey the +depth of his feeling. + +"I know how you feel, Jim," said Dr. Cornby. "Just forget about it and +save all your energies for the days ahead. You're going to need all +you've got." + +Jim firmly refused to leave his pony's side, insisting that he was going +to sit up the remainder of the night beside the injured animal. "He might +want some water," he said, "or he might get scared and start kicking." + + [Illustration: Horse in a sling] + +"All right," said Mr. Meadows who had volunteered to spend the night on +watch beside Ticktock. "We'll bring out some blankets and fix up a place +where you can lie down if you want to." + +Dawn found Jim leaning back against the tree asleep with a blanket around +his shoulders. Ticktock dozed quietly in his sling, apparently +comfortable and contented. Mrs. Meadows discovered them still in deep +slumber when she came out to call Jim for breakfast. She looked down +fondly at her son's drawn, tired face, hating to awaken him. Reaching +down, she shook his shoulder gently. + +"Jim, Jim," she said softly. "Come in and have some breakfast." + +Jim was ravenous. He looked at Ticktock, who still slept peacefully; so +he decided to go in to breakfast. However, as he started toward the house +the mustang awoke and stirred restively. No amount of persuasion could +have made Jim leave then, so his breakfast was served in the yard. He sat +under the big tree hungrily devouring bacon and eggs, sleepy and tired, +but happy. He then fed Ticktock, lovingly holding a bucket for the horse +to eat and drink. He refused to go more than a few feet from the mustang, +chasing away every fly and fussing over Ticktock as if he were a tiny +baby. Jean brought apples and choice bits of clover to offer. The pony, +instead of refusing to eat, accepted everything until Mr. Meadows became +alarmed over Ticktock's large appetite. + +"Remember, he's not going to get any exercise for a long time," he +warned. "You'll overfeed him if you don't watch out." Mr. Meadows sunk +two posts near Ticktock and between them nailed boards which were padded +to allow the mustang to rest against the structure comfortably. + +The news traveled fast through the countryside and all morning there was +a string of visitors. Some came out of sympathy for Jim and others out of +pure curiosity. A horse with his leg in a plaster cast was quite an +attraction, particularly a famous horse like Ticktock. Jean sternly kept +all visitors at a respectful distance, afraid they would alarm the pony. +Shortly after noon Timothy came riding down the lane astride a huge +Percheron. + +"Just heard about the accident," he said to Jim. "It was certainly tough +luck. I thought I'd come see if there was anything I could do." + +He examined the injured leg with great interest. "Nice job--sure hope it +works." He wasted no further words on condolence but promptly took charge +of the situation. + +"While it's good weather we better get things rigged up for rain," he +said with authority. "We'll fix him a regular stall right here. Roof to +shade him and a manger. It would be just as well not to have too much of +the yard in plain view--something might scare him." + +Together Timothy and Jim stretched a big canvas tarpaulin over Ticktock +and pegged the sides securely to the ground. They made a small manger out +of boxes and placed it where it was convenient for the mustang. Then they +spread straw on the ground around his feet and in a short time had him +appearing very comfortable in a tentlike stall. Timothy finished matters +by giving the little horse a thorough grooming. The trainer's expert +touch and soothing voice kept the pony quiet and contented and for the +first time since the accident Jim was able to leave his side without a +feeling of alarm. + +"I'll come over about eight and spend the night with him," said Timothy +firmly. "You've already had one tough night and need some sleep." + +So Timothy stayed beside the injured horse the second night while Jim +slept in his own bed with the soundness that comes of exhaustion. + + + + + Chapter Sixteen + The Convalescence + + +For two weeks Jim and Timothy alternated nights beside Ticktock. After +several days the mustang seemed resigned to remaining in one spot but +grew very spoiled. Unless someone were beside him, he wanted to move +about. Dr. Cornby came out daily to inspect Ticktock and check on +progress. Timothy proved invaluable, for each day he gave the horse a +thorough massage and grooming. His long experience with race horses +enabled him to keep the mustang's muscles in trim in spite of his lack of +exercise. Each time Timothy finished his daily stint of several hours +rubbing and massaging, Jim gave mental thanks that he had made the right +decision that first day when he had met Timothy at the hideaway. + + [Illustration: Horse in a sling] + +During the day, Jean often spelled Jim in his vigil beside the pony. +School started during Ticktock's last week in the sling, but the question +of whether Jim should go to school was not even raised--he stayed beside +his horse. When the day finally arrived to take Ticktock from the sling, +there was a large audience. Timothy, of course, was present, having +brought Mr. Hernstadt with him. Bill Arnold, the editor, was there to +report the big event for the Springdale _Gazette_. Dr. Cornby brought two +colleagues from neighboring towns who watched with professional interest. +Altogether there was a very attentive gallery as the veterinarian removed +the cast and gave the signal for Mr. Meadows to lower away slowly. + +Ticktock gradually had been allowed to put more weight on his feet for +several weeks so at first when the sling was removed he noticed no +difference. Jim stood at his head, talking soothingly but watching +anxiously. Then he led Ticktock forward for a few tentative steps. The +mustang walked somewhat uncertainly, due to his long period of inaction, +but he did not seem to be limping or favoring his injured leg. + +"I believe we've done it," said Dr. Cornby jubilantly. "He seems to be +good as new, Jim!" + +Jim threw his arms around his horse's neck and hugged him in ecstasy. +"You're all right now, Ticktock. You're all well again." + +"I'd just lead him around for a few minutes a day at first, Jim. Don't +let him run at all for six weeks and aside from when you're exercising +him, keep him in the stall. You should wait at least three months before +you ride him." + +Jim led his horse out to the barn where he had his stall prepared. He +wanted to be alone with the pony for a few minutes. Tears of happiness +were welling up in his eyes--tears that he preferred no one see. + +The following week Jim started to school. Ticktock progressed rapidly and +six weeks later was grazing contentedly in the orchard. He wondered +impatiently why Jim had not ridden him for so long, but otherwise he was +content. One day Mr. Meadows had just taken a reassuring look at the +mustang and was crossing the yard toward the house when Ticktock raised +his head and, looking down the road, whinnied. Mr. Meadows followed the +horse's gaze with idle curiosity at first, and then stared in frank +puzzlement. Coming up the road was an odd-looking wagon followed by a +long string of horses. Had Jim been home, or Ticktock able to talk they +could have told Mr. Meadows that the old man on the driver's seat was Ned +Evarts, the horse trader, but as it was, the farmer had to figure out the +mystery by himself. The strange procession came on up the road and turned +without hesitation into the lane. Mr. Meadows stared curiously at the +sombreroed driver and the odd assortment of horses. Due to the initial +resentment at Jim's having traded the gold watch for Ticktock, the horse +trader and his unusual cavalcade had never been discussed much by Jim and +his father. It was only as the wagon stopped and the driver climbed down +that Mr. Meadows began to suspect the identity of his visitor. + +"My name's Evarts," said the old man, introducing himself. "Are you +Meadows?" + +"That's right," said Carl Meadows, shaking hands with Evarts. + +"Last spring I swapped your son a horse. Still got him?" + +"Sure have. He's over there in the orchard," replied Jim's father. + +"Yep, that's him all right," said the horse trader, shading his eyes from +the sun with one hand while he looked at Ticktock. "He's lookin' much +better than when I saw him last." + +"He's been getting good care," said Carl Meadows, grinning. "In fact he's +practically been fed with a spoon lately." + +"When I traded with your boy I was a bit doubtful about the deal, as he +gave me a gold watch for the horse," said Evarts. "I asked him if he was +sure it was all right, and he reckoned it was. Some days later I happened +to take the watch apart again and I noticed that engravin' on the back. +While I ain't doubtin' that the watch belonged to your son, I figured you +might set a big store by it, seein' it's been in the family so long. +Anyhow I held onto it and if you're a mind to trade back, I still have +the watch." + +"I've been wrong on so many counts concerning that horse it's getting +kinda monotonous," said Mr. Meadows almost to himself. + +"What's that?" asked Evarts. + +"Nothing. No, I wouldn't consider trading back," said Mr. Meadows +stoutly. "I was a bit mad at the time, but Jim sure knew what he was +doing. Now I wouldn't swap that mustang for your whole string. I'd like +to buy the watch though." + +"How about forty-five dollars?" + +"Fair enough. I'll buy it." + +"Made money on that horse after all," said the old man, grinning as he +pocketed his money. + +"I'm glad you did, because that mustang is just about the most valuable +horse in the country. Also the most famous in the state." + +"What's he done?" + +"Well, for one thing he's just recovered from a broken leg. Had the +cannon bone broken and you'd never know it now." + +"Well, I'll be hanged," said Evarts in amazement, as he walked toward the +orchard fence. "How'd he break it?" + +"The barn caught on fire one night and he broke out. He jumped the fence +and broke his leg when he landed. That's what woke us. Must have saved me +a thousand dollars worth of stock. I had the barn insured against fire +but not the stock. That's just one of the reasons why we wouldn't part +with him." + +"Well, I'm sure pleased you're satisfied with him. As I said, I was a bit +worried at the time, tradin' with a boy." + +"I've quit worrying about Jim getting beat in a trade," said Mr. Meadows +proudly. "He's quite a businessman. I guess he made at least seventy-five +dollars with that horse during the summer." + +Mr. Meadows was still recounting Ticktock's exploits when Jim returned +from school. + +"Hi, Mr. Evarts!" he shouted as he came through the gate. "How do you +like the looks of my horse?" + +"Wonderful. He looks like he'd found horse heaven." + +"Don't mention that watch," warned Mr. Meadows as Jim approached. "I'll +surprise him on his birthday. Not very often you can give the same +present twice. Probably end up with an elephant this time." + +Ticktock came trotting up to the fence to welcome his master. He stuck +his nose over the top wire, begging for some tidbit. Surprisingly enough +it was Mr. Meadows who reached in his pocket and produced a sugar cube. +He held it in his outstretched palm. Ticktock could see plainly enough +that it was sugar, but he hesitated. Mr. Meadows had long since forgotten +his old hostility but the mustang remembered. However, he wasn't the +horse to hold a grudge; so he looked inquiringly at Jim. Jim grinned and +nodded his head. + +Ticktock reached out to take the sugar. + + [Illustration: Horse behind fence] + + [Illustration: Ticktock and Jim] + + + + + Transcriber's Notes + + +--Preserved the copyright notice from the printed edition, although this + book is in the public domain in the country of publication. + +--Silently corrected a few typos (but left nonstandard spelling and + dialect unchanged). + +--In the text version, delimited text in _italic_ font by underscores. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ticktock and Jim, by Keith Robertson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TICKTOCK AND JIM *** + +***** This file should be named 44400.txt or 44400.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/4/0/44400/ + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Rod Crawford, Dave Morgan +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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