Ted Strongs Motor Car | Page 6

"Sure. Why shouldn't she? I rode her all one season down here. I
believe she wants me to choose her for my own again. Do you,
Calamity, old girl?"
Calamity Jane, which had at one time been the wickedest and
stubbornest mare on the ranch, nickered and again rubbed Stella's hand
with her nose.
"Talk about your smart horses," said Stella. "Calamity can do
everything except talk. Who's been riding her?"

"Kit. He's wrangler, and he won't let any one on her. He's light, you
know, and he was saving her for you. You'll find that she hasn't been
spoiled at all."
"Then, if Kit has been riding her, she's all right, for if there ever was a
horseman it's Kit."
"Isn't she getting fierce?" said a quiet voice behind them. "Say, she's
getting to be one of these regular society jolliers. She didn't used to be
that way."
They wheeled around to see Kit, who had come up to them in his usual
quiet manner.
"Yes," said Ted. "She tried to hand me a package this morning."
"You mean things. That's what a girl gets for being civil and
confidential, and talking as she would like to fellows she thinks are her
friends. I'm going back to the house. I don't like you very much this
morning."
The boys winked at one another.
"Say, Kit, I want Sultan after a while. I'm going to ride down to the
lower end of the ranch to look at that bunch of new horses," said Ted
carelessly.
"Oh, may I go with you?" asked Stella eagerly.
"I thought you were mad at us, or I would have asked you."
"I was only fooling. I'll be ready in ten minutes. Let's take Lilian with
us."
"That was what I was going to do. It is time for Lilian's regular riding
lesson. I am trying to make her as good a rider and all-around cowgirl
as you, Stella, but I doubt if ever she will."
"Who is jollying now, Mister Ted?" cried Stella, with a laugh, but she
was blushing with pleasure at the compliment.
That is the difference between a boy and a girl. A healthy,
well-conditioned boy becomes embarrassed and cross at a well-meant
compliment spoken in the presence of another, believing that the
person who is complimenting him is making fun of him in some
unknown and covert way. But to a girl a compliment that is sincere is
as grateful as dew to a rose, and Stella always felt much elated when
Ted complimented her on her prowess in any of the arts of the range.
They rode away with Lilian, who was learning to ride well for her age
and experience under the best of riding teachers, Ted Strong.

As they were nearing the lower pasture they observed a great
commotion among the horses that were huddled in a fence corner.
"Hello, what's going on there?" exclaimed Ted.
"Looks like the worst sort of a riot," said Stella. "I believe those boys
need help."
They could see Bud and Ben and several cowboys circling around the
bunch of ponies, evidently trying to get into it, and break it up and
scatter it.
"What's the row?" asked Ted, galloping up.
"Thar's a cayuse in thar thet I'd plumb like ter electrocute," said Bud,
who was mad clear through. "My, but he's got er bad dispersition."
"Which one?" asked Ted, laughing. "From what I can see there isn't one
of them you could call angelic."
"Thar's ther meanest bunch o' horse meat thet ever come ter this man's
ranch, bar none, an' ther prize devil o' ther lot is thet black demon in
thar. He near broke my pony's leg a minute ago with a stem-windin'
kick sech ez I never see before. Thet hoss is shore double-j'inted."
The horses were bunched, heads in, heels out, around a
splendid-looking black stallion, which was biting and kicking at
everything that came near him.
"Let him kick his foolish head off," said Ted, viewing the squealing,
struggling throng.
"I reckon they're just showin' off because Stella got here this mornin',"
said Bud disgustedly. "They're tryin' ter knock us, Stella, by showin'
yer thet we aire a bum lot o' horsemen fer not makin' them behave first
off."
Stella laughed and nodded. She understood.
"Where did you pick up such a mean bunch of horses?" she asked.
"Them hosses is intended fer ther tourneymint what takes place after
ther round-up. We're goin' ter hev some roughridin' fer fair here, an' if
we all git out with whole bones we shore kin send up a balloon in
celebraytion."
"But where did you get them? Were they bred mean on purpose?"
"I reckon not. I bought 'em from ther wild range in Montana. They ain't
seen men closer