ack pair were too restless for
that.

"Why--I'd ought to have three hundred for her," the man hesitated.

Miss Farnsworth set her foot upon the step and drew herself up beside
Jarvis. She did not look toward the freight agent. Just as the horses
began to swing about, the man upon the platform said, haltingly:

"Well--if you mean it, and can pay me cash----"

She looked at him once more, quite indifferently. "I s'pose you can
have her. But she's wu'th more."

"Mr. Jarvis," said the horse buyer, "can we lead her home?"

He shook his head. "Not behind the colts."

She gave him one glance of scorn--the last of any sort he received
from her for some time to come. "Have you a saddle?" she asked of the
agent.

"Yes, ma'am. Not a very good one, but such as 'tis."

"Will you ride her home for me?" she asked, over a cool shoulder, of
the man beside her.

"Not while you drive the colts," he answered, with a keen glance at
her, in which she might have read several things if she had taken the
trouble.

"Have you a side-saddle?" she demanded of the freight agent.

"Well--if you'll wait five minutes--I 'low I can get one."

As the man disappeared, Miss Farnsworth jumped down from the wagon
once more. She produced a letter, and, from the letter a key. With
this she opened one of the trunks, which yet stood upon the platform,
lifted a tray, dived among sundry garments, and drew out with an air
of triumph something made of dark green cloth and folded carefully.
With this she walked away into the empty, country freight house.

When, after two minutes' absence, she emerged again, she was holding
up the skirt of a riding habit and carrying a bundle of something
which she took to the trunk and hastily stowed away. She said nothing
whatever to Jarvis, but stood awaiting the return of the freight agent
with an averted cheek.

When the mare reappeared upon the scene she wore an old side-saddle of
ancient pattern, and was clumsily bridled with headgear too large for
her. Jarvis gave her one glance, and spoke with decision.

"If you will hold these horses a minute, I'll look that affair over,"
he said.

The other man grinned. "All the same to me," he returned, amicably.
"Like enough you're more used to this sort of business than I be."

Jarvis went at the big bridle, rearranging straps, getting out his
knife and cutting an extra hole or two, tightening it and bringing it
more nearly to fit the sleek, small head of the mare.