Part 3 (1/2)

”I'll try to catch hi up in front of the seat and leaning forward, as if about to leap froht Tom ”No wonder! That's a skittish horse”

Faster and faster he rode, bending all his energies to overtake the ani from side to side, andthrown out by grasping the edge of the seat She found that her standing position was a dangerous one and crouched on the botto vehicle

”That's better!” shouted To of the wagon and the hoofbeats of the horse drowned all other sounds ”Sit still!” he shouted ”I'll stop the horse for you!”

Trying to iine hireater speed, Toon, and slowly creeping up The woman was all huddled up in a lump

”Grab the reins! Grab the reins!” shouted Tom ”Saw on the bit! That will stop hion turned to look at the lad To lady ”Grab the reins!” he cried again

”Pull hard!”

”I--I can't!” she answered frightenedly ”They have dropped down!

Oh, do please stop the horse! I'htened!”

”I'll stop him!” declared the youth firmly, and he set his teeth hard Then he saw the reason the fair driver could not grasp the lines They had slipped over the dashboard and were trailing on the ground

The horse was slacking speed a bit now, for the pace was telling on his wind Toy was at the ani his wheel with one hand, with the other the lad htenedly to one side, but Torasped the leather and then, with a kick, he freed hi it a shove to one side He was now clinging to the reins with both hands, and, being a ht, his bulk told

”Sit--still!” panted our hero to the young woman, who had arisen to the seat ”I'll have him stopped in half a minute now!”

It was in less ti it iallop to a trot, then to a canter, and finally to a sloalk Aheavily froly ”You're all right, old fellow I hope you're not hurt”--this to the young lady--and Tom made a motion to raise his cap, only to find that it had blown off

”Oh, no--no; I'htened than hurt”

”It was allinventor ”I should not have swung into the road so suddenly My bicycle alarmed your horse”

”Oh, I fancy Dobbin is easily disturbed,” adh for stopping him You saved me from a bad accident”

”It was the least I could do Are you all right now?” and he handed up the dangling reins ”I think Dobbin, as you call hi,” went on Tom, for the horse was now quiet

”I hope so Yes, I aed

If it is, ladly pay for its repair”

This re sure that the horse would not start up again, he went to where his wheel and his cap lay He found that the only da the in turn her pardon and thanks, and learning that her naon followed hiet out of a slow a to ht have been a serious runaway if there'd been anything in the road”

Tom did not stop to think that he had beena bad accident, as he had been the innocent cause of starting the runaway, but To on the bridle, but he did not mind that much, and bent over the handle-bars to make up for lost time

Our hero ithin a short distance of his house and was coasting easily along when, just ahead of him, he saw a cloud of dust, very similar to the one that had, some time before, concealed the inexperienced ht To back until I see which way he's headed No use running any more risks”

Almost at that moment a puff of wind blew soli machine