CHAPTER ONE.
A POET WITHOUT HONOR Before I die, I'll ride the sky; I'll part the clouds like foam.
I'll brand each star with the Rolling R, And lead the Great Bear home.
I'll circle Mars to beat the cars, On Venus I will call.
If she greets me fair as I ride the air, To meet her I will stall.
I'll circle high--as if passing by-- Then volplane, bank, and land.
Then if she'll smile I'll stop awhile, And kiss her snow-white hand.
To toast her health and wish her wealth I'll drink the Dipper dry.
Then say, "Hop in, and we'll take a spin, For I'm a rider of the sky." Through the clouds we'll float in my airplane boat-- Mary V flipped the rough paper over with so little tenderness that a corner tore in her fingers, but the next page was blank.

She made a sound suspiciously like a snort, and threw the tablet down on the littered table of the bunk house.

After all, what did she care where they floated--Venus and Johnny Jewel?
Riding the sky with Venus when he knew very well that his place was out in the big corral, riding some of those broom-tail bronks that he was being paid a salary--a _good_ salary--for breaking! Mary V thought that her father ought to be told about the way Johnny was spending all his time--writing silly poetry about Venus.

It was the first she had ever known about his being a poet.

Though it was pretty punk, in Mary V's opinion.