The Texan A Story of the Cattle Country

d automobiles were drawn wheel to wheel upon both sides of the flat. From the vehicles women and children in holiday attire applauded the feats of the cowboy

t of the fun gasping in horror at some seemingly miraculous escape from death beneath the pounding hoofs of the cow-horses

shoulder below their horses' bellies. Mounts were exchanged at full gallop. Playing cards were pierced by the bullets o

rdy who furnished the real thrill of the shooting tournament when, with a six-shooter in each hand, he jumped an empty tomato can into the air

lf following his every movement, straining forward when his supremacy hung in the balance, keenly disappointed when another wrested the honours from him, and jubilantly exultant at his victories. So engrossed was she in fallowing the fortunes of her knight that she failed to

'd, an' hog-tied" his steer in the least number of seconds, would be the winner, that the girl's thoughts

cowboys. She turned to Purdy who had edge

chief?" she asked. "I haven't seen him since you both rode up i

ted regret; "he's-he's prob'ly over to some saloon. He's a

er. "Yes, I thought so. His horse is over in front of the Headquarters. Him an' Cinnabar Joe's prob'ly holdin' a booze histin

alled the Mayo

his tracks, a moment of suspense, and the black steer dashed frantically about seeking an avenue of escape while in his wake trailed the rope like a long thin snake with its fangs fastened upon the frantic brute's neck. A roar of laughter went up from the crowd and Purdy turned to the girl. "Made a bad throw an'

nded up and chased from

atch in hand, cr

eer, his fore legs jerked from under him, fell heavily. To make his rope fast to the saddle-horn and slip to the ground leaving the horse to fight it out with the captive, was the wor

h the cunning of long practice, kept his rope taut, the steer plunged about to such good purpose that precious seconds passed before the cowbo

ds!" announced the Mayor. "Git ready

successful cowboy was greeted with a round of applause. Several others

eer that plunged down the field with head down and tail lashing the air. Purdy crowded his quarry closer than had any of the others and with a swift sweep of his loop enmeshed the two hind legs of the steer. The next moment the animal was down and the cowpuncher had

before, been occupied by Purdy. She was conscious of a start of surprise. The man sat easily in his saddle, and his eyes held an amused smile. Once more the girl found herself resenting th

to try their hand," began the Mayo

shot at it if you've

e you'd of stood a show gittin' one of them steers that's be'n draw'd. You hain't got no s

him in, Slim, an' I'll show you how we

unding this way and that, the very embodiment of wild-eyed fury. But before he had gone twenty yards there was a thunder of hoofs in his wake and a cow-horse, his rider motionless as a stone image in his saddle, closed up the distance until h

t across the forefront of the big steer, the thud of a heavy body on the ground, the glimpse of a man-among the thrashing hoofs, and then a mighty heaving as

he stared at the watch in his hand. "Fifty-seven

ile over beside the big steer the cowboy mounted his pony and coiling his rope as he rode

f River Citizen's Bank in which we invite to whose vaults a fair share of your patrimony. While the boys is gittin' ready an' drawin' their horses a couple of gents will pass amongst you an' give out to one an' all, ladies an' gents alike, an' no favorytes played, a ticket good fer a free drink in any saloon in Wolf River on the directors of the bank I have endeavoured to explain about which. After which they'll be a free feed at the _ho_tel also on the

ses, boys, an'

's eyes flashed rapidly over the crowd and seeing that neither Cinnabar Joe nor the doctor were present, slipped his horse around the end of the lumber pile and dashed for the doctor's office. "That damn Doc'll wisht he hadn't never d

double-cross me for?"

the effect of the drug, leaned upon the table. "I didn't

y dully. "He switched glas

oistening his lips with his tongue, the cowpuncher turned abruptly on his heel. "Guess I'll be gittin' back where they's a lot of folks around," he muttered as he mounted his horse. "I got to try an' figger out

d the lumber pile and the girl was smiling

e I c'd of won if I c'd of rode. But I s'pose I'd ort to be satisfied, I drug down most of the other money-all but the ropin', an' I'd of had that if it hadn't of be'n fer Tex Benton's luck. An' h

his saddle a blaze-faced bay with a roman nose. As the three drew nearer the girl could see the mocking smile upon his li

w'd that roman nose, 'cause he's the out-buckin'est outlaw that ever g

ting of Purdy had been obviously rude and Alice Marcum felt an increasing dislike for the man. She returned his greeting with a pe

ead down and back humped like an angry cat, was leaping into the air and strik

ghed the Texan, and true to the prophecy, the horse ceased his

oop

ingtailed

mb h

atch

umbed and scratched, but the broncho's only sign

rider was in the saddle. Straight across the flat he bucked with the cowboy whipp

a go

lawin'

ad grabbed the horn of the saddle,

this old buzzard-head. I'm number seven

ook an extra dally around the saddle horn as the Texan, hackamore in hand, felt his way inch by inch along the taut lead-rope. As the man's hand touched h

ad-rope slackened and with a snort of fury the outlaw reared and lashed out with both forefeet. The Texan stepped

deftly threw over the animal's back. The horse, braced against the rope, stood trembling in every muscle while Bat brought forward the saddle with the right stirrup-leather and cinch thrown back over the seat.

inches as it is drinks, a

breed, and the girl, upon whom not a word nor a move had been lost, noticed that

thrown upon his back and the cinch ring def

ad hit the dirt, number five had ridden through on

throw off his dallies and two others, including Purdy, rode forward quirt in hand, to haze the hate-blinded outlaw f

dy was not a physical coward. The insult was direct, uttered distinctly, and in the hearing of a crowd. At his hip was the six-gun with which he had just won a shooting contest-yet he di

horse,

k Alice Marcum leaned

; "it was the bravest thing I ever saw."

the girl's face. But no, she was in earnest, and in her eye

of her gloved hand, "would have shot him, but it takes

dly he was puzzled. What did the girl mean? He realized that she was in earnest and that he had suddenly become a hero in her eyes. Fate was playing

? These others-they don't git me right. They'll

transfer train's pulled out an' the trussle won't be

med curtly as his eyes met Purdy's. And then, to the girl, "If

ou will have to excuse me. Mr. Purdy asked me first." There was a sudden flash of daring in her eyes as

he Wolf River range, he realized savagely. In the morning he must ride very far away. For before the eyes