Connie Carl at Rainbow Ranch

reman'

od long by her bedroom window, gazing out across the moonlit ranch which had been her childhood home; now her sole possession. She could not rid he

up early to see the sunrise; and this morning, as the eastern sky

the bunkhouse. The cowboys were starting the day with their usual round of banter.

ew days now me and you can feast our eyes on

who?" Alk

r him tell it a man would think nobody eve

n him," Alkali said. "The

. "He's a washout when it comes to runnin' a r

e walked right into i

the whole deal. Miss Connie is one swell

from around the house. She wished to warn Lefty and Al

f earth she tossed it aga

s that?" Le

emerged and

en she jerked her head in the direc

riend now," she sai

" Alkali muttered,

ing quickly from one to the other. He

I couldn't sleep so I wandered down

.k., I

r the rodeo," Connie continued mischievously.

edge to his voice. "Tell her they couldn't run t

no hotter than Blake when he sets hims

any sarcasm from a couple of cow stooges like you! I'll show you what I can do. I

his defy, Forest Blakeman tur

ee it, won't we, Alk

hair in one brai

against Catapult. Boy, oh bo

two men's conversation. She wond

s Connie," Lefty explained. "That old hunk of animated b

never been throwed in his whole life. If you ask m

an animal," Connie

en bulldogger," Alkali went on contemptuously. "No

p from the house. He walked with a firm step a

n' in the southeast se

reakfast," Connie said quickly. "I thoug

n horse and did it neatly the girl observed. By the time she had finis

her companion. She could not figure him out. Lefty had bee

he did not. After all, Jim Barrows' business was his own, s

ode on toward the Bradshaw ranch where sh

een each other," she thought. "I ima

loped up the lane to the ranch house. The sound of h

g out to meet her. "My, but

he ground, tossing the rei

ore eyes yourself!" she declared. "I t

ly at her father a

tended to

quickly, "I haven't

the house,"

y the name of Catapult, Mr. Bradshaw," remar

," answered

nnie went on. "All the boys ar

. It seemed to Connie that his voice was not very frie

house, Connie," ur

but there were moments when they both felt i

a long while," Connie thought. When she left she gave

r the rodeo. Sometimes she rode alone and occasionally with the new cowhand, Jim Barrows. He had proven himself to be both quiet

capturing the old feeling of comradeship which had existed between them. But always Connie sensed that Pop Bradshaw

e days. We've been losing money on the ranch, and you know what

how he feels,"

w Ranch, Enid never once came to the Rainbo

" she thought. "Can it be that she's jealous becau

uld take such a narrow-minded attitude. Yet

w Ranch until she comes ove

ot visit Rainbow Ranch. A sense of

er I really can ride!" Connie told herself grimly. "

geable horses on the ranch. Despite the efforts of every cowbo

fty told her. "That hoss is a sunfisher. H

help she saddled the broncho, while the othe

he bronco shot up into the air, twisted and came down with a terrific jar whi

Connie!" sh

raight into the air and before the girl could free her

st to act. His rope sailed out to catch the fallen bronco, thus prevent

efty cried as he and

right," Conni

pale and twis

" Lefty said, lifti

ulder," Conn

nes bu

Lefty. But I did twist m

o laugh and fa

hould have known enough to stay off

conscious that the cowboys were watching her soberly. She had done a very

e in the rodeo," she thought. "And without that five hundre