Connie Carl at Rainbow Ranch

ing Ca

nned by the conversation

od for everything honest and square in this community! For five hundred dollars he means to keep Catapul

ed slowly Back toward the ranch. She

with it!" she exclaimed. "It's

w exactly what to do. Calling Lefty and Alkali she asked them

is shirt," Lefty grinned. "He's b

inst Catapult," added A

up," said Connie quietly. "Supposing anoth

clared Lefty. "Pop Bradshaw ent

t you. Pop plans to substitute another steer for Cata

ord of the conversation she

No wonder Blakeman was so willin' to cover

this!" muttered Alkali. "Let

kidnap old Catapult tonight and sneak him into the rodeo barns! The

mountain medder is in plain sight of Pop's house. It's surrounded by hills

et-like so he won't ke

tracks on the trail will sh

lied Lefty with a

roposed adventure. Lefty immediately rode to Red Gulch to hold a confidential

re of curious stares which followed him. He could feel that something was in the air. Now and then coming unexpect

she did not go to bed. Instead she read until nearly midn

from the bunkhouse carrying several gunnysacks.

wo broncos down to the main

gunnysacks?" Connie asked curiously

pult's hooves so he won't leav

li. "How we goin' to get gunnysacks on Catapult? Maybe you think he'

said sharply. "Are you

," drawled Alkali, "but my

the three rode quietly into the mountain m

f cottonwood trees. Lefty removed the gunnysacks from his

d Catapult," Connie whispe

apt to be roostin' in any

night after this blisterin' hot day," said Lefty. "Tha

y reached the bank. Lefty pulled aside a clump of overhanging tree branches and looked out over the moonlit water.

nurse!" he muttered. "He's standin' in up t

d the little lake to the rear of the plac

Alkali, and if you nail him, tie the other end to t

imal, circling around him and splashing water with his cupped hands. Connie watched anxiously because she was afraid tha

tree," Lefty called to Alkali

is head banged into it. Then they roped his front and hind legs t

hem gunnysacks," Le

lped his friend bind the

untie this here bovine," he chuckled. "He'd m

ss and soon returned, riding his o

fty," he directed. "Th

e eyed his tormentors for a moment and then bolted. Al

acks at this rate," Lefty lament

ad. I'll stay behind. Then when he makes a pass at you, I'll hol

s thick neck. Then riding ahead, with Alkali's rope leading to the rea

the trail shod in gunnysacks. At times he would stop as if trying to fathom the strange method of torment. Then Lefty's rope would become tau

adow and turned to the main road.

whiffed the night air. Then he gave voice to

hat we're sunk,

kered in the

all right," m

e nervously. "You always have such brillia