Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-02

we're by no means idle. Two to one on
the gal" Twenty dollars that Katie wins
the hat" Ten to five that Montana Jack
beats every man in the race, and similar
cries greeted the ear, and the metallic clink
of golden coin furnished convincing proof
that the betters were in earnest.
The six punchers Of the festive steer were
ranged in line, and the mountain maid
posted twenty feet in advance OF them. she
glanced back at them with dont you
wish YOU could catch NE - expression, that
was cruelty tantaljzing, and reused III each
masculine breast q resolve to, as one OF
them forcibIy expressed il, Ketch her or
bust cinch.'
" One-tUG-three-g0
They were off like arrows loosened from
the springy bow, the men straining every
muscle, and the girl fairly flying over the
smooth floor with an easy, graceful mo-
ton, and apparently putting forth no more
effort than 4 swallow upon the wing. Be
fore five rounds had been accomplished
three of the bows were distanced and LETT
the track. and on The fifteenth round Two
more gave up in despair, leaving Montana
Jack, a really handsome, manipulating
young fellow, the only contestant for the
tempting prize. His face was sWamped IN
n look Of eager longing rs he put forth
lessen the distance between him and the
Aving fairy ahead, and it was evident on
the twentv-fifth round that the gap be-
tween them was very perCeptibiy de-
creasihg in size. The shouts and yells
of the crowd Of spectators as they
encouraged the contestants was at times
almost leafening: Go it, Jack, old boy
you'll cit thar Montana's gainin' on
herr Fifty TO FIVE on the Montana boy!'
" Git down TO yer work, Katie, an you'll
beat i'm Wit" 4" Go it, little gal, an III
give you another hat if you DO i'm up "
etc, etc, were the ringing cries that re
sounded from every side. The girls
playin' him, and III bet coin on it, said
Joe. Don't you see that saUcy smile on
her face? She's playin' him, an don't
you forgiti "
Twenty rounds, and the gap between
them was Iessened 10 about ten feet. On
the thirtieth round the boy had gained an
additional four feet, and was now evidently
putting forth renewed efforts to win the
prize, which was apparently almost within
his reach. The scene was now one OF
the widest excitement. Only four more
rounds were to be seated, and from every
indication the youth would be the winner,
for the girls speed seemed 70 decrease at
every stroke. Her face. however, wore
the same confident smile whenever
she glanced saucily back over
her shoulder ct her eager pUr-
suer. Coming down the honestretch
on the thirty second round he could
almost reach her with his Outstretched
hand, when, with a side lurch, her feet
few from under her and she sat
down with an emphasis that
must have loosened her back teeth,
while he shot by her Ike q flash.
With almost lightning-like rapidity be
wheeled about and with 4 shout Of triumph
was about to grasp her PROSTATE form,
when she arose with Q spring and a ring
ing, silvery laugh, and before the dazed
fellow fully realized the situation she was
again off, twenty feet in advance, which
distance she maintained TO the close Of the
race. The cheers which greeted her were
terrific as she crossed the scratch, and
wheeling gracefully around in the center OF
the floor, approached the referee just as he1
contestant came up painting like quarter
horse.
. It's too bad, Jack" she said, laugh
ingIv, but / wanted that hat awful bad.
She was apparently as fresh as at the start
and when, half an hour later, I stood III
in the door Of the rink and saw her mount
her pony unaided and dash away in the
darkness at & lively gallop, l thought that
every muscle of her shapely body must be
made Of tempered steel
Later in the evening dropped into the
largest saloon in town, where a crowd OF
cowboys had congregated. / had heard and
read of their deeds of deyiltry and
daring and their ability to amuse
themselves by playfully filing the
cold, pale skin Of the tenderfoot full Of lead
without Just cause or provocatiOn, and had
in my mind even pictured the Western
cow boy as the very personitication Of all
that was cruel, deyili5h and irTeclaimably
wicked. Instead ! found them genial
good-natured, whole-souled fellows, fond
Of q song or story, and, with an occasional
exception, not in the least inclined to quar-
rel. even when in their cups. As they sal
around the tables IN the saloon drink after
drink was swallowed, and the boys werC
feeling pretty good. Montana Jack was
present and was freely joked about his de
! feat at the rink, but he took it all good
naturally and emphatically averred thai
| he would give every hat between Omaha
and Bitter Creek for just one smack at the
| lips Of the princess.
| Stories and personal adventures on tht
range were related and songs sung witt
spirit until long after midnight, when the
| boys left the saloon, mounted their fee
| bronchos, and, with Indian yells, wen
| gallopine Off towards their camps.
Those boys are not so bad as they arr
| painted, ~ ! said to the barkeeper after tht
crowd had departed.
Bad? There amt better lot Of boy
in America. They get little Wild some
times and make good deal Of noise, bu
there is no harm in 'enl. I've run thi
saloon for five years, and I've never seen
drop of blood spilled in the house, unless /
came from Il collision between some leller
nose an some other fellows first in so
cable set-to over some disagreement. Thi
talk about cowboys shootin' if you lOOl
cross-eycd ut EN- is all bosh'
You never had them shoot out tn,
lights and make targets Of the beer bottles
then ~
Oh, that slash is all newspaper talk
Sometimes when there are tenderfeet il
town an the boys feel like havin' some fun
they come in here an we put up ;
Job on the gTeenys. The boys loaI
their pistols with blank cartridges and q
the tenderfeet in here somehow. an at thr
right moment they pretend to git to quar-
relin', an the shootin' begins. Thar ain
no lead fired, an nobody hurt, bu
of course the strangers git on
lively an rush for the hotel
| Then they sit down an write letters to tn
newspapers about the cowboys wCrkin' OF
an overload Of exuberanCe by shOotin' on
the lights, an sich work. That's all tina
Is in it. RoAMEo.
szzas1zs1EzsA7111sa1 aa-.1srs1<s
THE ROOFS PRAYER.
The royal feast was done: the king
| Sought some new spot to Danish care,