The state herald., 1897-10-08

behaved in the tamest possible manner
and Bob was filled with disgust.
II want real BRONX" said Bob;
this things nothin' but hobby-horse.
He's as easy to ride as railroad train"
But 1t had been agreed that each
man was to have but one horse. so Bob
went off grumbling over his hard luck.
A trim and timid brown broncho,
with light. delicate step. was led forth
for Marion McGinty. of the U-Fork
ranch. She looked as II child could
ride her. She made not the slightest
protest when the saddle was placed up
on her and the flank glrth was cinched.
McGinty had looked the mare over
closely and he had made UP his mind
she was not what she seemed.
She wasn't. Riding that horse was
good deal like riding a cyclone-you
can not tell exactly what happens. but
you know that much is going on.
That gentle looking animal shot her.
self into the air. She came down on
four feet and two feet and one foot.
She made the most awful plunges. Her
back curved until she was turned into
hoop.
Then was the crowd aroused to mad
enthusiasm. The cowboys shrleked
and the Indlans-there were 500 Co.
manches whooped with all their
might.
McGinty was not like his namesakc
In the song. He stayed right on the
broncho. and old cowboys said they
had never seen such gorgeous bucking.
The animal made mad rushes forward,
and stopped short with n stiff-legged
snock. She fell over backwards and
she sidestepped like shifty prize
fighter.
McGinty sat on her back as IL II was
no trouble at all. and the plaudits rang
about him. When the mare YVES doing
her best. or rather her worst, McGlnty
shook one foot loose OF the stlrrup and
sat sideways with one leg over the horn
OF the saddle.
Then the broncho started to run. She
shot away like the wind until her fore
foot sank into prairie dog hole. Then.
and then only. did McGinty go down.
Horse and rider disappeared in cloud
OF dust.
1t was taken for granted that Nc
Ginty had been practically killed. Blu,
he wasn't even hurt. There was never
finer exhibition of riding.
Dave Matthews. OF the X ranch, In
Shackeltord county. drew Old Gray.
A horse with convictions is Old Gray.
and he lives to them. He is willing to
work. When he is being driven he
is us gentle as kitten. When an at
tempt Is made to ride Old Gray It is
very like trying to go through a thresh-
ing machine.
Several hundred ambitious men had
tried to ride Old Gray and not one had
succeeded. When the saddle was
placed on his back he behaved beauti-
fully. lie had the air OF wise horse
and n conqueror. He was certain that
he would throw his rider and there
wasn't any use In wasting strength.
II you have ever seen those fireworks
things called "nlgger chasers" you can
have come idea OF the way Old Gray
acted on the ground. But nothing that
moves can give any idea of Old Gray's
aerial evolutions. They are peculiar
to himself. lie gathers himself In
ball. shoots upward and then appears
to explode. AS a rule he lands on his
head. but he is not particular abou,
this.
After his FIRST efforts Old Gray
stopped In sheer surprise to find the
man stlll on his back. He turned his
head to look. An Inch OF steel tearing
up his sides made the broncho jump.
He placed his head between his legs.
archcd his back until II was like that
OF furious cat. and began bucklng un-
I'll II seemed that he must tear himself
and Matthews to pieces. But the man
was not dlslodged.
When Old Gray was led away he
hung his head In shame. II was his
first defeat In long and busy life. lie
had broken many bones and the pride
OF hundreds. only to meet his master
nt last.
In all. twelve men took part In the
contest, and not one was thrown. Jim
Harris had the narrowest escape. lie
was allotted big black. 40 strong that
the punRcs caused the blood
to gush from Harris nose
and ears. Once the man lost hla stir
rup. But he conquered the broncho.
McGlnty was awarded tho first prize,
$40. while Dave Mntthowa received tho
second prize for conqucrlng Old Gray
Tho third was given to iiarpcy Young
Tho verdict of the judges was mp
.plnudod. McGlnly was placed frat be-
cause "hc cut Mp antlcdolos when his
horse was npl,chln. 'aa cowboy care
fully explained.
The first OF tho seventeen compoti-
tors won the first prize and established
n now record. ilo was Berry pcraloy.
OF the Pltchforlt ranch.
The steer cronscd the limo on the run.
Porsloy'a lnrlat settled over his horns.
Tho steer turned complete aomcr-
nnult. Tho horse braced himself while
PerBlcy ran Mp TO the proBtfntc and
atunnod animal. The man threw up
his ha, TO show that the steer waa tied
In I'm. ihn.
Emeiino Gardcnhlne caught the steer
around the head and horn and the hig
animal came down with crash. Tho
pony dragged the steer while Emcllnc
was dlEmountlng Tho animal was
tied In I'm. la.
When nlliy Parks. the "pitthfork