, 1900-07-18

that they are afraid of nothing. They
can ride anything in the shape Of a
horse; they can shoot so well that
every other man must respect them.
They are like kings, fearless, wild,
strong, splendid"
They were leading the bucking bron-
cos into the ring, and again the red
handkerchief maj entered with 9TH
ers on horseback and rode slowly to-
ward the animal clowns Of the show.
That chap seems to be in every
thing" said the bridegroom.
That's because he's so clever said
the prettiest girl, with an air of pro-
prietorship.
He feeds the horses, too, l suppose,
when the show is over" said the man
who leaned on her chair.
That's a nice thing to say" said
the prettiest girl. Why, he's one of
the stars; probably a college man who
has chosen to live that life. I've often
read about them"
Shouts of laughter were greeting the
wild jumping horses. Grouped in the
lower end of the ring We're other cow
boys mounted, waiting their turn.
They howled d~erisively at their com
panions' struggles. This was fun to
them. When a cowboy plays, q wild
IDrso ic biS fnvorita TOW
The man with the red handkerchief
looked now and then toward the box
of the prettiest girl. He had the same
smile in his eyes. He noted that the
faces of the men had taken on an an
noyed expression and also the flush
across the cheek of the girl. He was
acting at her, conscious only of her APP
parently. Across the a~mphitheater one
of these magnetic currents was max
ing their souls known to each other.
His signal came and he went to a
horse that had its forelegs against the
rail. Two men held it's head. The
cowboy went through the usual antics
trying to mount it and the animal vi
ciously resisted, humping itself, kick
ing violently with its hindlegs ant
throwing it's head in the air. 1t was
the worst of the lot. At times it seemed
as though the cowboy had been thrown
beneath the horse. Suddenly with a
wild yell he jumped upon it's back.
His hat flew back in the ring, and
down the center of the ring he came
laughing, with his hands gripping the
tight bride of the rocking. jumping
animal he rode.
Suddenly the horse gave a wild
swerve toward the side of the ring
where the prettiest girl sat leaning far
over the rail. The animal raised itself
on its forelegs almost as though 1t were
able to stand on its head in its efforts
to unseat the rider. There was a gasp
from the audience. The prettiest girl
half rose with a look of horror in her
eyes, and as she did so her bunch of
violets fell over the rail into the ring.
The cowboy saw it and smiled. Loosen
ing one of his hands from the neck Of
his dancing horse, he swung himself
out of the saddle, keeping his legs
clasped in some way about the animal,
and steering it, snorting and bucking,
to the spot where the flowers lay. He
picked them dexterously from the
ground and threw them gracefully into
the lap Of the prettiest girl, while a
roar rent the amphitheater as he
plunged on to the canvas exit.
We'll done, by George!" said the
bridegroom.
Its next thing to being in the
show" said the prettiest girls sister.
Il think Tootie is acting horrid."
Il haven't done anything" said the
prettiest girl. There were tears very
near her eyes, for she saw displeasure
in the eyes of the %chaperon and the
other man. Il didn't mean to let them
fall" she said.
The cowboy did not appear during
the next few acts-feats Of marksman-
ship and tumbling in the ring. There
was a silence in the box where the
prettiest girl sat with her friends. She
had pouted her lips defiantly. She was
filled with triumph. How magnif-
Gently he had complimented her,
throwing himself under the very feet
of a wild horse to recover her violets.
Jack was mad, it was true, but he'd
get over it. He usually did.
The grand finale had been announc-
ed from the man with the voice. Peo-
pie began to reach for their wraps. On
came the cowboys. The man in the
box with the prettiest girl tried to get
her to turn out of the box entrance
before her admirer came nearer. He
saw what they were doing, and leaned
out of his saddle with a gesture that
was almost a signal. The man beside
the prettiest girl took her elbow firmly
and tried again to make her turn, but
she threw his hand off impatiently.
AS the cowboy passed the box he raised
his sombrero CALAMITY, and as he re-
placed it a small folded white paper
Travelled through the air and fell on
the floor Of the box at the feet of the
prettiest girl. She reached for it con-
fusedly.