The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-12
A PILGRIM AND A COWBOY.
BY EDITH M. DOANE.

l-expert riding---Iassoing wild steers. | It's a great day for the people around
 here. Lots of competition between the ranches.v
 Did Big Horn ever win? Twice Prize for riding" admitted
 Dick. difisdently But I'm q little afraid of the Victoria boys this year | can ride like the devil !"
 He's a good fellow though" unused ] Dick, as he felt for match. You'd Hike him. I'll ask him over some | time"
 DO. I'm wild to know real cow boy" cried Margaret Her eyes spark | led. She evidently did not intend to
 allow her Eastern affsirs to interfere with any simple Westeern pleasure l sighed as I glanced at her. Still. a cowboy even might have his uses
 in sweeping away undesirable memo ries.
 The next day found us in the grand stand of the South Pass City fair grounds. among the first ranks of the spectators of this genuine Wild West show. The stands were packed The band blared. Cowboys overfiowed the arena, riding bronehos, throwing wild steers, and all directed by a man In I big sombrero, who might have been Buffalo Bill himself Indeed, my dear Anna, the stage coach and Indians were all that was missing.
 The "Big Horn" and Victoria were represented Nn all the events. Promi- nent among the Victoria men was tall, good looking fellow in riding clothes and sonihrero who seemed to be everywhere at once. distinguishing himself in all the feats and overseeing his men et1s
 aThe EngIishman." exclaimed Mar
 garet.
 whoever he was. he knew how to ride.
 The closing performances of the day was the subjuRation of untamed horses. and indeed, my dear Anna. 1t was a terrifying sight. Wild horses driven into the inclosure dashed rhadly around the course until they were thrown and dragged back to the starting place to be saddled. We had been watching Mar garets cowboy, and saw him spring Into the saddle as the horse under
 him leaped up on all four legs and brought them down in bunch. Then the horse, in d terrible rage, tried to | throw his rider; he whirled, at on his
 launches. leaped madly in the air, tried to roll over and all the while that man, I his eyes blazing, his mouth one grim, stubborn line, sat there as cooly as it | he were on rocking horse. Finally l the animal shot, down the course like streak and afraid to look longer. l lence was tense; then suddenly 1t was broken by yells and cheers. and I open ed my eyes to see the horse and rider
 wallxing--yes, Alma, actually walking slowly past the stand. while the judges ! believed something about Victoria through the megaphone.
 Margaret, leaning over the edge of kl. ak
 couldn't he ridel" she breathed softly,
 with all a wonian's admiration for the
 masterful masculine. He is A real
 man. He--'
 She was interrupted by the arrivel of Dick. Behind him ioomed the tall lfigure of the strentous cowboy. who
 stood. sombrero in hand. while Dick presented him as "Jim Lancabter" Margaret smiled, and when Margaret smiles she is an alluring combination
 of starry eyes and bewilderink dImples. Then she held out q slim hand. Tim
 so glad you've come she said, fer
 vently; I've been wanting to know ! you" h
 Such. my dear Anna, was the spec
 tacular entrance of the leading man. | A man always has been to Margaret
 a thing to be smiled upon and encour-
 aged, therefore the increasing and ever
 lengthening visits of. the cowboy caused I me no uneasiness I even allowed her i to ride with him
 Its all right. Let her Eo," said Dick. Jim Lancaster is no mammals
 boy. but he's straight as a string. and 1t will do her god"
 So she galloped across the wide,
 sweeping plains. her cowboy always be-
 side her. attendant upon her least ca
 price he taught her to sena lasso
 whizzing over an accommodating gate post with unerring aim: she even learn.
 cd to shoot (Marsaret is nothing fl
 not thorough). while from my pedes. | tai of Eastern prejudice followed the little drama, utterly unaware even that
 1t was a drama. or tha. my call came
 next.
 "Jim's over here good deal" com