The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-04-22
Cow Country
ny n. NJ. BOWER
(capyrtxht. 1874, by i4ttie nre~n
Co1
ny H. NJ. BOWER


no left hts work and came after him.
taking short steps and walking with
his back bent stiffiy forward.
lie showed nud where 10 turn tho
horses. lie was eager TO know all
the news that Bud could tell him.
and when he discovered that bud
had Just left the Muicshoc. and that
he had been fired because of a fight
with Dirk Tracy, the old fellow
eackicd glccfully,
well. now. guess you Just about
had yore hands ftiil. young man, =
he commented shrcwdly. Dirk amt
so easy to lick"
bud Immediately wanted 20 know
why IL was taken for granted that
he had whipped Dirk. and grandpa
chortled again, Now II you hadn't
Of licked Dirk. you wouldn't OF got
fired" he rctorted. Dirk Tracy. ac
coriing to grandpa. was the real boss
OF the Muleshoc, and Bart was mere
" fgurehead
Grandpa admired Smoky. and
looked him over carefully.
II reckon he's purity fast" he said.
pecring shrewdly into Buds face.
The boys has been talking about
pulling off some horse races here
next Sunday-we got good.
straight. hard. packed creek bed up
here n piece that has been cleaned
OF rocks fer mile track. and They're
goin' 20 run horse or two Most
generally they do. on Sunday. You
might Kit In on H.
Il dunno but what might BE
wiiiin' 10 put up a few dollars on
that horse myself" he observed. az
you say he kin run.
Ever run him fer money!
~weli. no. not for money. I've
run hi,n once or twice for fun. Just
trying to beat some ot the boys 10
camp. maybe
''Shoi That's no way 60 do, Did
yuh beat en- he demanded sharp
".
why. SURF. beat them
Grandpa started. Young fciicr.
he began abruptly. femme tell yuh
something. II you got horse that
NA&l JUL ufl tfAN Witt ltltfN IlRFrt's
figure To make him bring yuh In
somcthinE--if Il amt no morc'n a
quarter II Amt what goes out that
do yuh any good-its what comes
tn"
He glanced at Bud with a crafty
look.
III I'd took that 10 m'nolf. l
wouldn't BE- chortn' around here now
for my own SON he lamented- ~l'd
OF had a few dollars now OF my own
Young Teller. there amt a man
on the plae. right now but you an
me. What say you throw yor- sad
die on this horse and take I'm up 20
the track ia like to zee him run.
Bud hesitated II wouldn't mind
running him. grandpa n thought
I could make something on him. I've
got my stake 10 make. II smoky
can run a few dollars into my peck
q. I'm with you
Grandpa tcctcred forward and put
out his hand shake on that. boy
he caekied- Pop Truman Amt too
bid TO have his istt,e toke--and make
L bring him In something. By Christ.
mas, You saddle up and we'll 20
Try him out on q auartermiie.
My son Dave. he's got horse In
the stable that's bc~n cieanin'
everything In the valley. I'll slip
him out and you run that horse Of
yourn again him Dave. he can't
ri n race outa nobody around here.
no more. so he won't run next sun
day. Wen Just sec how yorc horse
runs Alongside Boise. kin toll purity
well how you kin run agtn the
rest
Bud stood back and looked him
over. Il couidn'rerpcct you to stand
by a stranger against your own
folks
"shucks Almighty Ny own foiks'a
beat mo In a hors- race II they could.
and wouldn't hold IL again EN-
You lay low II I tell yc to lay low.
and well make few dollars. meb
by
BY the time Bud had saddied
Smoky grandpa hailed him cautious
~ from the brush-fringe beyond the
He motioned toward a small
gate and Bud led Smoky that way.
the gate after him.
The old man was mounted on a
bay. With one look Bud
observed the points that told OF
speed
do you expect Smoky TO show
up the same day that horse arrivcsy"
ne inquired mildly. Pop. you'il
have TO prove TO me that he won't
run Sunday"
Pop snorfed. Seems 10 me like
you do know a speedy horse when
you see one. young Teller. Beats
me Z you been overiookin' what you
got under yore saddle right now.
Boise. he's the best runnln' horse in
the vailey-and that's why he won't
run next Sunday. ner no other Sun.
day till somebody brings in a strange
horse to put agin him. Dave won't
crowd ye fur a race. You kin re-
fuse TO run yore horse agin him.
like the rest has done"
II guess III ride yore horse
Pop announced. and they
exchanged horses under the shelter
Of the bank. II want you should
beat me IL you kin. I'll bet n dollar
that I kin outrun ye. young fellerl
An you got the fastest horse in
valley. and I don't know
what got under me. Arc ye afraid
TO bet7"
I'm scared n dollars worth that
I'll never see you again today. un.
less ! ride back 70 find you" Bud
grinned.
ANY time you lose ole Pop Tru.
Almighty Come on.
then-I'lI show ye the way to the
quarter postr'
They refined in with the shadow
OF the post falling square across the
necks OF both horses.
They went, like two scared rzlb-
bits down the smooth yellow stretch
Bud had learned how TO get out OF
Ill