The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-12-02
zght foot turning his horse. "Jest-jest 8 spur"
CHAPTER VI. \ Blue Ribbon.

ed oak It's gnarled roots SIO"lnS above the rocks. swayeed over the abyss On branch two 'scIssor- tails" were building a nest COiIeo beneath on 9 rock. a rusty rattler bsslled in the sun. A horned frog ran across his foot On a point or rock 9 hawk tore out the vitaIs of 9 meadow lark
 stlmer sat down by Cap anc dangled his feet into space. His eyes rowing the plain, he sought to pene- trate the blue distance as he gazed toward Smiths Ranch. For a long time he sat thus. mottonIess.
 "Cap, oP fellow, lets gO." he satG suddenly, rising.
 An hour later he crushed through the tall grass and sunIower weeds that frtnged the river. Down the stream a black object on the sanG caught his eye-to the uninitiated a rock or bit of debris. to Stirner an animal caught in the bog. He spurred his horse toward 1t. When he drew near. he found gaunt COW half buried in the qulcksand. A calf, not a week old, stood at her head 1t tottered toward him. saw the dog and staggered back to it's helpless mother.
 Stiner approached as near as he dared. unwound his lariat. fastening one end to the horn Of the saddle, and whlrl I it through the air. It fell Tn a loop about the cows horns.
 NOW, Or hoy. yere goes" and ne sank his heels in-o the horses Hanks. General sDrang forward, stopped. The COW rose stifly to her knees. beloved as with pain. then lay over mOtionlo-s. Again the horse tugEef at the rope-eveI-y muscle l. COW rose slowly, struggled to her feet. and fell sDrawling onto the firm. sand, The soft bog settled back smooth and innocent. ready to entrap another victim with it's deceptive sur face. Stimer unIoosened the rope and prodded the COW to her feet She staggered off, the calf at her side expressing it's joy in little pathetic frislls as it sought to buy it's head In her Hanks
 Well. FEoyd's two head better off an he'd a been if I hadn't happen ed long" Stimer said. as he noted ha brand. He mounted and climbed the steep bank, gained the summit and stopped a mOment-a silhouette against the sky. Just below in a grove of trees, nestled the sbanties or Smiths Ranch. Before the door stood the wagon, bereft of it's cover and out on the hillside the sheep moved like a white shadow.
 There was a clatter of hoofs. Stfmer turned. Tom gaLloped toward him.
 "EI lIO. Stimer." he called, bringing his pony to a sudden stop. Yer jest too late fer the fun-kiued CT rattler big ez yer aru-rne an Ruth. Gosh! how 1t did hiss and rattle an fork out it's tongue. I found it in the dug out lyin' on a log-it could CT bit Ruth. I saw u raise up an dart out it's tongue, an I said. Jump fer yer life. Ruth--it's a rattIer jest 'boye yer head on the sill I rushed fer my gun, but fore got Ruth done smashed it's head with CT piece Of board.
 That's jest like Ruth - alters breakin' up the fun. It's in the mes quite by the dugout. I'll show it to you"
 He slipped from his pony.
 Whoa. Plug! Stimer. this Is the most impatienest horse you ever see. | Cant leave i'm CT mint 'thout i'm runnin' eff. Got way from me one day an I had ter walk i've miles. Since then I put a rock on the brfdIe CT tie i'm to CT mesquite How'd you learn yer horse to come to you, Sttm- er?''
 sHe-he jest took it up"
 well that's the kind of a horse to have. Maybe mine'M take 1t up later How long 'uz yorn takin' it ID. Sci-ner?''
 ''Tou'think you'u like over were. TOm?" said Sinner, not being inter ested in horse training just at that time.
 "Ftne-an'-a maybe over we're the fellers won't alters be hangin' --rr7 2, yer horse. Stimer. You git on mine''
 They made the exchanges,
 'Tou'u ave ter put the spurs ter him. Stimer. He's awful lazy
 Maybe Miss Ruth won't like me comtn' over." said Stimer dubiously.
 'Oh. she don't min you." replied Tom frankly. she said this mornin' she's glad you live SO cIOst. Put the luirt to i'm an let's race" Stimer reined the pony to a walk
 Miss Ruth atn't missed nothtn' ?'' | he asked, wishing to make known to Tom the reason of his early visit
 Missed what?"
 T happened to pass where you eamped last night an foHn' this'' he said. holding out the ribbon
 Tom thew back his head and yelled
 Sumer stared fooIishly.
 ''Ruth'n bz much erbIig'ter you" Tom said sOberlg-. You mustn't min i my laughtn'-it's jest spells Ruth sez I ave-
 You can put t in ger pocket | Torn," handing him the ribbon. He felt a sense of relief now that he had disposed Of it.
 Tom he ventured presently | what fellers was them botherin' 1 Miss Ruth? 9
 'Oh, the cowboys over at Benva nue | They's allers hangin' roun' - Ruth ! didn't like that One filler shes rra-d Of Elf shed say the word I'd 1 shoot is heart out. that's what I'd | do Whats his name? Well is name | is Bill Duncan, an if you know i'm | you know a mighty low-dOwn dog. | Ruth sez no geuerman'u go where he | ain wanted, an that's what Dun | can does. Ef he comes over we're I'm ! goin ter SGT wolf trap fer hiu-but l % a CLT=- 7ezi