Evening star., 1922-02-12

watching punchers interveped. Nor did
Chick Silsbee seek to exact further pun
ishment, He stood watching while
withers was led away to the bunk
house.
He done that a-purpose, Chick. Tor
a. Joke on ye," said some one.
And he's had it comm for long
time, Chick" added another. And lis
ten. He's the only one who Thought
that way, anyhow. He allus has been
sore sense that time We wouldn't go
over to the Rockin' L dance with him.
Good thing ye paid him up
So evident were the expressions of
hearty good will on every side that
Silsbee lost his resentment over that
taunt about money. Withers was a
petty sort of man. anyhow; NOBODY
shared his sneering rancor when fell
low puncher was saving up money.
And Silshee knew that. if his compan-
ions could not quite hgure MIN out
they at least liked him.
He walked away and found the Vixen
still nervous and excited from her ex-
Derience with the breaking contrivance.
. silsbee quieted her with petting for a
few moments. then led her into the
corral. He could not get her within
fifty feet of the hitching post. and at
/ length he led her to the watering tank
and dropped her hitch rope. There she
stood contentedly. eyes fastened upon
him.
FRIDAY afternoon saw number OF
the Wy boys sprucins up to the
limit, for they were riding over to the
Eagle Rock fair that. afternoon. out
side the bunk. house Silsbee and two
of his companions we're talking earn
estly.
"You get Vixen entered in that there
free-for-all race" said one, and we II
shore do the rest, Chick! l reckon we'll
make a KILN good an plenty.
"I amt so certain" said Silsbee.
Vixen has got quite a rep for winnln'
races, fellers. but she's had luck. This
time she goes up against some real
class"
Never you mind. Chick" was the
response. Your money goes down on
her. and so does ours. Come on, let's
get to goin'! 1 aim to see some 1un
tonight or bust a laig."
; Five of the Wy punchers rode out
of the corral and slowly vanished on
the dusty ribbon of trail that
squirmed through section after see
tion of buffalo grass toward Eagle
Rock. The trip took up most of the
afternoon. 1t was toward sunset
when the party rode into the livery
| stable at the county seat. Silsbee
got a box stall for his mare. and gave
her the attention which Sandy With
ers termed "babying his pet
! That night Silsbee and his COM
panions "did" the fair-everything g
from sideshows to cane racks. 1t
was their one bit of play. for on the
| morrow there was work ahead. Fag-
ged out at a late hopr. they hunted
up a hotel and turned in for the
| night.
Early in the morning they We're up.
| watering and feeding their horses.
| Later. at the restaurant where they
all ate breakfast, Silsbee stood con-
siderably joshing about his racing
mustang. A number of the sideshow
/ followers sauntered in and began to
take part in the joshing. whereupon
| the Wy boys got behind Silsbee. The
j upshot Of this matter was that Chick
and the other four wagerea every
thing they had, even to mortgaging
/ their outfits.
Don't it seem bit queer" said
Silsbee. later. that those gents were
so blamed anxious to bet on that
| hoss race? Why should they bet
| against Vixen and not on no other
.hoss? Tell me that