Evening journal., 1922-01-30
CHATTER I

condition of il was warfare. Life
here had to protect itself with a
tough. cailous rind. Only the fit sur
vived.
Around the campfire the drivers
OF the trail herd squattered on their
heels or lay sprawied at indolent
ease. The glow Of the leapiug flames
from the twisted mesquite lit their
lean faces tanned to bronzed health
by the beat of an untempered sun
and the sweep OF parched winds.
Out OF the soft shadows Of the
summer night a boy moved from the
remuda toward the campfire He
was a lean. sandy-haired young fell
low. his figure still lank and untitled.
As he sat down on the wagon tongue
the stringiness OF his appearance be-
came noticeable.
A young man waved a hand to-
ward him by way OF Introduction.
Gents Of the ID Bar Lazy r outfit,
Mr. David Sanders. formerly Of
Arizona, will make grafton on the
why. wherefore. and how-come-it Of
Chiquito's superiority to all other
equines whatever
"I'd like right well 10 make love
to that pinto my own SET. Bob"
commented weather-beaten punch
er. ANY old time Dave wants to
saw him or onto me az sixty dollars
I'm here to do business"
You're ure an easy mark. Buck"
grunted a large rat man. His white
face and soft hands differentiated
him from the tough range riders He
did not belong with the outfit, but
had Joined il the day before with
George Doble. a half-brother OF the
trail foreman. to travel with Il as far
as Malapi. He was known as Ad
Miller
Doble backed up his partner Sure
are, Buck. I can get cowponies for
ten and fifteen dollars-all 1 want
OF EN-" he said. and contrived by
the lift Of his lip to make the re-
mark offensive.
mot ponies like Chiquito." ven
tured Sanders amialbly.
Hes some bronze" explained Bob
Hart. Got a bagful Of tricks, a nice
disposition, and sure can burn the
wind"
You don't say" The voice OF the
fat man was heavy with sarcasm.
And on top OF all that education
he can run. too"
The temper OF Sanders began to
take an edge. Il don't claim my
pinto's a nacer. but he can travel"
Hump" grunted Miller skepticai-
ly.
Don't look to me like no raccer, ,"
Dohle dissented. "Why, I'd be most
willin' to bet that pack-horse OF
ours. Whiskey Bill. can beat him.
Bob Hart helped things along
I've got ten bucks says the pinto
can beat yore whiskey Bill"
GO you once" answered Dobie
after a moments apparent consid-
GRAFTON. Il got fifty dollars more to
back the pack-horse. How about IT,
Sanders? You got the sand to cover
that?"
"Betcha a months pay-thirty-
five dollars" retorted Dave.
Might as we'll lose a few bucks
myself, seeing as WhislSey Bill be-
longs to me- said Miller with his
wheezy laugh. who wants to take
a whirl, boys?"
Inside OF three minutes he had
placed a hundred dollars. The terms
OF the race were arranged and the
money put in the hands OF the fore
man
An hour later Buck Byington drew
Sanders aside.
"Dave, you're a chuckie-haided
rabbit II ever I seen tinhorn sports
them two is such They're collectin'
livin' off'n suckers. Didn't you
sabe that come-on stuff? Their pack
horse is a ringer. Both Of EN- are
crooked as dogs hind laig."
"Maybeso,' admitted the young
man. But Chiquito never went back
on me yet. These fellows may be
overplayin" their hand. don't you
reckon?"
mot a chanct.' That tumblebug
Miller is one fshy proposition. and
his sidekick Doble-say. he's the
kind Of bird that shoots you in the
stomach while he's shakin' hands
with you. Me. I aim to button up
my pocket when them guys are
around"
CHAPTER H.
A course was chosen for the race
From a selected point the horse.
N'AN ~ run W "a NluHlN OF INtSOulit
round it, and return to the starting.
place. Dug Doble was chosen both
starter and judge.
Dave watched Whiskey Bill viii
the trained eyes OF horseman. Tn,
animal was an ugly brute as to tn,
head. But in legs and body It ha,
the fine lines OF racer. The hors'
was built for speed. The cowpunch
er's heart sank. His bronco was fast
but the little range pony had no
been designated to show its heels {,
. thoroughbred
Are you ready2" Doble asked o
the two men in the saddles.
His brother said. Let 'er go!
Sanders nodded. The revolver bark
ed
Chiquito was off like a flash o
light, found its stride instantly. BE
fore 1t had covered rs yards tn
pinto was three lengths to the goo,
Foot by foot the distance betwee
the horses lessened TO two lengthl
to one. to half a length The ugl
head OF the racer came abreast of IN
cowpuncher with sickening Gel
fainty the range-rider knew what n
Chiquito was doing the best that wa
in IT, Whiskey Bill was a fasts
horse
The halfway mark was just aheal
The cowpuncher knew exactly no
TO make the turn with the least po
sible loss of speed and groun