Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1924-03-14
The Dude
Wrangler
Caroline Lockhart
Copyright, Doubleday. Page & CO.


Continued from previous Issue)
The horse was exhausting itself
rapidly with it's efforts to keep its
nose out, making no further attempt
to swim toward the bank. Candy
slapped water in its face in the hope
Of turning it, but it was too late. Its
breathing could be heard plainly and
it's distended nostrils were blood-red.
Many things passed swiftly through
Canby's calculating mind in the few
seconds that remained for him to de-
eide.
Throw me the rope!" His voice
vibrating with chagrin and rage ad-
mitted his defeat.
Wallie measured the distance with
his eye, adjusted the loop, and as 1t
cut the air above his head Candy held
up his hands to catch it when it
dropped.
Good work." Pinkey cried as it
shot out and hit it's mark. "You never
made better throw than that, old
kid"
Candy slipped the loop under his
arm and, as he took his feet from the
stirrups, shouted for them to tighten
up.
The horse, relieved of its weight,
took heart and struck out for the op-
posite bank, where a little dirtslide
enabled it to scramble out. Shaking
and dripping, at last it stood still at
the top, while Candy, a dead weight,
was dragged over the edge to dry
land.
There was as much fury as relief in
his face when he stood UP and started
to loosen the rope around his chest.
Wallie stopped him with a gesture.
mo, you don't! take no chances
when I play with crooks. You make
out that check
isn't my word good?" Candy de-
manded.
mot so far as 1 can throw my
horse"
II haven't check book" he lied.
Get it, Pink"
The check book and indelible pencil
which every sheep and cattleman car
ries were in the inside pocket of his
coat.
Fill it out" Wallie passed the pen.
Gil to him. "And don't leave of a CT
nlar nv n,iafaka"
II refuse toSbe coerced!" Candy de-
clared defiantly. '1'll keep my word,
but I didn't say when"
"I'm setting the date" Wallie re-
piled. cody, "and that's just four min
utes and half from now" taking out
his watch. IF haven't got the check
by then you'll pay for those locoed
horses, too, or I'll throw you back"
"You don't dare"
when you haven't anything to lose
you'll do considerable to get hunks
and that's my fix. Besides, l need
the money. Two minutes left-think
fast"
You'll sweat blood for this before
I'm through with you!"
Times up-yes or no?"
Candy gritted his teeth.
Silently Wallie passed the end of
the rope to Pinkey, who understood
and took a turn around his saddle.
horn.
Before he could resist Wallie gave
Candy shove and pushed him over
the bank. He struck the water with
a splash and went out Of sight I'm
mediately the well-trained cow-horse
felt the strain it backed up and held
the rope taut.
Candy came to the surface, then
dangled as the horse continued to
hold off. AS he strangled with the
water he had taken in his lungs and
struggled frantically in the air, it
seemed beyond human belief that 1t
was he, Canby-Canby, the all-power-
ful-in such plight!
"Pay out little rope, Pinkey. Give
the fish more line"
Once again Candy dropped back and
came up gasping, coughing, fighting
for his breath.
A little anxiously Pinkey asked:
Don't you bleeve he's had enough?"
"Too much scrap left in him yet"
Wallie replied, unmoved.
Candy shrieked at last: "I'll pay!
Let me up!"
"You mean that?"
Good God-YES!"
Pinkey led the horse back and in
no gentle fashion Candy was pulled
over the edge for the second time.
where he lay limp. When his breath
and strength returned he struggled to
his feet.
III you 60 in again you won't come
up" Wallie's voice was metallic and,
searching his face, Candy saw that he