The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1936-10-02

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crowd applauded. Jane blushed.
| The bracelet fell close to the grand
stand side Of the track. Sawdy thought
too close. but the wrangler. riding over.
nodded that he could make 1t.
The wrangler wheeled his horse. and
cantered down the track. Wheeling
again, he patted his pony's neck and
headed up toward the grandstand.
Again the pony took the quirt. leapec
ahead, and. with the onlookers mostly
standing to see and holding their
breath, the wrangler dashed for the
bracelet
Once more he swung over to the
right OF his saddle till he could trail
his hand easily along in the dust of the
track. With eyes straining and every
nerve taut, the wrangler, sighting the
shining object, struck for 1t. At the
same instant, out Of perfect silence q
sudden vicious yell rang from some
where about the grandstand. The pony,
startled, sprang straight sidewise,
throwing his rider head first into the
dust, and bOlted across the track, drag
cling the wrangler. caught by one foot
In the stirrup
A murmur rose, breaking into cries
OF anger and shame. Every eye was
fixed on the dragging rider.
The pony headed for the inside guard
rail Of the track fence. Half q dozen
Circle Dot riders now shot after him.
If the panic-stricken horse should leap
the fence, he would dash the wrangler
against 1t, probably to death.
But while the panicky specta-
tors stared, speechless, the wrangler,
dragged along at breakneck speed,
shook loose his foot and, rolling with
the momentum over and over on the
track, sprang to his feet, covered with
dust. The boiling pony cleared the
fence and dashed across the field.
The angry wrangler steadied himself
after step or two, his eyes rowing
over the faces before him, striving to
catch his breath. With his quirt still
hanging from his wrist, his hair rum.
pied and his bronzed features dust
smeared, his shirt torn half Off his
back, and breathing hard and fast, he
stood cycling the crowd and raised his
voice In loud and clear drawl:
IF the calf that just beloved for
milk Isn't too much Of coward to
walk down here, I'll agree to bottle
feed him with a quirt."
There were a few applauding laughs,
many murmurs, and a general feeling
Of uneasiness among the spectators.
Suddenly from the midst of q riot
Of men talking at the end of the grand
stand near Jane came clash Of angry
voices. The next instant a bald headed
man with keen gray eyes and a dyed
mustache. scattering onlookers right
and left, pushed his way out of the
gathering crowd and, stretching out his
arm, yelled at the three Circle Dot cow
men standing on the track beside the
cOntrite pony. Look -a-here, Texas 7"
yelled the bald-head, beckonIng. Come
here, you! You too, Lefever! Quick I"
Its Jake Spotts," said the excited
SAVOY. Come on, boys!" With Le-
fever, and followed by the wrangler,
SAVOY hurried to the irate BARRIERS
side.
There's the skunk that yelled" cried
SPOTS. almost beside himself as he
pushed the wrangler forward, and
pointed, THAT yellow-faced skunk
right there, Barney Rebstock"
The grandstand emptied as IL q cy-
clone had struck 1t.
sYoure liar" shouted the man ac-
cused, slender, shrill-voiced, sharp
faced ranch hand. II never did it,"
A long -halred, mild voiced Indian
standing near him spoke up: Eyes, you
| I o. Ind
your
Jane was sitting so close to the al
tercation she could have touched the
nearest man. She rose In alarm. DR..
Carpy pushed her to his other side.
She heard SAVOY thunder, mo more
lynn. Barney! There's two witnesses"
That was almost all she could re-
member. There were few more sharp
words. Then the dusty wrangler, short
ening his Quirt, sprang at Rebstock,
knocked of his hat with one hand, and
with the other brought the heavy han
die down savagely on Rebstock's fore
head. Jane saw the red follow the
blow like the cut of knife.
There was instant uproar. McCros-
sen sprang forward to defend Reb-
stock. He was too late. His hand
slipped to his gun holster. Carpy.
jumping up, stood almost over the
brawlers. Hold on, there Hold on r'
he Numbered. The first man that
draws a gun here, I'll run out of
Sleepy Cat"
DR.. Carpy was the only man In
Sleepy Cat who could have done It.
But his word was the last word In
Sleepy Cat. No one cared to face his
wrath. He turned to Jane. Don't be
frightened, girl. It's all over"
Cheers greeted the wrangler as he
walked back with his cronies to where
the contrlte pony stood on the track
Although his attire was in much dis
array, his manner put his hearers per.
fectly at ease. II know" he said IN
those who had returned to the grand.
stand, and pattlng his mount stbat
1 In.