The Washington times., 1937-12-02

runaways before his riding had
improved to its present degree.
And then suddenly he was at the
Lazy K ranch house and the goat
roping crowd was surging about
him, calling friendly greetings.
They were nice people, these
OklahomanS, and the Eastern
youngster felt suddenly at home
with them again. Dismounting, he
joined the spectators.
There were laughing invitations
to join the sport, but the P'fesser
declined, grinning Not yet was he
up to that standard; pitting his
skill with rope and pony against
time in an effort to laSSo and tie
up wise old billy goat; with the
total pot of so cents entry fees a
reward for the best record.
The game ended too soon. Billy
broke a horn and his owner took
him out of circulation. There was
some aimleSS milling about and
then suddenly a dozen cowboys
were going down to Brushy Greek
for a swim. Come along, Pies
SER" A hasty remounting and they
were all off in a swirl of hooves.
The PfeSser was inwardly proud
Of the way Charley forged to the
front Of the galloping mob, yet al
ways subject to the rein.
Altogether different, this feeling
Of mastery from that well remem-
bered surge Of panic Of the run
away days the very recent
runaway days.
TRICK TEST
And then it happened.
A pony crowding in on either
side a grinning, friendly,
bronzed face a shout and its
echo the end of a rope fIcking
across the corner of his glance,
behind and beside him :. a twist
of a brown wrist-and Charley
Snorting like steam engine and
boiling for dear life.
Even as it happened, the Pies
ser knew the answer. This was
the trick test he'd heard about.
This was a case of ride your horse
or break your neck.
The end of laSso, tossed across
behind a skittish mount from one
rider to another, then flicked up
beneath the victims tail.
He'd heard all about it how
any horse would clamp his tail
down over that binding cord then
go crazy when the two out-riderS
spurred up and the rope began to
saw the rump of the mount in the
middle. Well, Charley was run
ming true to form. And I mean
running. Ride him or break your
neck.
Down the road in a cloud of
dust. Three ponies pounding
away for dear life amid shouts
and cries. The P'fesser gritted
his teeth and concentrated on his
riding remember to grip with
your knees and don't pull leather.
DETERMINED RIDER
It wasn't so bad after the first
three minutes. The old panic died
away and a sort of frenzied deter.
mination followed stick to
your horse and show 'em a thing
or two this isn't so hard
after all.
And then an idea. The
P'fesser fEmbled in his pocket and
found his pocket knife . keen
the reins in the left hand He
got it open at last pretty
lucky he sharpened it up on the
grind stone last week.
Deliberately the P'feSser turned
in his saddle and reached back.
One quick slice two . three
:. and the rope parted at last.
Wild shouts and cheers {.
laughter and applause and a
steady pressure on the reins.
They all pulled up in an excited
group. One of his tormenters be-
wailing the ruin of a brand new
rope others jeering at his dis
comfiture =. excited claps on the
back you done rode him,
P'fesser. You sure done rode
him"
And then sudden silence. Mir.
aculouSly they had wound I'D
right in front of the Hammer
ranch-house and a copper-colored
mountain was waddling down to.
ward the gate. Everybody greeted
him respectfully, as befitted the
feudal overload of half a county.
The old man nodded gruffly
and stopped beside a tree in the
barren yard. He took something
from limb and then numbered
on to the gate. Unbelievably he
was grinning.
Unbelievably be extended the
big roweled spurs.
GTH,,A