The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-02-04

Ills IloIlO easily o4OAAS III LI1C OUSL VI
the tracks. With eyes straning and
every nerve taut, the wrangler,
sighting the shining object, struck
for it. At the same instant, out of
perfect silence a sudden vicious yell
rang from somewhere about the
grandstend. The pony, started,
sprang straight sidewise, throwing
his rider head first into the dust,
and bolted across the track, drag
ging the wrangler, caught by one
foot in the stirrup.
A murmur rose, breaking into
cries of anger and shame.
The pony headed for the inside
guard rail of the track fence.
But while the panicky spectators
started, 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, COW
cred with dust. The boiling pony
cleared the fence and dashed across
the field.
The angry wrangler steadied him
self after a 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 rumpled 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 a loud 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 quirt'
There were a few applauding
laughs many murmurs, and gen
eral feeling of uneasiness among
the spectators.
Suddenly from the midst of riot
of men talking at the end of the
grandstand near Jane came clash
af angry voices. The next instant
bald-headed man with keen gray
eyes and a dyed mustache, scatter
ing onlookers right and left, pushed
his way out of the gathering crowd
and, stretched out his arm, yelled
at the three Circle Dot cowmen
standing on the track besides the
contrite pony, 'Look-a-here, Texas!'
yelled the bald-head, Decking.
Come here, you! You oo,Lefever!
Quick"
cts Jake Spotts," said the ex-
cited SAVOY. "Come on, boys!"
With Lefever, and followed by the
wrangler, Sawdy, 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 Reb-
stock!"
you're a liar" shouted the man
accused, slender, shrill-voiced.
sharp-faced ranch hand. 81 never
did it."
A long-haired, mild voiced Indian
standing near him spoke up: eyes,
you did. I stood right behind YOU"
Jane was sitting so close to the
alteration she could have touched
the nearest man. She rose in alarm.
DR.. Carpy pushed her to his other
side. She heard Sawdy thunder. ''No
more lynn, Barney! There's two
witnesses"
That was almost all she could re-
member. There were few more
sharp words. Then the dusty wrang-
Ter, shortening his ~quirt, sprang at
Redstock, knocked off his hat with
one hand, and with the other
brought the heavy handle down on
Rebstock's forehead.
There was instant uproar. Nc
Crossen sprang forward to defend
Redstock. He was too late His
hand slipped to his gun holster.
Carpy, jumping up, stood almost
over the brawlers. Hold on, there!
Hold on!" he Numbered. ''The first
man that draws gun here, I'll run
out of Sleepy Gait"
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. ''Dont
be frightened, girl. It's all over"
Cheers greeted the wrangler as
he walked back with his cronies to
where the contrite pony stood on
the track. Although his attire was
in much disarray, his manner put
his hearers perfectly at ease. 81
know" he said to those who had re-
turned to the grandstar1d, and pat
ting his mount, shat this generally
well-behaved little Texas pony is as
much ashamed of his conduct as I
am, and I know he would like to
apologize!'
He had the crowd with him. While
they cheered, the wrangler remount-
ed,cantered leisurely up the track
and down, and brought the gelding
to a halt in front of DR.. Carpy and
Jane Van Tamble Patting the pony
affectionately on the neck with his
left hand, and speaking softly, the
wrangler tapped the little fellow
with his doubled quirt on the right
shoulder.
The pony paved the dust in pro-
test but gradually crooked his right
foreleg, then his left, and knelt in
apology to the grandstand. The
crowd gave him loud applause.
Meantime, throwing his lines, the