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The sheepman got to his feet unsteadily。 〃 I'll do famously。〃
〃I won't have it。 Why are you so foolish about going？ He said you
didn't need to go。 You can't ride any more than a baby could chop down
that pine in the yard。〃
〃I'm a heap stronger than y'u think。〃
〃Yes； you are！〃 she derided。 〃It's nothing but obstinacy。 Make him
stay；〃 she appealed to the outlaw。
〃Am I my cousin's keeper？〃 he drawled。 〃I can advise him to stay； but
I can't make him。〃
〃Well； I can。 I'm his nurse； and I say he sha'n't stir a foot out of this
housenot a foot。〃
The wounded man smiled quietly； admiring the splendid energy of her。
〃I'm right sorry to leave y'u so unceremoniously。〃
〃You're not going。〃 She wheeled on the outlaw 〃I don't understand this
at all。 But if you want him you can find him here when you come again。
Put him on parole and leave him here。 I'll not be a party to murder by
letting him go。〃
〃Y'u think I'm going to murder him？〃 he smiled。
〃I think he cannot stand the riding。 It would kill him。〃
〃A haidstrong man is bound to have his way。 He seems hell…bent on
riding。 All the docs say the outside of a hawss is good for the inside of a
man。 Mebbe it'll be the making of him。〃
〃I won't have it。 I'll rouse the whole countryside against you。 Why
don't you parole him till he is better？〃 〃All right。 We'll leave it that way；〃
announced the man。 〃I'd hate to hurt your tender feelings after such a
pleasant evening。 Let him give his parole to come to me whenever I send
for him； no matter where he may be； to quit whatever he is doing right that
instant； and come on the jump。 If he wants to leave it that way； we'll call it
a bargain。〃
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Again the rapier…thrust of their eyes crossed。 The sheepman was
satisfied with what he saw in the face of his foe。
〃All right。 It's a deal；〃 he agreed； and sank weakly back to the couch。
There are men whose looks are a profanation to any good woman。 Ned
Bannister； of the Shoshones； was one of them。 He looked at his cousin；
and his ribald eyes coasted back to bold scrutiny of this young woman's
charming； buoyant youth。 There was Something in his face that sent a
flush of shame coursing through her rich blood。 No man had ever looked
at her like that before。
〃Take awful good care of him；〃 he sneered； with so plain an
implication of evil that her clean blood boiled。 〃But I know y'u will； and
don't let him go before he's real strong。〃
〃No；〃 she murmured； hating herself for the flush that bathed her。
He bowed like a Chesterfield； and went out with elastic heels； spurs
clicking。
Helen turned fiercely on her guest。 〃Why did you make me insist on
your staying？ As if I want you here； as if〃 She stopped； choking with
anger； presently flamed out； 〃I hate you；〃 and ran from the room to hide
herself alone with her tears and her shame。
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CHAPTER 14。 FOR THE
WORLD'S CHAMPIONSHIP
The scene on which Helen Messiter's eyes rested that mellow Fourth
of July was vivid enough to have interested a far more jaded mind than
hers。 Nowhere outside of Cattleland could it have been duplicated。
Wyoming is sparsely populated； but the riders of the plains think nothing
of traveling a hundred miles in the saddle to be present at a
〃broncobusting〃 contest。 Large delegations； too； had come in by railroad
from Caspar； Billings； Sheridan； Cheyenne and a score of other points； so
that the amphitheatre that looked down on the arena was filled to its
capacity。
All night the little town had rioted with its guests。 Everything was
wide open at Gimlet Butte。 Saloons were doing a land…office business and
gambling…houses coining money。 Great piles of gold had passed to and fro
during the night at the roulette wheel and the faro table。 But with the
coming of day interest had centered on the rough…riding contest for the
world's championship。 Saloons and dance halls were deserted； and the
universal trend of travel had been toward the big grand stands； from which
the sport could be best viewed。
It was afternoon now。 The preliminaries had been ridden； and half a
dozen of the best riders had been chosen by the judges to ride again for the
finals。 Helen was wonderfully interested； because in the six who were to
ride again were included the two Bannister cousins； her foreman；
McWilliams； the young man 〃Texas；〃 whom she had met the day of her
arrival at Gimlet Butte； and Tom Sanford； who had last year won the
championship。
She looked down on the arena； and her heart throbbed with the pure
joy of life。 Already she loved her West and its picturesque； chap…clad
population。 Their jingling spurs and their colored kerchiefs knotted round
sunburned necks； their frank； whole…hearted abandon to the interest of the
moment； led her to regard these youths as schoolboys。 Yet they were a
hard…bitten lot； as one could see； burned to a brick…red by the untempered
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sun of the Rockies； with muscles knit like steel； and hearts toughened to
endure any blizzard they might meet。 Only the humorous wrinkles about
the corners of their eyes gave them away for the cheerful sons of mirth
that they were。
〃Bob Austin on Two…Step；〃 announced the megaphone man； and a
little stir eddied through the group gathered at the lane between the arena
and the corral。
A meek…looking buckskin was driven into the arena。 The embodiment
of listlessness； it apparently had not ambition enough to flick a fly from its
flank with its tail。 Suddenly the bronco's ears pricked； its sharp eyes
dilated。 A man was riding forward； the loop of a lariat circling about his
head。 The rope fell true； but the wily pony side…stepped； and the loop
slithered to the ground。 Again the rope shot forward； dropped over the
pony's head and tightened。 The roper's mustang braced its forefeet； and
brought the buckskin up short。 Another rope swept over its head。 It stood
trembling； unable to move without strangling itself。
A picturesque youth in flannel shirt and chaps came forward； dragging
blanket； saddle and bridle。 At sight of him the horse gave a spasmodic
fling； then trembled again violently。 A blind was coaxed over its eyes and
the bridle slipped on。 Quickly and warily； with deft fingers； the young man
saddled and cinched。 He waved a hand jauntily to the ropers。 The lariats
were thrown off as the puncher swung to the saddle。 For an instant the
buckskin stood bewildered； motionless as a statue。 There was a sudden
leap forward high in air； and Bob Austin； alias 〃Texas；〃 swung his
sombrero with a joyous whoop。
〃Fan him！ Fan him！〃 screamed the spectators； and the rider's quirt
went up and down like a piston…rod。
Round and round went Two…Step in a vicious circle； 〃swapping ends〃
with dizzying rapidity。 Suddenly he went forward as from a catapult； and
came to sudden halt in about five seconds。 But Texas's knees still clung；
viselike； to the sides of the pony。 A series of quick bucks followed； the
buckskin coming down with back humped； all four legs stiff as iron posts。
The jar on the rider would have been like a pile…driver falling on his head
had he not let himself grow limp。 The buckskin plunged forward again in
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frenzied leaps； ending in an unexpected jump to one side。 Alas for Texas！
One moment he was jubilantly plying quirt and spurs； the next he found
himself pitching sideways。 To save himself he caught at the saddle…horn。
〃He's hunting leather；〃 shouted a hundred voices。 One of th