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said； with his gay smile。
〃I wish you all the luck you deserve；〃 she answered。
〃Oh； wish me more than that if y'u want me to win。〃
〃I didn't say I wanted you to win。 You take the most unaccountable
things for granted。〃
〃I've a good mind to win； then； just to spite y'u；〃 he laughed。
〃As if you could；〃 she mocked； but her voice took a softer intonation
as she called after him in a low murmur： 〃Be careful； please。〃
His white teeth flashed a smile of reassurance at her。 〃I've never been
killed yet。〃
〃Ned Bannister on Steamboat；〃 sang out the megaphone man。
〃I'm ce'tainly in luck。 Steamboat's the worst hawss on the range；〃 he
told himself； as he strode down the grand stand to enter the arena。
The announcement of his name created for the second time that day a
stir of unusual interest。 Everybody in that large audience had heard of Ned
Bannister； knew of his record as a 〃bad man〃 and his prowess as the king
of the Shoshone country； suspected him of being a train and bank robber
as well as a rustler。 That he should have the boldness to enter the contest in
his own name seemed to show how defiant he was of the public sentiment
against him； and how secure he counted himself in flaunting this contempt。
As for the sheepman； the notoriety that his cousin's odorous reputation had
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thrust upon him was extremely distasteful as well as dangerous； but he had
done nothing to disgrace his name； and he meant to use it openly。 He could
almost catch the low whispers that passed from mouth to mouth about
him。
〃Ain't it a shame that a fellow like that； leader of all the criminals that
hide in the mountains； can show himself openly before ten thousand
honest folks？〃 That he knew to be the purport of their whispering； and
along with it went a recital of the crimes he had committed。 How he was a
noted 〃waddy；〃 or cattle…rustler； how he and his gang had held up three
trains in eighteen months； how he had killed Tom Mooney； Bob Carney
and several othersthese were the sorts of things that were being said
about him； and from the bottom of his soul he resented his impotency to
clear his name。
There was something in Bannister's riding that caught Helen's fancy at
once。 It was the unconscious grace of the man； the ease with which he
seemed to make himself a very part of the horse。 He attempted no tricks；
rode without any flourishes。 But the perfect poise of his lithe body as it
gave with the motions of the horse； proclaimed him a born rider； so
finished； indeed； that his very ease seemed to discount the performance。
Steamboat had a malevolent red eye that glared hatred at the oppressor
man； and to…day it lived up to its reputation of being the most vicious and
untamed animal on the frontier。 But； though it did its best to unseat the
rider and trample him underfoot； there was no moment when the issue
seemed in doubt save once。 The horse flung itself backward in a
somersault； risking its own neck in order to break its master's。 But he was
equal to the occasion； and when Steamboat staggered again to its feet
Bannister was still in the saddle。 It was a daring and magnificent piece of
horsemanship； and； though he was supposed to be a desperado and a
ruffian； his achievement met with a breathless gasp； followed by
thunderous applause。
The battle between horse and man was on again； for the animal was as
strong almost in courage as the rider。 But Steamboat's confidence had been
shaken as well as its strength。 Its efforts grew less cyclonic。 Foam covered
its mouth and flecked its sides。 The pitches were easy to foresee and meet。
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Presently they ceased altogether。
Bannister slid from the saddle and swayed unsteadily across the arena。
The emergency past； he had scarce an ounce of force left in him。 Jim
McWilliams ran out and slipped an arm around his shoulders； regardless
of what his friends might think of him for it。
〃You're all in； old man。 Y'u hadn't ought to have ridden； even though
y'u did skin us all to a finish。〃
〃Nonsense； Mac。 First place goes to y'u oror Jack Holloway。〃
〃Not unless the judges are blind。〃
But Bannister's prediction proved true。 The champion； Sanford； had
been traveling with a Wild West show； and was far too soft to compete
with these lusty cowboys； who had kept hard from their daily life on the
plains。 Before he had ridden three minutes it was apparent that he stood no
chance of retaining his title； so that the decision narrowed itself to an issue
between the two Bannisters and McWilliams。 First place was awarded to
the latter； the second prize to Jack Holloway and the third to Ned
Bannister。
But nearly everybody in the grand stand knew that Bannister had been
discriminated against because of his unpopularity。 The judges were not
local men； and had nothing to fear from the outlaw。 Therefore they
penalized him on account of his reputation。 It would never do for the
Associated Press dispatches to send word all over the East that a
murderous desperado was permitted； unmolested； to walk away with the
championship belt。
〃It ain't a square deal；〃 declared McWilliams promptly。
He was sitting beside Nora； and he turned round to express his opinion
to the two sitting behind him in the box。
〃We'll not go behind the returns。 Y'u won fairly。 I congratulate y'u； Mr。
Champion…of…the…world；〃 replied the sheepman； shaking hands cordially。
〃I told you to bring that belt to the Lazy D；〃 smiled his mistress； as she
shook hands。
But in her heart she was crying out that it was an outrage。
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CHAPTER 15。 JUDD MORGAN
PASSES
Gimlet Butte devoted the night of the Fourth to a high old time。 The
roping and the other sports were to be on the morrow； and meanwhile the
night hours were filled with exuberance。 The cowboy's spree comes only
once in several months； but when it does come he enters into the occasion
with such whole…hearted enthusiasm as to make up swiftly for lost time。 A
traveling midway had cast its tents in a vacant square in competition with
the regular attractions of the town； and everywhere the hard…riding
punchers were 〃night herding〃 in full regalia。
There was a big masked ball in the street； and another in the Masonic
Hall； while here and there flared the lights of the faker with something to
sell。 Among these last was 〃Soapy〃 Sothern； doing a thriving business in
selling suckers and bars wrapped with greenbacks。 Crowds tramped the
streets blowing horns and throwing confetti； and everywhere was a large
sprinkling of men in high…heeled boots； swinging along with the awkward；
stiff…legged gait of the cowboy。 Sometimes a girl was hanging on his arm；
and again he was 〃whooping it up with the boys〃； but in either case the
range…rider's savings were burning a hole through his pockets with
extreme rapidity。
Jim McWilliams and the sheepman Bannister had that day sealed a
friendship that was to be as enduring as life。 The owner of the sheep ranch
was already under heavy obligation to the foreman of the Lazy D； but debt
alone is not enough on which to found soul brotherhood。 There must be
qualities of kinship in the primeval elements of character。 Both men had
suspected that this kinship existed； but to…day they had proved it in the
way that one had lost and the other had won the coveted championship。
They had made no vows and no professions。 The subject had not even
been touched in words； a meeting of the eyes； followed by the handshake
with which Bannister had congratulated the winner。 That had been all。 But
it was enough。
With the casual democracy of the frontier they had together escorted
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