ion.

"Great Scott!" exclaimed Bert. "We forgot to bring them."

CHAPTER VI

The "Ringer's" Downfall

After the boys had been on the ranch some two or three weeks a new topic
of interest came up. It seemed that every Fourth of July a great
celebration was held in Helena, in which cowboys and ranchmen from many
miles around took part. All sorts of competitions were held, such as
roping, throwing, target shooting, and so on. As the day drew near, it
became the chief topic of conversation about the ranch, and everybody,
with the exception of two or three who would have to stay to take care of
the stock, intended to go and take part in the festivities.

Quite a feature of the present celebration was to be a one-mile running
race. As a rule ranchmen and cowboys are not noted for their running
abilities, generally being more at home upon the back of a horse than
upon their own feet. But among the neighboring ranches there were several
fair runners, and among the townspeople there were others. The last year
or two a hot rivalry had existed between the ranchmen and "townies" over
the outcome of the running race, for in this event everybody, no matter
what his daily occupation, could be interested.

The last year one of the men from the Bar X Ranch had taken the prize
money, and the ranchers had all been jubilant. They imagined they had
a fair chance to win this year's event with the same runner, and Mr.
Melton's men thought so too. But one day late in June Chip returned from
a trip to town with clouded brow.

"What do yuh think them low-down Piutes that calls themselves citizens of
Helena has been an' done now?"

"What's bitin' yuh, Chip?" asked Sandy. "Did somebody get your wad, or
what?"

"No, nothin' like that," answered Chip. "I'll tell it to you jest the way
one o' the boys handed it to me. He says t' me, 'Waal, Chip, I reckon
you boys on the ranches hereabouts won't pick off the prize money this
year in the footrace, will yuh?'

"'Oh, I don't know,' I answers him. 'Yuh never kin tell what's going to
happen, but we-all have a sneakin' idea that our man is jest goin' to
run away from any shorthorn you guys kin put up.'

"'Oh, is that so?' he jeers, real triumphant-like, 'well, I got a little
piece o' change that I'm willin' to put up on our man. How do yuh feel?'

"Waal, I wasn't goin' to let the guy bluff me, so I covers his money to
the tune o' fifty bucks. 'I s'pose Jenkins, the feller that nearly p