eat who McLaughlin
himself would have to do his da--doggondest! We will now conclood the
afternoon's galaxity of spurious stars, as the circus bills says, with
a buckin' contest which unneedless to say will conclood the afternoon's
celebration of the openin' of a institoot that it's a credit to any
town in reference to which I mean the Wolf River Citizen's Bank in
which we invite to whose vaults a fair share of your patrimony. While
the boys is gittin' ready an' drawin' their horses a couple of gents
will pass amongst you an' give out to one an' all, ladies an' gents
alike, an' no favorytes played, a ticket good fer a free drink in any
saloon in Wolf River on the directors of the bank I have endeavoured to
explain about which. After which they'll be a free feed at the _ho_tel
also on the directors. Owin' to the amount of folks on hand this here
will be pulled off in relays, ladies furst, as they hain't room fer all
to onct, but Hank, here, claims he's got grub enough on hand so all
will git a chanct to shove right out ag'in their belt. An' I might say
right here in doo elegy of our feller townsman that Hank c'n set out as
fillin' an' tasty a meal of vittles as anyone ever cocked a lip over,
barrin', of course, every married man's wife.

"Draw your horses, boys, an' git a-goin'!"

Alice Marcum's surprise at Tex Benton's remarkable feat, after what
Purdy had told her, was nothing to the surprise and rage of Purdy
himself who had sat like an image throughout the performance. When the
Mayor began his oration Purdy's eyes flashed rapidly over the crowd and
seeing that neither Cinnabar Joe nor the doctor were present, slipped
his horse around the end of the lumber pile and dashed for the doctor's
office. "That damn Doc'll wisht he hadn't never double-crossed me!" he
growled, as he swung from the saddle before the horse had come to a
stop. The office was empty and the man turned to the Headquarters
saloon. Inside were the two men he sought, and he approached them with
a snarl.

"What the hell did yeh double-cross me for?" he shouted in a fury.

The doctor pointed to Cinnabar Joe who, still dazed from the effect of
the drug, leaned upon the table. "I didn't double-cross you. The
wrong man got the dope, that's all."

Cinnabar Joe regarded Purdy dully. "He switched glasses," he muttered
thickly.

A swift look of fear flashed into Purdy's eyes. "How'n hell did he
know we fixed his licker?" he cried, for well he