glitter that faded into a look of wistfulness
as they raised once more to hers.

"Would you go to the dance with me tonight, mom? These others--they
don't git me right. They'll think I didn't dast to shoot it out with
him."

The girl hesitated, and the cowpuncher continued. "The transfer
train's pulled out an' the trussle won't be fixed 'til mornin', you
might's well take in the dance."

Beside her Endicott moved uneasily. "Certainly not!" he exclaimed
curtly as his eyes met Purdy's. And then, to the girl, "If you are
bound to attend that performance you can go with me."

"Oh, I can go with you, can I?" asked the girl sweetly. "Well thank
you so much, Winthrop, but really you will have to excuse me. Mr.
Purdy asked me first." There was a sudden flash of daring in her eyes
as she turned to the cowpuncher. "I shall be very glad to go," she
said; "will you call for me at the car?"

"I sure will," he answered, and turned his eyes toward the flats. This
was to be _his_ night, his last on the Wolf River range, he realized
savagely. In the morning he must ride very far away. For before the
eyes of all Wolf River he had swallowed an insult. And the man knew
that Wolf River knew why he did not shoot.

CHAPTER VI

THE RIM OF THE BENCH

Out on the flat the Texan was riding "straight up" amid a whirl of
white dust.

"Fan him, Tex!"

"Stay with him!"

The cries of the cowboys cut high above the chorus of yelling applause
as the furious outlaw tried every known trick to unseat the rider.
High in the air he bucked, swapping ends like a flash, and landing with
all four feet "on a dollar," his legs stiff as jack-pine posts. The
Texan rode with one hand gripping the hackamore rope and the other his
quirt which stung and bit into the frenzied animal's shoulders each
time he hit the ground. In a perfect storm of fury the horse plunged,
twisted, sunfished, and bucked to free himself of the rider who swayed
easily in the saddle and raked him flank and sides with his huge
rowelled spurs.

"Stay a long time!"

"Scratch him, Tex!" yelled the delighted cowpunchers.

Suddenly the yells of appreciation gave place to gasps even from the
initiated, as the rage-crazed animal leaped high into the air and
throwing himself backward, crashed to the ground squarely upon his
back. As the dust cloud lifted the Texan stood beside him, one foot
still in the stirrup, slashing right and left across the struggling
brute