pulled that stall on Purdy fer some reason an' it's up to me to see
him through with it. But if I do git doped it won't kill me an' when I
come alive they's a couple of fellows goin' to have to ride like hell
to keep ahead of me."

He drank the liquor and as he returned the glass to the bar he noted
the glance of satisfaction that flashed into Purdy's eyes.

"Come on, boys, let's git things a-goin'!" Mayor Maloney stood in the
doorway and beamed good humouredly: "'Tain't every cowtown's got a bank
an' us Wolf Riverites has got to do ourself proud. Every rancher an'
nester in forty mile around has drove in. The flat's rimmed with
wagons an' them train folks is cocked up on the lumber piles
a-chickerin' like a prairie-dog town. We'll pull off the racin' an'
trick ridin' an' shootin' first an' save the ropin' an' buckin'
contests to finish off on. Come on, you've all had enough to drink.
Jump on your horses an' ride out on the flat like hell was tore loose
fer recess. Then when I denounce what's a-comin', them that's goin' to
complete goes at it, an' the rest pulls off to one side an' looks on
'til their turn comes."

A six-shooter roared and a bullet crashed into the ceiling.

"Git out of the way we're a-goin' by!" howled someone, and instantly
the chorus drowned the rattle of spurs and the clatter of high-heeled
boots as the men crowded to the door.

"Cowboys out on a yip ti yi!
Coyotes howl and night birds cry
And we'll be cowboys 'til we die!"

Out in the street horses snorted and whirled against each other, spurs
rattled, and leather creaked as the men leaped into their saddles.
With a thunder of hoofs, a whirl of white dust, the slapping of quirts
and ropes against horses' flanks, the wicked bark of forty-fives, and a
series of Comanche-like yells the cowboys dashed out onto the flat.
Once more Tex Benton found himself drawn up side by side with Jack
Purdy before the girl, for whose handkerchief they had raced. Both
waved their hats, and Alice smiled as she waved her handkerchief in
return.

"Looks like I was settin' back with an ace in the hole, so far,"
muttered Tex, audibly.

Purdy scowled: "Ace in the hole's all right _sometimes_. But it's the
lad that trails along with a pair of deuces back to back that comes up
with the chips, cashin' in time."

Slim Maloney announced a quarter-mile dash and when Purdy lined up with
the starters, Tex quietly eased his horse between two wagons, and,