an' ropin', an'----"

"Yes, I usta!" sneered the other. "An' I could now if it wasn't fer
that Texas son of a ----! Fer three years hand runnin' he's drug down
everything he's went into. He c'n out-rope me an' out-ride me, but he
can't out-guess me! An' some day he's goin' to have to out-shoot me.
I'm goin' to win the buckin' contest, an' the ropin', too. See?" The
man's fist pounded the bar.

The bartender nodded; "Well, here's _to_ you."

Once more Purdy fixed the man with his black-eyed stare. "Yes. But
they's a heap more a-comin' from you than a 'here's _to_ yeh.'"

"Meanin'?" asked the other, as he mechanically swabbed the bar.

"Meanin' that you an' Doc's goin' to help me do it. An' that hain't
all. Tonight 'long 'bout dance time I want that saddle horse o' yourn
an' yer sideways saddle, too. They's a gal o' mine come in on the
train, which she'll be wantin', mebbe, to take a ride, an' hain't
fetched no split-up clothes fer to straddle a real saddle. That
sideways contraption you sent fer 'fore yer gal got to ridin' man-ways
is the only one in Wolf River, an' likewise hern's the only horse
that'll stand fer bein' rigged up in it."

"Sure. You're welcome to the horse an' saddle, Jack. The outfit's in
the livery barn. Jest tell Ross to have him saddled agin' you want
him. He's gentled down so's a woman c'n handle him all right."

"Uh, huh. An' how about the other? Y'goin' to do as I say 'bout that,