"Three minutes an' forty-three seconds!" announced the Mayor. "Git
ready for the next one. . . . _Go git him_!"

This time the feat was accomplished in a little over two minutes and
the successful cowboy was greeted with a round of applause. Several
others missed their throws or got into difficulty, and Purdy turned to
the girl:

"If I got any luck at all I'd ort to grab off this here contest. They
hain't be'n no fancy ropin' done yet. If I c'n hind-leg mine they
won't be nothin' to it." He rode swiftly away and a moment later, to
the Mayor's "_Go git him_!" dashed out after a red and white steer that
plunged down the field with head down and tail lashing the air. Purdy
crowded his quarry closer than had any of the others and with a swift
sweep of his loop enmeshed the two hind legs of the steer. The next
moment the animal was down and the cowpuncher had a hind foot fast in
the tie rope, Several seconds passed as the man fought for a fore
foot--seconds which to the breathlessly watching girl seemed hours.
Suddenly he sprang erect. "One minute an' forty-nine seconds!"
announced the Mayor and the crowd cheered wildly.

Upon the lumber pile Alice Marcum ceased her handclapping as her eyes
met those of a cowboy who had ridden up unobserved and sat his horse at
almost the exact spot that had, a few moments before, been occupied by
Purdy. She was conscious of a start of surprise. The man sat easily
in his saddle, and his eyes held an amused smile. Once more the girl
found herself resenting the smile that drew down the corner of the thin
lips and managed to convey an amused tolerance or contempt on the part
of its owner toward everything and everyone that came within its radius.