hoofs, and then a mighty heaving as the huge steer strained against the
rope that bound his feet, while the cowboy shoved the Stetson to the
back of his head and felt for his tobacco and papers.

"Gosh sakes!" yelled Mayor Maloney excitedly as he stared at the watch
in his hand. "Fifty-seven seconds! They can't beat that down to
Cheyenne!"

At the words, a mighty cheer went up from the crowd and everybody was
talking at once. While over beside the big steer the cowboy mounted
his pony and coiling his rope as he rode, joined the group of riders
who lounged in their saddles and grinned their appreciation.

"Ladies an' gents," began the Mayor, "you have jest witnessed a ropin'
contest the winner of which is Tex Benton to beat 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