k showed how much surprised he was to recognize

cramble to his feet again, though he seemed a bit "groggy," and one of his eyes was alread

stood on his guard, as though he might not be averse to trying conclusions wi

nd I'd look nice now, wouldn't I, letting a little greaser kid talk back to me? So I was just giving her a

ade any particular difference. Any cur who would lay his hands on a child like tha

aintances had truckled to him on account of the great wealth of his father, and the liberal way h

ay; would you? I'll remember that! I'm not the one to forget in a hurry. Some day, perhaps, you'll wish you'd never tried to

mehow I seemed to just know we'd hit it up sooner or later if our trails crossed. I give you my word

tantly, adding: "and unless I miss my gue

Peg?" asked the Kent

. Somehow Peg did not fancy the athletic build of his antagonist; for, while Bob was rather slender, he h

used the other hand to feel of his injured optic. "Besides, I don't feel fit to fight right now, with

l hadn't vamoosed I declare if I wouldn't feel like making you get down on your knees

ob said this; and he seemed to be afraid that perhaps the o

could have a way of escape open to him in case of need, he s

his voice trembling with passion. "I'll find a way to get even, see if I do

oward the hostelery Peg retreated in

asked Frank, who had been an amus

s face. "Whenever you run across a fellow who likes to boast of the way he does things, make up your mind he's a rank coward, ev

ank; "and it agrees with my own opinion exactly.

st, for he gives plenty of warning before he tries to stri

! but didn't it drop him, though! Just like a steer would go down when the loop of a lari

oo hard. That's the way they treat cowards back where I was brought up; and they call anybody by that name who will put

go poking around Thunder Mountain, and Peg is there, with a couple of the tough cowboys he has trailing

sked Bob, with a shade

say?" asked F

mean of me as to believe I'd be frightened off by the bare chance

thought I'd seen her face before, somewhere, but she skipped out before I could take a second look. Some cowboy, or cattle rustler's child from beyond the Rio Grande, I reckon. Well, come along, let's get in the saddle again, and finish

ously out from behind a pile of boxes near by; and then, finding the coast clear, the small girl

fastening their horses to a rail in front of the gene

attention of anyone accustomed to judging horseflesh, as these Western men were. Still, it would be a bold man indeed, white or In

ew to such a life. Consequently it was Frank whose judgment was called into play when making

essary, as was a frying pan and coffee pot, two cups, as many platters, as w

hard-tack in place of bread, a can of condensed mil

ne to his horse, back of the saddle. And, as I'm an old hand at this business, just

h the free life of the plains. Things were done so differently here from what he had been accustomed to in his old Kentucky home, before hi

lves in purchasing the supplies needed for the little campaign in the neighbo

erved drawing nearer and nearer to the horses ranged along the bar. There were several besides the animals of our

utter indifference to such commonplace things as horses. Then, f

ch as cowboys make use of to soothe a restive steed when the

without attracting attention, which was just the thing he wished to avoid, commenced stroking the sleek side of the big

hrew themselves into their saddles with the rapidity

ed. If his purpose had been to steal the black he must have changed his mind, for there was no b

each bearing a compact bundle which the

e of the restless actions of Domino. The animal seemed to be dancing up and down as though

azy creature. Indeed, a less experienced rider than Bob would have been instantly thrown by

esult of fright on the part of Domino. Why, the big and powerful black acted as though he had gone wild, jumping madly about, now fairly flying off to one side, only to whirl an

t then the black had taken a notion to run, and apparently nothing in

nty miles of here. And why was Peg Grant standing on the stoop of the tavern grinning as I rode past? Can he have had a hand in this sudden crazy spell of the black? Spanish Joe knows all the tricks of putting a thorn under a saddle, that will stab the horse when the