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from Bader's ra.nch with Jim and ‘Tack
Hoover broke into a cheer for the "Kid,"
as they called him. ' - >
CHAPTER III.
Jul wins rm: coxrrsr.
Tack Hoover was glad to ride on, but
his face was almost black with rage.as he
wen . .
But no one appeared to notice this, and
with the yells of derision ringing in his
ears, he sought the bar of the saloon.
Meanwhile John Evans was busy thank-
ing Jim Bader for his timely interference.
“You're sartinly made out of ther right
kind of stuff, young feller,’ he declared. as
he gripped his hand for the second time. “I
don't intend ter bother ther galoot, ’cause
I'm willin’ ter make allowances fur his be-
in‘ half drunk. But yer sartinly did take
'. ther starch out of him. an’ no mistake."
“Well, I thought it was about time he let
DD.” answered Jim. modestly. “You see. he
‘ was mad at me, and when he saw the ten-
derfoot probably he felt like taking satis-
faction out on someone. and he tackled him.
Tack is my foreman, but I can help that.
He cai:l’t scare me, an he knows it."
“You are just the real thing, I think,"
spoke up May Evans, throwing aside all
; formalities. “I want to shake hands with
you, Kid.” >-
“All right," was the smiling reply. “But
my name isn't Kid. It's just plain Jim
Bader, from Bader’s ."
“And I am just plain May Evans, from
the 2-X Ranch; and here is my dad and
You just shook hands with dad;
now shake hands with mother."
Jim was quite at his ease during the in-
troduction, and he was satisfied that he had,
come in Contact with very good people. in-
Horace Crnry stood looking, at them
while the introduction was going on. and
when it was over with, and all hands began
talking just as though they had really been
acquainted for a. long while, he broke in
With‘
“By Jove, May! You have forgotten all
' about me, it so ms. I would like to know
the young fellow. indeed I would."
“Mr. Grary. of New York. Mr. Bader."
> said the gm, quickly. .. .
.The dude bowed and stuck out his fore-
finger to shake w . i
But Jim did not stop with his finger: be
seized him by the hand and gave it such
a grip that Crary‘s knees shook, and he
cringed with,pain.' 1 ,
“That's the way we shake down in Tex-
as,” remarked the boy. “I reckon you are
not used to it. Mr. Crary.” ’
“Used to it’ No! By love, but you
people in the West are rather rough in your
ways, I must say. But I like you all. just
the same. You'll find me a gentleman.
every time.” '
“You're mighty gentle, I'll bet.” spoke llll
Texas Bob, with a broad grin on his face.
“But it's about time we started up ther
show. I reckon I'll let her 50 now.
there! Everybody line up fur ther broncho
bustin’ t volunteers ter sit out
‘S
ready for business!
be Drepared ter git yer
there am’! at least one funeral as ther re-
sult of what happens here this afternoon
it'll be mighty strange." . ’
ere was a yell at this. and then the
crowd began .to gather. '
The wild bronchos were led up. kicking
and snorting, and it was not long before
One of them was saddled. '
But while this was taking place a piece
Di cloth was tied over the animal's eyes to
keel? it quiet. .
The Erst man to have a try was a big.
muscular cowboy, whose legs were 10113
“Milan to come down pretty C1059 ‘'5' "19
ground
:i
an
n
='
3
o
r
"1
.4
n
He had 1 t f f ‘ends in town, and they
gave him fghgennas hiygripped his short
Whip, which is called a Illlirt bY the WW‘
“Y5. and mad eady to mono ,
The animal iitood Defiecuy ‘1“let "H be
got in the saddle and slipped his feet into
the stirrups. ‘ V ,,
.“0iI with ther blinder! " he shouted. Let
mm go!" A l( b a t
The I. h ld'n" the trio Y 9
obeyed l.'.‘3..“’,‘f,‘3..,.".. in-fair out of harms
Way in a hurry,
Judge cady’was the judge of the contest,
and standing on a. barrel that was well sur-
i rounded by the crowd. he called out:
hfstart him, you foolish E3100” 5”“
. nu... .
?
5
’ gt business
‘l eh i t d wn o >
‘ INN in leg: t’l‘i::C:omgl?iufeoNo. YWEM 53"
1‘: or 1 ,
) A roealr 1;‘: lhaeuugdhter went up from both
.' cumestante and the rest of the crowd.
C‘ That sort or work was real fun for the
I m“10"3ty of those present. ' ‘
HAPPY ;DAYS.
The broncho was applauded roundly and
was quickly can ht b '
On; 0‘ the mwbgys. Y the ready lariat of
o. 2 came‘u next.
dam-1 to aiqutml) defeatand he. too. went
ere a n' no use in talkin'," declared
Qrexns Bob. “We've sartinly got real buck.
n bronchus here to-day. I'm mighty glad
‘I thought ofthis little game. it's a regu.
Flag circus. nlth a. menagerie tbroweil in.
er nest victim will please step up
Each man was given a different broncho,
and in case one or more of the men suc-
ceeded in mastering his mount he was to
try the worst of the lot that had been used
previously.
If there was a tie, which was quite likely
to be the case, the most vicious of the ani-
mals would be used to settle it.
In broncho busting there is more or less
luck. whether it be good or bad.
The 3Vel'3Ee cowboy can take an ordinary
bucker and soon bring it to its senses
But there are some horses that only real
experts can manage, and after they get
through the beast is not one bit more lame,
but will do the same thing the very next
time it is mounted.
There was no doubt about it that the
bronchus were a decidedly bad lot.
The man who had brought them t ere be-
gan to wish he d not permitted hem to
be used in the contest, for the sale of them
was surely being hurt by their vicious
“cutting up."
A cowboy named Johnson managed to
make a. pretty good showing. lie was No
13. too, and the crowd cheered him doubly
on that account.-
But just as he had about tamed the bron-
cho,-which was a tough-looking buckskin.
the broncho struck in again, and he was
forced to grab the horn of his saddle to
save himsei . .
“ ‘ own!" roared the judge, quickly.
“You touched leather. You're out of it,
o. .
iiuch crestfallen, the rider dismounted. in
a u . -
By grabbing the horn of the saddle he
had “touched leather," sure enough, and
that was against the rules.
And so it went on until it came Tack
Hoover's turn.
The villain had been stowing away the
“ilrewater” pretty good, and as he stepped
out to have his try he glanced at Jim in
an ugly way.
“Go on, Tack.” said the boy. coolly. “We
have got to keep up the reputation of my
uncle's ranch. If you can't make a good
showing it will be up to me to do it."
It happened that Tack got about the
worst roncho of the lot. -
But e was a good “buster.” and he was
game to the core.
The broncho simply would not be con-
uuered, however, and the result was that
Tack went to “grass” on all fours.
The bursts of laughter rang out over the
prairie as one after another of the cowboys
met defeat.
It is more than likely that many of them
would have done better if they had not in-
dulged in too much liquor before trying.
As Texas Bob said, there was brain-work
about it, as well as strength and grit. and
anyone who did not have his wits about
him certainly stood a slim chance.
At length it came Jim Dnder’s turn.
“Go in and win, Kid." called out one Of
the cowboys. who had come over ‘with him.
“Blame me if I don't bet on you.
“So will 1, Jim," cried pretty May Evans,
clapping her hands.
The girl's words gave the 110)’ TDOTG CW"
age than anything else could have done Just
t
ills. approached the blindfolded br0fICl1D
with the utmost confidence. and Placing N3
too in the stirrup. landed in the saddle as
I lh .
nggdlyilzanlsneatlieea bleiilidfold. and then tbe.cir-
c
us began. ' 1,“
The first thing the bunker didvn asdtothin
its head and tail simultaneously. an ie
lower them, with a vicious snort com us
from his mou h.
Went hisltpacgk, and clear of the ground
went all four no s.
The animal came down with a thudalllilsg
fairly shook the ground. bfut -film ‘ti; Wu
to the movement, and be are We
the horse. $0 Wede V ‘
m?lyl'ieeIi"]:nvi‘a; :t?ch'laughter at first. hill 35
l
the bucking continued a roar of am) “"59
started. 1,
The practiced eyes of the niaihortlifhgltlmg
tutors told then?!“-51"“ ‘ 3
22:: far superior than cm)" ‘"110 had We‘
ceded him. V .
""’““”‘3..‘.:‘i."..‘.';"'.’.:‘:l:‘i.t: 222.22.
. ff W -
pablfptelgfatyillille the beast threw it t 1;‘
and i-ollentil. (liigtatgfmbonyg i;tasw<;s ‘:1 The act
kilns. an
of risinw. f’ vork
"J2. ’.“..‘2‘.“‘.".1”.f..‘.‘.".’?...'"..'.E.‘; ..::.
followe . 3 . ‘ and rode
Jim startetihglgmtigdg ;;>‘T“m“s';ly as H be
1, her
. 1 1 ii, the
nushed “HER: lifter
ang in his ears as his
feet struck the ground. and with the knowl-
edge that only eight more contestants were
:3 try, he felt that the saddle was almost
s.
And it resulted in his being an FILE)’ win-
niei-, for no one came anywhere near tit-lng
ni.
“lloorny fur ther Boy Broncho Duster!"
yelled Texas Bob. waving his hat. “livery-
bod)’ line in on’ give three cheers fur thrr
gnniest boy what ever came from eras!"
To prove that they were not jealous of
Texas. the Wyoming crowd cheered ilnclf
hours . I
But what did Jim the most good of all
was when May Evans came and congratu-
late him.
:
":2.
am so glad you won, Jim,‘ sho de-
clared. shnklng his hand. ‘Como over and
see us, won't you!" I
“Thank you. I will," was the blushing re.
ply. “The first time i try my new saddle
I'll take a ride over to the 2-X. I am ever
so glad that l‘met you, liiay Evans.‘
:1 1
CIIAPTER IV.
.n.-if scnrnisns ms Avsr.
Tuck lloover was but a. young man. and
though he had been brought up on in much.
and knew all about bucking bronchus, he
had failed to win the saddle in the lironcho
busting contest.
a would not have felt so sore over
his defeat if it had not been that his rival
had done i
Young Jim Bader had certainly shown
himself to be a marvel in the line of bron-
cho busting, as well as cattle roping.
Being of a. villainous nature. Tack meant
all that he said when he threatened the
OY.
But Jim had only laughed at him, for he
took him for a bluiler, and did not fear him
one
“I‘ve got the saddle, anyhow.“ thought
the boy. as he parted company with the
Evans family and the dude. “it took al-
most all the money i had to go into the
contest, but I reckon it was money well
spent. I needed the saddle badly, and now
I've got it. I'll go over to the store and
put it on my horse. I reckon I can leave
the old one there. I don't want it any
more. and it might come in handy to some
fellow who has none at alL"
He refused the many invitations he re-
ceived to come into the saloon and have a
drink, and went around to the rear of the
store and post office.
llere he look of! the old saddle. and after
giving his mount n little touching up with
the brush and curry-oorub he found at the
put on the new saddle’ and
it certainly was a fine saddle, and when
he ordered it. Tack lloover thought he was
going to make the rest of the cowboys
around that part of the country look sick.
But he had been induced to sell it for
just what he had paid for it. and now the
Boy Bronrho Ilusier had come in posse!-sion
o
--
it.
Probably the worst thing about it for
Tack was that he was likely to spend the
biggest part of the money he had i-or-oiwd
for the saddle. and then he would be decid-
edly worse olr than he was before.
Jiin got permission to leave the old Fail-
dle at the store. and then. after f“"“h35iriZ
a few little‘ things he wanted, he mounted
and rode away toward his uncle‘: ranch.
some of the cowboys saw him take his
departure. and they gave him another cheer.
The boy waved his hat to them, and then.
putting his horse to a sharl! center. rode
down the trail. >
It was only fifteen miles to the ranch.
and Jim had plenty of time to set there
before dark.
But he was anxious to let hi! Ill-We RHOV
that he had won the saddle. for FOIYWBOV
the uncle had not shown much of I lik-
ing for him, and had been acting as though
was .; mighty big favor he was doing blui
him work for him on the ranch.
“He'll tind‘out that i am earninx all he
is paying me, I reckon," he mused as he
rode along. 800d 53 “Y m“ be
has got working for him. and i know it. I
can do as much work as Tack iinover can.
and 1 know just as much about the busi-
ness too. I don‘t expect 10 be mad? “"9
man‘ but I would like to have him know
thatvl nm capable of inking it some lime.
He seems to think that because I am only
a boy i can’! do as much work as a man.
lie forgets that i am about full KHWB. Mill
that i am as strong as an 0!: BM '10 "9""
seem to think it counts for anything‘ be-
cause i was born and raised in Texas.
The boy thought it a great thin: In his
favor because he happened to be it Texan.
thing up to the lime he lc-it there and rame
' i .
up 10 ‘‘,l;)g?liP‘:ii-e o'clock when he not to
the ranch. iilid as he rode up hrvdl-I not
head for the stable, but went right up to
thin lillic Iron: porch of the hon.-cl.‘
Jim wanted to show his new main 9.
As he brought the hmnrhn in it halt out
C1llll0 his Aunt Jane. the wife of the ninth-
nian. '
8
“Why, Jim!" silo exrlallned, “what did
you do that fur! i thought it was ii stron-
ger ridln' up. an‘ 1 got all in n duster.
aui-e your Uncle Toni ain't here, nil’ I
never do ‘HOW nbat icr say lcr strangers.
There ain't nnythlni; lil(’r runner. is them!"
‘Nothing ilie niziiu-r. Aunt J.-ine. i just
rode u to show you inlet 1 won over Lil
Crooked Fork this nflvruoon. Ain't that
..
llnew sonictlilng about them. and had help.
ed mend more than -Ulla of lh('m in her
It)’.
‘You won it, you say!" she asked. after I
use. ‘now’: that. Jim? Wu there any-
thing gain‘ on over to Ilirr Fork lo-day!”
‘i reckon there wlu:," the boy replied.
“l Wll-h you'd ll(‘(‘n iliem, Aunt Jane. ltir.
Evans, of the 2-X llnmh, was there with
his wife and daughirr. and a it-nderfoot
dude they've got bonrillug uiih them. and
Ibcre was more fun than you could shake
a stick at. There was a in-oncliu busting
nialch there. for the benefit of I widow
vioman, and I won ii."
“You did. Jim liadcr!‘
ills aunt looked at him with no little
surprise.
“ cs, I did; and there was thirty or no in
it. too. i won out dead easy. and the prize
is that saddle."
"Weli,wrcill Jim lladcr, there must be
more in yer than your uncle thinks fur.
But there wasn't none of ilier boys from
our place in the malrh. was there?
J ‘Oh. yes; our foreman was in it. Aunt
an "
8.
“What! Tack llooicr in ill An‘ you
won? What are you l-2llin' mo, Jini lla-
er?‘
“Just exactly what happened, aunt. Now.
listen. and l'll let you know nll about it. I
know you are interested. especially be-
cause lhe Evans:-5 were there. l‘ve heard
you speak well of them. and I know you
want to hear about them."
“I do. Jlni. Go on an’ tell me all about
what happened over at Iher I-‘ork. lint i
can't understand how you could win a sad-
dle at broncbo busiin‘, when Tack lloorcr
was in it. i really r;m'I. indeed!‘
But Jim only sri-illcd..and with one foot
on the step of ihe porch, his hand resting
on his knoe, be related all that had hap-
pened at Crooked Fr-vk that afternoon.
For the first lime in hrr life. Jane ilridcr
looked at her mun: nephew from Texas
with it feeling of pride.
' Clllti’TiZll. V.
Ill! CHAXGI: 1llAT mu: mm: .vnI'n RELA-
‘nus.
"Wl1creis lfnrle Ton1."lh:-. lloy llronrho
Bur-for asked his nunl. after he had Dnizalicd
telling her his nary. -
‘ll w t over in the corral about an
hnur ago.” was the rcply. ‘I rt-ckon you‘ll
find him there. Jim. .i('bt tell him that I
think 'he madn a his mi:-take when he
thought you didn't amount to nnthii-i'.
Im how you beat (her cowboys this after-
noon. an‘ say that l‘m sorry he didn‘t have
a boiler opinion of Ir!’ when yer come up
lrnm "
n ill let you tell him. Aunt
Jane-that is. the Mzizesl part of it i‘ll
l‘ll rhow him my saddle.
lint the rest l‘il leave to you."
“All right. Jim. i am real glad to know
that you showed the boys what you was
l'll have a talk with your uncle, an‘ l'll
try an‘ fix things so you'll have Jest as good
a show here as Tack has '
“Thank you. Aunt Jane.‘
The Boy llrontho Busicr was more than
plnased at lhe way his aunt talked.
She had said more on this occasion than
she had at any time since his arrival at
the ranch. when she plied him with ques-
tions concerning his former life, his father.
mother’ and about everything she could
.-
E
5
o .
But just because the boy had won the sad-
dle. and had shown himself the superior of
twenty-nine cowboys at riding a bucking
bmncho, the good woman had changed her
opinion of m.
lrn mounted the waiting broncho nnd
rndc out toward the corral. which was about
a mile from line ranch, house.
The bmnclio was not his.
furnished by his uncle. with the advice that
lie save his money until he got enough to
buy a horse of his own.
Just how it was that Rnnchmnn llmler
had come to let him have such a good, swift
lvrnni-ho Jim did not know; but he was
inclined to think that it was because the
bronrho had always bvrn considered it vi.
ciniu one.
lint the boy had broken the ugly spirit
shown by the sired the very first day he
84‘ him. and this has what made the cou-
lvnvs take not .
. ncn that lime ho had lunch doing his
work rinht along with them. and no one
r-mild ilinl zi Ivoni of fault with him.
it had been
