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been traveling with a Wild West show； and was far too soft to compete
with these lusty cowboys； who had kept hard from their daily life on the
plains。 Before he had ridden three minutes it was apparent that he stood no
chance of retaining his title； so that the decision narrowed itself to an issue
between the two Bannisters and McWilliams。 First place was awarded to
the latter； the second prize to Jack Holloway and the third to Ned
Bannister。
But nearly everybody in the grand stand knew that Bannister had been
discriminated against because of his unpopularity。 The judges were not
local men； and had nothing to fear from the outlaw。 Therefore they
penalized him on account of his reputation。 It would never do for the
Associated Press dispatches to send word all over the East that a
murderous desperado was permitted； unmolested； to walk away with the
championship belt。
〃It ain't a square deal；〃 declared McWilliams promptly。
He was sitting beside Nora； and he turned round to express his opinion
to the two sitting behind him in the box。
〃We'll not go behind the returns。 Y'u won fairly。 I congratulate y'u； Mr。
Champion…of…the…world；〃 replied the sheepman； shaking hands cordially。
〃I told you to bring that belt to the Lazy D；〃 smiled his mistress； as she
shook hands。
But in her heart she was crying out that it was an outrage。
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CHAPTER 15。 JUDD MORGAN
PASSES
Gimlet Butte devoted the night of the Fourth to a high old time。 The
roping and the other sports were to be on the morrow； and meanwhile the
night hours were filled with exuberance。 The cowboy's spree comes only
once in several months； but when it does come he enters into the occasion
with such whole…hearted enthusiasm as to make up swiftly for lost time。 A
traveling midway had cast its tents in a vacant square in competition with
the regular attractions of the town； and everywhere the hard…riding
punchers were 〃night herding〃 in full regalia。
There was a big masked ball in the street； and another in the Masonic
Hall； while here and there flared the lights of the faker with something to
sell。 Among these last was 〃Soapy〃 Sothern； doing a thriving business in
selling suckers and bars wrapped with greenbacks。 Crowds tramped the
streets blowing horns and throwing confetti； and everywhere was a large
sprinkling of men in high…heeled boots； swinging along with the awkward；
stiff…legged gait of the cowboy。 Sometimes a girl was hanging on his arm；
and again he was 〃whooping it up with the boys〃； but in either case the
range…rider's savings were burning a hole through his pockets with
extreme rapidity。
Jim McWilliams and the sheepman Bannister had that day sealed a
friendship that was to be as enduring as life。 The owner of the sheep ranch
was already under heavy obligation to the foreman of the Lazy D； but debt
alone is not enough on which to found soul brotherhood。 There must be
qualities of kinship in the primeval elements of character。 Both men had
suspected that this kinship existed； but to…day they had proved it in the
way that one had lost and the other had won the coveted championship。
They had made no vows and no professions。 The subject had not even
been touched in words； a meeting of the eyes； followed by the handshake
with which Bannister had congratulated the winner。 That had been all。 But
it was enough。
With the casual democracy of the frontier they had together escorted
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Helen Messiter and Nora Darling through a riotous three hours of carnival；
taking care to get them back to their hotel before the night really began 〃to
howl。〃
But after they had left the young women； neither of them cared to
sleep yet。 They were still in costume； Mac dressed as a monk； and his
friend as a Stuart cavalier； and the spirit of frolic was yet strong in them。
〃I expaict； mebbe； we better hunt in couples if we're going to help
paint the town；〃 smiled Mac； and his friend had immediately agreed。
It must have been well after midnight that they found themselves
〃bucking the tiger〃 in a combination saloon and gambling…house； whose
patrons were decidedly cosmopolitan in character。 Here white and red and
yellow men played side by side； the Orient and the Occident and the
aboriginal alike intent on the falling cards and the little rolling ball。 A good
many of them were still in their masks and dominos； though these； for the
most part； removed their vizors before playing。
Neither McWilliams nor his friend were betting high； and the luck had
been so even that at the end of two hours' play neither of them had at any
time either won or lost more than fifteen dollars。 In point of fact； they
were playing not so much to win as just to keep in touch with the gay；
youthful humor of the night。
They were getting tired of the game when two men jingled in for a
drink。 They were talking loudly together； and it was impossible to miss the
subject of their conversation。
McWilliams gave a little jerk of his head toward one of them。 〃Judd
Morgan；〃 his lips framed without making a sound。
Bannister nodded。
〃Been tanking up all day；〃 Mac added。 〃Otherwise his tongue would
not be shooting off so reckless。〃
A silence had fallen over the assembly save for the braggarts at the bar。
Men looked at each other； and then furtively at Bannister。 For Morgan；
ignorant of who was sitting quietly with his back to him at the faro…table；
was venting his hate of Bannister and McWilliams。
〃Both in the same boat。 Did y'u see how Mac ran to help him to…day？
Both waddies。 Both rustlers。 Both train robbers。 Sho！ I got through putting
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a padlock on me mouth。 Man to man； I'm as good as either of themdamn
sight better。 I wisht they was here； one or both； I wisht they would step up
here and fight it out。 Bannister's a false alarm； and that foreman of the
Lazy D〃 His tongue stumbled over a blur of vilification that ended with a
foul ment