Hopalong and Red, having twice in succession won the revolver and
rifle competitions, respectively, hoped to make it `Three straight.'
Lanky Smith, the Bar-20 rope expert, had taken first prize in the only
contest he had entered. Skinny Thompson had lost and drawn with Lefty
Allen, of the O-Bar-O, in the broncho-busting event, but as Skinny had
improved greatly in the interval, his friends confidently expected him
to "yank first place" for the honor of his ranch.
These expectations were backed with all the available Bar-20 money, and,
if they were not realized, something in the nature of a calamity would swoop
down upon and wrap that ranch in gloom. Since the O-Bar-O was
aggressively optimistic the betting was at even money, hats and guns, and the
losers would begin life anew so far as earthly possessions were
concerned. No other competitors were considered in this event, as
Skinny and Lefty had so far outclassed all others that the honor was
believed to lie between these two.
Hopalong, blissfully figuring out the chances of the different
contestants, galloped around a clump of mesquite only fifteen miles
from Muddy Wells and stiffened in his saddle, for twenty rods ahead of
him on the trail was a woman. As she heard him approach she turned and
waited for him to overtake her, and when she smiled he raised his
sombrero and bowed.
Pages:
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246