"That makes six wheels she didn't get," murmured Hopalong. As they
passed the snake charmer's booth they saw Tex and his companion ahead
of them in the crowd, and they grinned broadly. "I like th' front row
in th' balcony," remarked Johnny, who had been to Kansas City. "Don't
cry in th' second act-it ain't real," laughed Red. "We'll hang John
Brown on a sour appletree-in th' Panhandle," sang Skinny as they
passed them.
Arriving at the grounds they hunted up the registration committee
and entered in the contests. As Hopalong signed for the revolver
competition he was rudely pushed aside and Tex wrote his name under
that of his enemy. Hopalong was about to show quick resentment for the
insult, but thought of what Charley had said, and he grinned
sympathetically. The seats were filling rapidly, and the outfit went
along the ground looking for friends. A bugle sounded and a hush swept
over the crowd as the announcement was made for the first event.
"Broncho-busting-Red Devil, never ridden: Frenchy McAllister, Tin-
Cup, Montana; Meteor, killed his man: Skinny Thompson, Bar-20, Texas;
Vixen, never ridden: Lefty Allen, O-Bar-O, Texas."
All eyes were focused on the plain where the horse was being led out
for the first trial. After the usual preliminaries had been gone
through Frenchy walked over to it, vaulted in the saddle and the
bandage was torn from the animal's eyes.
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