OUT WHERE THE WEST BEGINS 



puffs silently on his cigarillo; moccasin-footed Uma- 

 tilla Indians pigeon-toe along, trailed by heavy-set pa- 

 poose-bearing squaws and beautiful daughters, paus- 

 ing before the allurements in the display windows. 

 Among the fancy and useful objects, naturally the 

 beautiful blankets and shawls make the greatest appeal 

 not only to the passing Indian woman, but to the white. 

 Altho these are of local manufacture they find their 

 markets in the shops of Edinburgh and the bazaars 

 of Peking. 



An occasional cowgirl, in fringed buckskin or riding 

 costume, strolls by with that unobtrusiveness which is 

 a salient characteristic of these range women. Any 

 reader of men sees, however, beneath this natural care- 

 free poise a glint in the eye which tells of a self-control 

 and fearless courage that is also capable of reckless 

 daring. 



The harness and saddlery stores naturally attract. 

 Worm through that crowd screening the show win- 

 dows of a big harness and saddlery store — there where 

 it's densest, — and you will see the most coveted prize 

 of the whole show, the Round-Up saddle which will go 

 to the winner of the cowboys' bucking contest for the 

 championship of the world. It is exquisitely hand- 

 tooled from horn and cantel to skirts and tapideros; 

 but that's not all, — it's artistically studded and inlaid 

 at certain points with big silver medallions; this year 

 they happen to be very finely etched discs, last year they 

 were silver butterflies. 



"That's sure worth five hundred bucks, just as it sez 

 on the card, with all that sculpturin' 'n' everything," 

 remarks the new comer. 



"You tell 'em, stranger, that's branding it," chimes 

 in "Red" Parker, and he ought to know for he rode in 



29 



