



A 



The Pacing; Mustang 



Turkeytrack experienced the usual change of 

 heart. He now wanted to own that mustang. 

 How this was to be brought about he did not 

 clearly see till one day there called at the ranch 

 that had ' secured his services,' as he put it, one, 

 Bill Smith, more usually known as Horseshoe 

 Billy, from his cattle-brand. While the excel- 

 lent fresh beef and bread and the vile coffee, 

 dried peaches and molasses were being con- 

 sumed, he of the horseshoe remarked, in tones 

 which percolated through a huge stop-gap of 

 bread : 



" Wall, I seen that thar Pacer to-day, nigh 

 enough to put a plait in his tail." 

 " What, you didn't shoot? " 

 " No, but I come mighty near it." 

 " Don't you be led into no sich foolishness,'' 

 said a 'double-bar H' cow-puncher at the other 

 end of the table. " I calc'late that maverick 

 'ill carry my brand before the moon changes." 

 " You'll have to be pretty spry or you'll find 

 a ' triangle dot ' on his weather side when you 

 get there." 



" Where did you run acrost him ? " 



" Wall, it was like this ; I was riding the 



2=iO 



