A RANCHMAN'S RECOLLECTIONS 



with it up.' An' Split wusn't mean. He jest luved 

 to josh. Two or three times the captain said, 'Split, 

 let the Kid alone.' But he'd shoot one at me as he 

 rode by in the work, and wus alius badgerin' me fer 

 a race. 



"Then I kinda fell into watchin' Midnight run 

 somethin'; an' I'd start Stud in the same direction to 

 pace him. An' I cum alive ; the Stud was full as fast. 

 I jest naturally supposed thet Midnight could beat 

 anything, but I kep' a-tryin' an' my eyes kep' a-open- 

 in'. One night Split got mighty raw, an' finally says, 

 'Kid, I'll jest give you twenty dollers to run a half- 

 mile race, standin' start, saddle agin saddle.' An' 

 then I fergot Shorty's instructions an' los' my head. 



" 'Split,' I ses, 'you been pickin' on me ever sinct 

 I cum to this here work. Me an' Stud don't need no 

 twenty dollars to run you. An' even break's good 

 enuff fer us, saddle fer saddle, bridle fer bridle, blan- 

 ket fer blanket, spur fer spur.' 



" 'Good enuf. Kid,' ses Split, 'got enything else — 

 any money?' 



" 'No,' I ses, 'I ain't got no money, but I got sum 

 damned good rags an' a new hot roll.' 



"Then the captain o' the roundup tuk a hand. 

 But my blood was up, an' they put cash allowance 

 on all my plunder an' I bet it 'gainst money. They 

 give me $12 fer my Swartz boots, $8 fer my John B., 

 $5 fer my cordaroy coat, $4 fer my shirts, an' $2 

 fer my duckin's. It war Wednesday, an' the race 



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