Me bles 
fore the time comes. But even in that 
case you'd be dead safe, because I can ar- 
range it so Daisy could ride ‘him over.” 
By this time the Bishop was thoroughly 
aroused and his eyes sparkled with ex- 
citement. 
“Wii, lool tiese, Jolbn,” said he, “my 
horse Pete made that jump several times. 
and he’s got so now he'd rather make it 
than go around the lake, which is the 
longest way by a mile. But that’s noth- 
ing. You'll be surprised when I tell you 
my little girl, Daisy, has made that jump, 
not on a horse, but a clean, straight dive, 
head first right off the top rock. 1 saw 
her do it, and I swear it nearly took my 
breath away. She wds about to do it 
again when I got there and stopred her. 
There are some hot springs in the lake. 
just under the cliff, and by diving from 
the rock it saves her the trouble of swim- 
ming across the lake to reach them.” 
“This jumping business must run in the 
(Ain ye estes COvenionmnamdy tlabene- 
minds me, I want to see this famous jump- 
ing jack of a cow pony.” 
“Tom Chipman has him on the range, 
and he will likely go to Glenwood Springs, 
to get Daisy one of those new fangled 
bathing suits. Simlcemmoilenmviasmatyr tive 
Springs and saw the ladies in the pool 
with their suits Ive had no peace.” 
“As we can’t see the horse, then,” said 
the Governor, with a smile, “let us see 
your Daisy. But, Bishop, I didn’t know 
you were married.” Mies, ) and. tlie 
Bishop sighed, “but she died when Daisy 
came, and WDaisy is.all I have left now. 
She should pe ere by this time,” said he 
as he drew his sleeve across his eyes ta 
brush away the mist. 
Just then a young girl came bounding 
toward them, but as she saw the strange 
gentleman she slackened her pace and ap- 
proached in a more dignified manner. 
“You are a Daisy, sure’ said the Gov- 
ernor, as he shook hands with the girl. “I 
supposed from your father’s talk you were 
delittlem cine eDikenece tnd» aj null rows 
young lady.” 
Poti Neve De. daytime: aioe tO 
Pop than just plain little Daisy, even 
though I grow.as tall as .that pine.” 
Then the 2 men parted,.«m. themtrue 
Western style, without shaking hands. 
It was evident Gypsum was stirred to 
its depths and something unusual on the 
tapis. The Governor was outwardly calm. 
but the gleam of his eye indicated that 
something was in the wind. The Wall 
Street man displayed his usual sang froid. 
He was playing hearts at a dollar a throw, 
while there was heard in the room that 
busy industrious hum, noticed in gambling 
places. Mingled with the click of the 
chips, the rattle of the roulette wheel 
could be heard, and the monotone of the 
GOVERNOR'S 
WAGER. 171 
dealer as he called: “Five in the black, 
16 in the red, double 0, and nobody there.” 
As the sun peeped over the pass next 
morning and smiled down on Gypsum, 
nestled in the embrace of the mountains, 
the little camp awoke and realized that 
portentous events were brewing. Every 
man made it a point to attend to business 
eatly, so that no worldly cares would in- 
terfere with the enjoyment of the occasion. 
The first event of importance was the 
agai Ome EStace irom) Sime Dog, 
Presently the distant echo of a horn was 
heard, and soon with a rattle and a shout 
the Governor’s tally-ho, drawn by 6 horses, 
dashed up, bearing Cornwall and a jolly 
party of Sun Dog rooters, all friends of 
Mi. Barton: 
“We've got the whole push here,’ said 
Cornwall, “money and all. The ladies are 
in another tally-ho behind, and fully a 
hundred rigs are hot footing it down the 
canyon. Everything on wheels left Sun 
Dog this morning. Mrs. Barton could not 
be induced to come, but her sister and Miss 
Sherman, with the whole crowd, are com- 
ing. Mrs. Barton requested me to say to 
you she hoped you would be home in 
time for dinner this evening, if you got 
through with your foolishness.”’ 
Blaving received a certined check for 
$10,000, Lord now informed the Governor 
that he was at his service to arrange the 
details of the bet, and deposit the money 
at the stage companys office. Accom- 
panied by John Atwell, the attorney, the 
Governor went to the stage office, where 
the papers were drawn up, and the mcney 
deposited in the big safe, about which 2 
stalwart guards, with 6-shooters, were 
placed. 
One o’clock was the time set for the 
leap, and that hour found the entire pop- 
ulation of Gypsum and vicinity gathered at 
the foot of the cliff, awaiting the event 
with breathless anxiety. 
Lord joined the Sun Dog contingent, 
more and more puzzled, for he couldn't 
imagine what the Governor meant. 
“He must be anxious to get rid of the 
Jimmie dividends,” was his mental com- 
ment. 
“Jake,” said the Governor, “will you ride 
over and notify the Bishop that we are 
ready?” 
- Yess. do, sosaid” Word with a sneer, “I 
would like to shake hands with the Bish- 
op before he takes his ride over the cliff— 
and over the range.” 
“Tt isn’t necessary,’ said Jake, ignoring 
Lord’s remark. “The Bishop told me he 
would start from his cabin when he heard 
me give 3 barks with my 6-shooter.” 
“Turn your howitzer loose then,’ said 
the Governor, “‘and let’s have the fun 
over with.” 
te 
