"You go in and clean him up, Jack, and we'll skin
this outfit down to their shirts! All the boys have been taking every
bet that was offered; and the old don, I guess, is about the only
greaser on the place that ain't bet all he's got. Three-to-one that Jose
gets you the third pass, m' son! Now, I don't know a damned thing about
this here lasso business, but I took 'em on that, and so did a lot of
the boys; and from that up to six-to-one that he'll get you! Want to lay
a few bets yourself, you and Dade? That's what I come to find out."
Dade threw out both hands in disgust with the idea; revolted
unexpectedly at the thought of being accused of failing to back his
friendship with money as well as with every fiber of his loyal being,
and turned sourly to Bill. "I've got something like six or eight
hundred, in dust," he said. "Lend me enough to make it a thousand, and
put 'er up. Take any odds they offer, damn 'em. It'll be blood money,
win or lose, but--put 'er up. They can't yowl around that I'm afraid to
back him down to my boots."
"That's the kinda talk!" approved Bill. "Make 'em take water all around,
the swine! And the boys'll see they cough up afterwards, too. I guess--"
He checked himself and went out, still grinning.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE DUEL OF RIATAS
"They're riding the last bull," announced Dade, coming into the room
again where Jack was dressing for the supreme test of the day.
Pages:
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260