As Lefty and Alkali both knew well, Tanglefoot was a wild bronco whichhad brought the downfall of more than one ambitious rodeo rider. IfConnie were able to handle him she might win the grand prize, but eventhe two cowboys doubted that she had the skill.
Connie was the fifth rider. Before her there were three local girlswhose riding while good was not particularly colorful. The fourthcontestant, Enid Bradshaw, by far outpointed her opponents. She knew shehad done well and a satisfied smile played over her face as she left thearena.
"I'll have to ride as I never did before if I beat that!" thoughtConnie.
Her turn came next. She mounted Tanglefoot from the fence.
"Let her go!"
As the shout went up, the gate flew open, and out streaked the roan,landing with a running buck in the midst of the judges, forcing them towheel their horses.
A ripple of comment passed over the crowd. Here was a girl who couldride!
Tanglefoot, too, acted as if he were surprised. For a moment he seemedto be debating the disgrace of his failure to dislodge his fair rider.Then the wiry little mustang went into a veritable paroxysm of bucking.
Connie never knew that seconds could spin out to such an interminablelength. The horse leaped into the air, twisting his lithe body like anancient equine ancestor trying to shake off a puma or a jaguar from hisback. Down he would come, stiff-legged, and then rise again into the airas if his muscles were made of spring steel.
From her waist up Connie held her body as relaxed as possible, at thesame time shifting her weight with lightning-like rapidity to preserveher balance. Her torso remained vertical to the ground, regardless ofTanglefoot's rapid maneuvers. Waving her hat with her rein-free hand,the girl kept a graceful seat through it all. Tanglefoot's best was notgood enough.
Connie at last heard the timekeeper's pistol. The contest was over asfar as she was concerned. She felt that she had acquitted herself welland she was sure of it when she heard the cheers of the crowd ringing inher ears.
Leaping from Tanglefoot's saddle to the back of another horse led by thehazer, she galloped in triumph from the ring.
"That was wonderful ridin'," Lefty told her proudly, a few minuteslater. "If you don't win the prize then the judges have been boughtoff!"
Connie watched anxiously as four other girls took their turns in thecontest. One was thrown while the other three had drawn horses which didnot require a high degree of skill to ride.
"It's in the bag, Connie!" whispered Lefty excitedly.
And he was right. A few minutes later the announcer rode forth tobroadcast through his megaphone that Connie Carl had won first prize inthe riding contest.
"Oh, Lefty!" the girl cried, fairly overcome by her good fortune. "Justthink! Five hundred dollars! And maybe I'll win more before the day isover."
Connie had entered her name in a free-for-all race as well as a ropingcontest. In the latter event she placed third, netting a cash award offifty dollars. Second prize in the running race brought her anadditional two hundred dollars.
It was a proud moment for Connie when she stepped forward to claim herribbons and a slip of paper which represented seven hundred and fiftydollars.
Jim Barrows, separating himself from the crowd, come over to the fenceto congratulate the girl.
"What will you do with so much money?" he asked jokingly.
"I could use six times as much!" Connie laughed. "I think I'll take ithome and hide it under the bed. I know one thing! Not a cent will bedeposited in the First National Bank."
"You don't trust the banker?" smiled the cowboy.
"He and I don't feel too friendly toward each other."
"Seriously though, Miss Carl, you're not thinking of carrying that moneyon your person?"
"Why not?" asked Connie quickly. "I'll cash the check just before Istart for the ranch."
"Aren't you afraid someone might rob you?"
Such a thought had never even occurred to Connie.
"There hasn't been a holdup around here since the stagecoach stoppedrunning!" she laughed. "Besides, no one could ever get this money awayfrom me."
Jim Barrows said no more, but after chatting for a few minutes wanderedoff again. It was the longest conversation he had ever carried on withConnie.
"He really acted as if he were worried about my money," the girlthought.
The rodeo was drawing to a close and already many persons were leavingthe stands. Connie's eye wandered over the crowd. She wondered what hadbecome of Pop Bradshaw and Enid. She had not seen the old rancher sincethe bulldogging event, nor had the girl appeared to congratulate herupon winning out in the bronco riding contest.
"In her heart I don't believe Enid really likes me," Connie toldherself. "And from now on it will be harder than ever for us to befriends."
She turned her attention once more to the arena. Only one more eventremained on the day's program, an Indian race.
At the opposite side of the track she could see the ponies being linedup. They were small, sleek, beautiful animals, so high spirited thattheir riders had trouble holding them in position. The Indiansthemselves, adorned with bright sashes, paint and feathers, added acolorful note to the scene.
The start of the race was delayed and the crowd grew more impatient. Anincreasing number deserted the stands, many leaving the bleachers tocrowd against the fence. A portion of it gave way causing a momentaryflurry of excitement.
"Back from the track, folks!" warned one of the guards, but when hemoved off a minute later, the crowd swarmed through the opening again.
No one noticed that a child, separated from its parents, stood alonejust inside the break of the fence.
Then at last the starter's pistol cracked and the racers were off! Downthe track in a cloud of dust came the ponies, their bareback riders bentlow as they urged their mounts to greater speed.
At that moment, the child, unaware of any danger, started to toddleacross the track. Midway to the other side the little girl saw theoncoming horses and heard the thundering hoofs. Frozen by terror shestopped and stood perfectly still.
"That child will be killed!" screamed a woman.
Before any of the guards could act, Connie slid down from the fence. Theracers were almost at the grandstand. With no thought for her ownsafety, the girl darted out onto the track, directly in the path of theonrushing horses.