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"Blue so a na to the cowboy

"Shore"

"What then?"

"Wal, I naas, with a smile

"Blue-Boy?"

"Nope He's named after you An' I chased him, roped him, broke him all myself"

"Very well Blue-Bo he is, then And he's a wonderful darling horse Oh, Nell, just look at hih"

"Reckon I don't want any thanks," drawled the cowboy "But see heah, Bo, you shore got to live up to conditions before you ride him"

"What!" exclai tone, of voice

Helen delighted in looking at Las Vegas then He had never appeared to better advantage So cool, careless, and assured! He seemed master of a situation in which his terht have been actuated by a cowboy motive beyond the power of Helen to divine

"Bo Rayner," drawled Las Vegas, "thet bluewill be yours, an' you can ride him--when you're MRS TOM CARMICHAEL!"

Never had he spoken a softer, azed at Bo more mildly Roy seemed thunderstruck Helen endeavored heroically to restrain her delicious, bursting glee Bo's wide eyes stared at her lover--darkened--dilated Suddenly she left the ed on the porch steps

"Do you nificent bluff," she retorted "You're only in fun It's your--your darned nerve!"

"Why, Bo," began Las Vegas, reproachfully "You shore know I'ot aith a bluff in my life! An' I'ns were not wanting in his mobile face that he was almost unable to restrain his h the cowboy--that the ultimatum was only one of his tricks

"It IS a bluff and I CALL you!" declared Bo, ringingly

Las Vegas suddenly awoke to consequences He essayed to speak, but she was so wonderful then, so white and blazing-eyed, that he was stricken mute

"I'll ride Blue-Bo this afternoon," deliberately stated the girl

Las Vegas had wit enough to grasp her , and he seemed about to collapse

"Very well, you can --just before dinner Go get a preacher to room--UNLESS IT WAS ONLY A BLUFF!"