Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

^^^^ 20 ■worst animals it liatl c\er been his ex- perience to ride. Stored up inside that bronc's hide there was a natural reserve of fury which was cyclonic in its outburst. The cow-hands liiccentuatod it in the usual way by firing off their six-guns and whooping shrilly, and for tiio next two or three minutes pandemonium raged. The wild bronc circled the corral in a series of frenzied jumps. Back arched, head and haunches down, hoofs drawn together and legs rigid, he strove fiendishly to throw his rider from the saddle. " But Jim kept his seat, and oven seemed to enjoy tlie dangerous duel, for, snatching off his sombrero, he slapped it lustily against the animal's flank. . The onlookers began to realise that they were watching a youngster whose horsemanship was a delight to behold, oven for men living in a country where rough-riding was a normal accoinplish- ment. Exciten)ent and admiration mingled in their tones as they yelled uproariously, and, his antipathy to- wards Jim' forgotten for the moment. Cap Rogers shouted as loudly as any. "Gee. dad! Isn't he great!" It was the thrilled voice of Ginger, and it recalled to the old man the cir- cumstances under which he had ordered Jim Logan to ride the wild bronc. "No!" he snapped angrily, and for the remainder of the duel 'twixt rnan and beast he was a silent, glowering figure. , The bronc continued his desperate efforts to unhorse Jim, but failed .signally, and, lathered and blown, his temper was stoadily curbed. He was beginning to realise that he had found iiis master, and a little while later lie came to a meek standstill in the middle of the corral. * Jim dismounted amid a shower of con- gratulations, to which the foreman, Smokv King, did not lend his voice. Nor did old Cap Rogers join in the lapplause. "Well. Cap." said Jim with a grin, ".any time you want another goat exer- cised, jest let me know." Tlie rancher chewed at the end of a cigar. You can ride, yoiuig feller.'' he ad- mitted grudgingly, "an' this outfit can do with a hombre like you in the rodeo. But meantime—keep away from iny daughter." The Rodeo. ABUCKBOARI) rolled over the trail that led to town. Cap Rogers plied the reins and Smoky King sat alongside him. Ginger oc- cujiied a scat just behind the two men. About forty or fifty paces in the rear of the vehiefe rode the cow-hands, with Jim Logan well to the fore, and be- tween the latter and the girl in the buckboard signs were continually pass- ing. Jim had not been permitted to talk to fiinger tluoughout the journey, but had found this means of communicating a suggestion that she should share his saddle, and as the girl nodded eagerly he suddenly .spurred forward and dashed abreast the buckboard. Ginger stood up. Jim reached forth one strong arm and lifted her bodily, perching lier safely in front of him. Next moment, and before Cap Rogers or Smoky King realised what had haj)- pened. he and Ciinger were galloping nhead. A shout c^eaiied llie old rancher as he saw them, and he whipped up his team angrily, shouting to the rest of his hands to follow iiim and give pur- buit. But Jim's white pinto, Starlight July 4th, 19!!1. BOY'S CINEMA by name, showed the rest of the caval- cade his hoofs, and fifteen minutes later he was out of sight, in spite of the fact that he w as carrying a double burden. Some time afterwards. Cap Rogers hi: town in a smother of dust and a dangerous mood, and when he had dis- posed of the buckboard ho and Smoky King stamped oft through the throng that crowded the vicinity of the stadium where the annual rodeo was to be held. The stadium was a regular Mecca for the foremost ropers and riders of California, and already some mag:ni- ficent feats of horsemanship were being performed in the arena. But, raging around the chutes where the steers and the w ild broncs were lodged. Cap Rogers had no eye for the events that were taking place. He was searching for Ginger. He failed to locate her. however, and, giving up the quest at last, he settled his squat form on the top bar of a strip of fencing ne^ar the chutes. From that vantage point he watched husky cowmen matching their skill against mustang and steer, and he was engrossed in a display of fancy riding when someone pushed him mischievously and almost toppled him off the fence. He swayed precariously, but with a frantic clutch saved himself from fall- ing. Then he glared round and saw- that the culprit was Ginger. "You, huh?" he grated. "What did you mean by runnin' off with that ornerv cow-hand? Where is Logan, anyway? I want to give him a piece o' niv mind !" "He's along at one of the chutes. Ginger said. "He's due to ride Dyna- mite in a few minutes—the fiercest bronc in the round-up!" "I hope the critter busts his neck," snapped her father. "And. listen to me, young lady. It's you for Carson City the minute I " Ginger scrambled up beside him and stroked his cheeik. He flung her hand away impatiently, but .she slipped her arm' around his shoulders. aJid his ire began to dwindle. "Don't be angry with me, dad, she soothed. "Young lady." he growled, one day you're gonna make me lose my temper, an' then there'll be trouble!" Meanwhile Jim Logan was standing w ith one or two of the other hands near Dvnamite's chute, and the group was l)resently joined by Smoky King, who shot a vicious glance at Jin). Ihe voung puncher returned it coolly, well aware of the foreman's hostilitv, which had been marked ever since Ginger had first shown a partiality for the new hand's company. "Reckon we better get that wild bronc saddled, Jim." observed one of the othor men. "You'll be ndin' him anv minute now." ^^ "Okav," Jim answered. "Go ahead. The bovs set to work, while Jim climbed to the top of the stall and watched operations. He took the measure of the horse, too—noting the uglv restlessness that he revealed as (he saddle was thrown over his back, noting the rolling white eye that bore out the animal's reputation as a killer. It might have served Jim better to keep his eye on Smoky King just then, but, at that early stage of Ins acquaint- ance with the foreman, the young puncher did not suspect the extent of King's villainy. King was standing at the front of the chulc. looking through the bars at the savage-temiiered animal within, and suddenly he saw the girth-strap of the saddle dangling before his gazo. He paid no particular attention to that' Every Tuesday strap until all at once a sinister thought occurred to him, when ho looked around to assure himself that no one was like.y to observe his actions. The foreman slipped a clasp-knifo fi-om his pocket and opened it. Then, reaching a hand through the bars sur- reptitiously, he caught the cinch-buctklo and drew the dangling strap towards him. The keen edge of the knife cut' deep, almost severing the band of leather, but not quite. It would hold— for a spell, until the strain thrown on it by the wild bronc's plunges out i" the arena finally proved too great. The flap of the saddle effectively con- cealed King's dastardly handiwork, so that there was little chance of the flaw being discovered before the bronc was let out of the chute. In fact, only a second or two after the foreman had returned his knife to his pocket, ono of the boys laid hold of the strap and fastened it by means of the buckle. Poised on the top of the stall, Jim prepared to lower himself into tho saddle of the restive animal, the boys shouting words of advice in the mean- time. "Careful, Jim! Easy, there, easy!" Jim slipped astride the bronc cautiously. Next instant the ohuto was flung open, and the horse plunged forth, charging straight across tho arena till it was close up against the far barrier of the parade ground. Then all at once it started to buck. It took Jim five seconds to realise that the creature he was riding was true to its name. The mustang he had con- quered at Cap Rogers' rancho had been fierce enough, but this pony had ten times more devil in him. He was con- centrated fury. yet Jim did not look like coming off. and towards the end of a minute the crowds up in the stands were yelling encouragement. It was an uproar to which Ginger and Cap Rogers' ranch- hands lent their voices—all with the ex- cejition of Smoky King, who watched the upright figiu'o of Dynamite's rider narrowdy. Tho .seconds .slipped by. King began to wonder if his knife had slashed deep enough, or if the half-.severcd leather was'going to hold out against the strain after all. Then suddenly Dynamite's hind legs came up in a vicious kick, and simultaneously Jim Logan .shot from his back and hurtled head foremost toward? the fencing of the barrier. His skull struck the woodwork with a smashing shock, and he fell to tho giotmd in a crumpled heap. The wild bronc. rearing up wildly, brought his fore hoofs down on the cowboy's prone body. Froiii thousands of throats thcio arose a shout of horror, fioiu Ginger a shrill scream. Two or three of the boys sprinted across the arena, and Dynamite was roped and dragged towards the chutes. Two more of the cow-hands from the Rogers ranch dashed to where Jiia Logan lay. From ihe stands it had looked as if Jim had taken a straight fall, but, running through a swirl of dust, tho two men who were running towards tho young puncher's body .stumbled upon Dynamite's saddle and trappings. Ono of fliein i)ieked it up and gave vent to an exclamation. 'The girth-strap bust!" ho jerked. The other took hold of the leather, and then looked at his companion keeid.\. He had seen the straight white snick that had been ripped in the strap hy a keen blade. "Bust nothin'!" he ground out. "It's boon cut ! "