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 Texas looked at Uncle Boley with amazement in his face. Animated by his success he seemed younger and livelier by many years than when he had stood in the shop-door a few hours before, dusty and roadworn, hungry and downhearted.

"You'll see her purty soon—she's in this here ladies' contest that's comin' next. Well, if there's any excuse for any girl in Kansas bein' in it, that girl's Sallie McCoy. I would take down the bars for Sallie, for she's a lady, no matter what she does."

"I'm sure she is, sir; the actions of that little horse tell me as much."

"She'll ride him when she goes in. You'll have a chance to see his work."

"She'll ride him? Why, if I'd 'a' known it, sir—it wasn't fair of me to use him and tire him all out!"

"That's all right; he's able to stand it and never turn a hair."

"But if I'd 'a' known that you intended to let her ride him, I never would 'a' thrown a leg over him, sir."

"I ain't a lettin' her use him—it was her that lent him to us—she owns him."

Texas looked at him with fallen countenance most woeful to behold. Injured pride flushed his