Dick, "but what is it all about, anyway? What was it that he offered to
run in?"

Sandy then proceeded to explain all that had occurred that morning, and
when he had finished both Tom and Dick gave a long whistle.

"So that's how the land lies, is it?" exclaimed Dick; "the old sinner's
never satisfied unless he's winning something or other, is he?"

"You said something that time," acquiesced Tom, a note of pride in his
voice; "if excitement won't come to him, he goes looking for it. That's
his style, every time."

The two cowboys did not stop to hear any more, but hurried off excitedly
to take the news to their companions. They burst into the bunkhouse,
where the men had already sat down to supper.

"Boys, we're all a bunch o' locoed Piutes," yelled Sandy. "Do you know
who this boy Wilson is, eh? He's the feller that won the Marathon fer
Uncle Sam at the Olympic games, an' we never knew it. Somebody kindly
make the remarks fer me thet 're approp'rite on sech an occasion."

For a few seconds, astonished exclamations of a very forceful character
filled the air, but soon the cowboys quieted down somewhat, and began to
discuss the surprising news in every detail. Everybody was jubilant, and
already they could picture the chagrin of the townspeople when their
favorite was beaten.

"But we don't want to be too certain of winnin', at that," cautioned Bud;
"arter all, that Helena runner is a professional, an' Wilson is only an