When Big Medicine saved the strange rider who had been stunned by lightning, he was something of a hero among the cowhands of the Flying U. But not for long. The stranger had amnesia and couldn’t remember who he was, so they called him Nameless. He also had been exposed to small-pox. The entire ranch was put in quarantine.
When red-headed, flirtatious Myrtle Forsyth was quarantined with the others, small pox became a mild danger by comparison. The Native Son and Nameless had eyes on the same girl. Big Medicine, seeing the boys “riding” Nameless, struck up for his protégé. The resulting free-for-all ended in a near-tragedy. The Flying U’s happy family was falling apart.
Finally the stranger was identified as Lopin’ Larry Jones, a whirlwind track star from the Coast, and the ranch became a secret training camp. Lopin’ Larry was entered as Rufus Jones in the big Labor Day meet. The Milk River outfit had brought in a “ringer,” a professional, but Lopin’ Larry could run like a deer. So, though the Flying U punchers were still in discord, they agreed on one thing; their money rode on Lopin’ Larry!
Threatened on race day with one of the dirtiest double-crosses of all time, the Flying U was reunited, because Big Medicine had a quick temper – and an amazing ignorance of track etiquette! B.M. Bower has hit the bull’s-eye with this rollicking story of men born in the saddle and the stranger who couldn’t ride, but sure could run.
|
