Bud
pretended to be angry at the joshing his steed received, but when he had
turned his back upon the jokers he would wink gently to himself in a way
that would have been puzzling to the supporters of the spotted horse.
Cap Norris had done his work well.
Every one in town knew of the coming race, and word had been sent to the
ranches in the surrounding country, so that before noon the streets were
crowded with people.
"Say, fellows," said Ted, when the boys met at the hotel for dinner,
"this fellow Norris is sure a sharp. That talk about his wanting to get
enough money to take him back home was a lie. He's a gambler, and is in
league with a bunch of gamblers in this town."
"How do you know?" asked Ben.
"How do I know? Why, man alive, they're betting on Magpie all over town.
The tip seems to have gotten out that Bud Morgan and the broncho boys
have a surprise up their sleeves, and that they are going to ring in
another horse than Hatrack."
"How is that?"
"They believe we're going to slip in another horse, a professional
racing horse with a record.
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