rden of the penitentiary in which
Riley was confined before he came to Strongburg."

"Then her information is probably correct. Stella, thanks to you, we've
got them dead to rights. We've solved the mystery hanging around all
these recent robberies."

"Nearly, but not quite. How were they accomplished?"

"That I don't know positively, but I have a theory which I believe will
turn out to be correct."

"But about Riley?"

"Ben Robinson, the proprietor of this show, and Skip Riley, burglar and
ex-convict, are one and the same man."

CHAPTER XII.

ALOFT AFTER A PRISONER.

"All ready for the big show," cried Kit, riding up to Ted. "When will we
begin the sports?"

Ted looked over the grand stand, which was built around an arena in
which the cowboy sports were to come off.

This was the most important event of the day, for while bronchobusting
and cattle roping are a cowboy's business, yet he finds unending
amusement in doing these same things if his girl and friends are there
to witness his skill.

After some ordinary feats of trick riding by the visiting cowboys,
several really dangerous steers were turned loose in the arena, and for
several minutes a very fair imitation of a Spanish bullfight, minus the
killing of the animals, took place.

After several of the steers had been roped, thrown, and tied, there
still remained in the arena a sullen and difficult brute, which was as
tricky as a rat, and the boys gave him up one at a time.

"Why don't you give the girls a chance at him?" shouted a cowgirl
derisively, from the seats.

"Any girl who wants to tackle him is at liberty to do so," Ted shouted
back through his megaphone.

Instantly three girls leaped into the arena, and borrowed ponies from
their cowboy acquaintances.

Ted motioned to Sophy Cozak, the pretty and buxom girl from the Bohemian
prairie, whom Bud had admired at the dance; she rode forward on Bud's
own particular horse, Ranger.

Sophy had several brothers who had taught her the cow business, and she
had few equals on the range.

As she rode out she was greeted with a round of applause from her
admirers. She gathered up her rope and sent the horse forward at an easy
lope toward the steer, which looked at her a moment and trotted off.

Sophy followed him, and made three casts of the rope, and every time the
brute dodged it, and the rope fell to the ground.

That settled it with Sophy, and she rode in, and another girl took her