The dance is done. Shots crack as one. The crowd shoves for the door. Broncho Bill is lying there and blood upon the floor. "You've finished me; you've gambler's luck; you've won the trick and Belle. Mine the soul that here tonight is passing down to hell. And I must ride the trail alone. Goodbye to Belle McClure." Downstairs on the billiard cloth, something lying white, Upstairs still the dance goes on, all the lamps are bright. Round and round in merry spin--on the floor a blot; Laugh, and chaff and merry spin--such a little spot. Broncho Bill has come to town and danced his dance tonight. _Don't you hear the fiddle shrieking?_ _Don't you hear the banjo speaking?_ _Don't you hear the big spurs jingle?_ _Don't you feel the red blood tingle?_ _Faces dyed with desert brown,_ _(One that's set and white);_ _Broncho Bill has come to town_ _And danced his dance tonight._ _William Maxwell._ THE LEGEND OF BOASTFUL BILL AT a round-up on the Gila One sweet morning long ago, Ten of us was throwed quite freely By a hoss from Idaho. An' we 'lowed he'd go a-beggin' For a man to break his pride Till, a-hitchin' up one leggin', Boastful Bill cut loose an' cried: "I'm a ornery proposition for to hurt, I fulfil my earthly mission with a quirt, I can ride the highest liver 'Twixt the Gulf an' Powder River, An' I'll break this thing as easy as I'd flirt." So Bill climbed the Northern fury An' they mangled up the air Till a native of Missouri Would have owned the brag was fair. Though the plunges kept him reelin' An' the wind it flapped his shirt, Loud above the hoss's squealin' We could hear our friend assert: "I'm the one to take such rockin's as a joke; Someone hand me up the makin's of a smoke. If you think my fame needs brightnin', Why, I'll rope a streak o' lightnin' An' spur it up an' quirt it till it's broke." Then one caper of repulsion Broke that hoss's back in two, Cinches snapped in the convulsion, Skyward man and saddle flew, Up they mounted, never flaggin', And we watched them through our tears, While this last, thin bit o' braggin' Came a-floatin' to our ears: "If you ever watched my habits very close, You would know I broke such rabbits by the gross. I have kept my talent hidin', I'm too good for earthly ridin', So I'm off to bust the lightnin'--Adios!"