The other horse was almost beside her now. Well, suppose he did win the race? There were hundreds of lots there, and the second choice would probably be as good as the first. Should she let him pass? No! That was not the Kentucky way. Should the horse do it? No, again. She leaned forward over the saddle and spoke to him; she drove the spur into him at last. The surprised horse bounded into the air with a sudden access of vigor, and he fairly leaped away from the bronco. It was his final effort; when this spurt was ended he would be done for. Would it be enough? [Illustration: The surprised horse bounded into the air with a sudden access of vigor] In her excitement she turned and shouted back to the man, she knew not what, waving her hat in disdain. Presently she turned into what appeared to be the main street. Instinctively as they ran along she chose what seemed to be the best lot in the prospective city, and then reined in her panting, exhausted horse; she sprang to the ground, tore the peg and hatchet from the saddle-bow, and drove the stake in the lot. Not a moment too soon, with not a second to spare, she had won the race! The wild bronco came thundering upon her heels. The man jerked his horse to his haunches by the side of the triumphant thoroughbred, dropped a rein to the ground to keep him, sprang from the saddle, and stepped toward her. "I want that there lot!" he said, roughly. "It's the best lot in the place. You kin take somethin' else." Sue Belle rose to her feet. Her hat had fallen off in the wild ride and her black hair floated over her shoulders. Excitement had put a light in her eyes, color in her cheeks. She looked handsome, almost young again,--altogether beautiful. The man was right. She could see that she had succeeded in getting the best lot in the city. As she stood up the man stared at her wonderingly. He was a cowboy,--fringed trousers, bearskin chaparejos, loose shirt, broad hat, Mexican spurs, and all. "Good God!" he shouted. "It's a woman!" "Yes, I am a woman," answered Sue Belle, desperately. "Well, I'm d----d!" he burst out. "You've ordered me away from the lot, but----" she went on, heedless of his interruption. "Well, gimme a kiss, sis, an' you kin stay on it," said the man, with a hideous leer. Sue Belle looked around desperately. She was practically alone on the prairie save for this man and the other one, now about a mile distant. The station and land-office were too far away for her to summon assistance from them. She was absolutely helpless, entirely in this man's power. "Will you let me alone if I do?" she asked, at last. "Oh, come, now, you're too pretty to be left alone, my dear," said the man, coming closer.