"He's never been anything else.

They don't make 'em any better anywhere." Then he added soberly, "Phil's not ridin' in the contest this year, though." "What's the matter ?" "I don't know.

He's got some sort of a fool notion in his head that he don't want to make an exhibition of himself--that's what he said.

I've got another man on the ranch now," he added, as though to change the subject, "that'll be mighty near as good as Phil in another year.

His name is Patches.