The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-14
z E A u % B LIZ.
THE KING OF BORDER MEN
The Widest, Truest story. Ned BuntlIne Ever
Wrote!

bright stream shining like liquid silver in the
moonlight-a log house built under the limbs
of great trees--within this humble home a
happy group. This is my first picture
u Look well on the leading figure in that group.
You will see him but this once, yet on his sad
fate hinges all the wild and fearful realities
which are to follow, drawn to very great ex-
tent, not from imagination, but from life itself
noble-l0oking, white-haired man sits by
rough table, reading the Bible aloud. On stools
by his feet sit two beautiful little girls, his twin
daughters, not more than ten years of age,
while noble boy of twelve or thirteen stands
by the back of the chair where sits the hand
some yet matronly-looking mother.
1t is the hour tor family prayer before retiring
for the night, and Mr.. Cody, the Christian, al
ways remembers 1t in the heart of his dear
Il home.
He closes the holy book, and is about to kneel
and ask Heaven to bless and protect him and
his dear ones.
Hark The sound of horses gallowing with
mad speed towards his house falls upon his ear.
'Ts it possible there is another Indian alarm"
he says inquringly.
Alas, worse than the red savages are riding in
hot haste towards that door.
"Halo-the house!" is shouted loudly, as a
large cavalcade of horsemen halt before the
door.
'What is wanted, and who are yei" asked the
good man, as he threw wide open the door and
stood upon its threshold.
''You are wanted, you back-hearted nigger-
worshipper, and I-Colonel MKandlas--have
come to fetch you And there's the warrant"
AS the ruffian leader of the band shouted these
words, the pistol already in his hand was raised,
1 levelled, fired, and the father, husband, and
Christian fell dead before his horror-strcken
family.
eff them gals was a little older-but never
mind, boys, this will be lesson for the sneaks
that come upoE the border-let's be off, for
there's plenty more work to do before daylight"
continued the wretch, turning the head of his
horse to ride away.
1t was but a single word-spoken, too, by
how alC tuild dlxy Fnoo
white rs new-fallen snow and full as cold
spoken as he stood erect over the body of his
dead father, weaponless and alone.
Yet that rufiian aye, and all of his mad, Teck-
less crew, stopped as if mighty spell was laid
i upon them.
'YOu, Jake MKandlas have murdered my
father! You base towards, who saw him do
this dark deed, spoke word to restrain him.
am only Little Bill, his son. but as God in
Heaven hears me now, will kill every fathers
son of you before the beard grows on my face :"
Hear the little rooster crow. He'll fight when
his spurs grow, if we don't cut his comb now,"
cried the leader, with mooking laugh, and he
raised his pistol once more.
Monster you have robbed me of husbands;
you shall not kill my boy, shrieked the mother,
as she sprang forward and drew her son up to
her own bosom.
Colonel, there's big gang of men comm
over the prairie. We'd better git, cried scout
riding in at this moment.
AYE! For don't want to kill woman, If
can help it. Column to the right, boys, and
follow me-.
In minute, at full speed, the party dashed
away after their leader and the wretched family
were left alone with the dead.
Frozen with terror and ave. the beautiful
twins, Lille and Lottie crept out to the doorway,
where their mother and Hsther knelt over the
stiffening form of him who had been so good
and kind-their dear father
Oh, what q picture! Grief was still. Nor
sob, nor tear, not even a moan arose. They
were dumb with agony-paralyzed with sense
of utter bereavement.
1t is now 1861. The old log house has disap.
peared, but in the same noble grove pretty
white cottage is seen. Barns and haystacks all
tell a story of good farming and profitable re-
suits.
On the embowered porch of this cottage sits
II the widow, still in her mourning garb, worn for
him whose death we have already pictured, and
near her stand two lovely girls-the twin sisters
Lille and Lottie, now in the early bloom O
beautiful womanhood
They look alike, are dressed alike, and are
exceedingly beautiful.
Lille held letter in her hand which tn,
mounted mail carrier had left as he swept by.
'Oh, mamma mamma brother is coming
home! He says he will be here before the sui
sets on the twenty fifth The letter is from For
Kearney, and has been long in coming"
SIS not to-day the twenty-ffth?" 2" asked
Lottie.
'To be sure it is, and he will be here Gu
William is wild, but he never tells falsehood
He is too proud for that Heaven bless him !!
said the mother, in a low, earnest tone.
she is not coming alone" said Lille. "H
brings two friends with him..
at lacks scarce half hour of sunset, sal
the mother.
At the same instant Lille, who had bee
glancing through an avenue which led wes
ward in the grove, cried QUIT
i 'They are coming They are coming !"
And three minutes later their horses froth
and hot, three horses at full speed dashed up
the gate fronting the cottage.
"Oh brother brother !" cried the two si
ters, joyously, and all needless of the strange
eyes now looking on them, they rushed out
embrace and kiss him.
Buffalo Bill, for this was he, had learned
lhde all his feelings, but with gentle tende
ness he shook himself out of their embraces, an
presenting his two friends by name, hurried q
to meet the dear mother, who, with glistenn
eyes, waited to greet her idol and her pride.
''My good mother! !" all he said as l
pressed his manly lips to her white forehead.
''My dear sonl" was all she said, but page
would not describe the reverence in his tone,
the undying love in her look.
Bill now presented his friends in more form
his mother than he had deemed necessary
the of his sisters.
\ ''This, mother" said he, presenting youu
man who, in form and appearance, resemble
himself very closely though he was an inc
taller and hardly so muscular, this Is my ma
this is Bill Hitchcock, the best friend ey
had or ever will have outside OF our own famil
81 Three times has he saved me from being wipC
out. Once by the Ogalalas, once when VI
taken with the cramps in the ice-cod Platte, Ia
winter and once when old Jake M kandas al
his gang had sure set on me. lie and W
sink or swim in the same river, and that S sa
bet, Bill, that's my mother, and better neV
trod the footstooll"
Wild Bill, with natural grace, bent his pro
Ill - 4 r Al. taRI In