Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17
JEFPS RECKLESS SHOT.

less Jefss Crime-A Story from the
Plains.
I was crossing the military plaza at
San AntonIa, writes the correspondent
of the Philadelphia Times, when a
hand was laid Familiarity on my
shoulder, and turning quickly I came
face to face with my old friend ard
fellow~seout, "Mad Milton" Late in
the winter Of 80 Jeff and were
members of q raiding party that pene-
trated the fastness of the Mountains of
Death IN search of a family of cow
and horse thieves named Taylor. The
scattered remnants OF Chief Victories
band were lurking about that section
of country then, awaiting an oppor-
tunity to cross the Deata Plain to a
more secure hiding place in the
Sierra Diabol0. One morning we
entered alittle cannon, through which
ran stream of water. About mid
way down the cannon, on the banks
of the run, the scout III advance made
a horrible discovery. The three Tay-
lor boys whom we were IN search of
and Mexican vaquerO bad been am
pushed and killed by the Indians and
their stiffened bodies, bloody and
scalpless, lay across the trail. They
had been killed during the previous
night and the coyotes had not yet
scented them out. All their arms and
ponies had been carried away by the
murderers. We hastily dug q shallow
grave with our hunting knives on the
bank Of the creek and buried them
side by side Then continuing on we
crossed the next divide and reached
their camp on a CANYON similar to the
one we had just left The Indians
had taken a nearly opposite direction,
climbing the other wall of the cans
yon.
The camp of the outlaws was rude
affair, consisting Of small tent, a
camp fire, brush corral and heavy
wagon Several head Of ponies and
COWS were grazing in the canon, and
the sergeant com manding our party
ordered several OF the boys TO round
up the stock while he dismounted and
inspected the camp. Just as he WAS
about to lift the fly of the tent shrill
treble voice, which ca ne froua the di-
rection of the brush corral, cried:
Say, that, mister man., thet's my
tent. Keep out'n hit.
We ali turned at sound of the voice
and the queerest little girl, In dress
of faded calico, bare headed and bare
footed, crept from under the corral
gate and walked toward us. She was
not above seven years of age and she
had the shrewdest face and brightest
eyes Imaginable.
Keep outn tibet tent" she repeat
ed, walking toward the sergeant.
Hits mine, tell ye."
And who might you be9" asked
the sergeant, smiling and dropping
the tent flap.
''I'm Broncho BERTHE, " was the quick
answer. and she tossed her head sauc
lily. ''Leastways that's what the boys
call me-"
''And who are the boys3"
''My builders, jim, Bill, and Dan
Ye all know 'em well enuff, anil know
you; you're rangers, an if you think
you'll git the boys yer left. They're
out yOnder in the mountains, an
they'll shoot quickr'n wink"
We crowded about the little maiden,
and one of the boys, IN as tender and
simple words as he could command,
told her of her bereavement. She
didn't shed many tears, but a great
lump that rose IN her threat was swal
lowed with difficulty, and her shrill
voice softened and trembIed when she
spoke.
Il knowed they'd git lade out some
day." she SAID, shaking her head
mournfully; ''but HIS better that-ae
way tnan to be dropped by you'ns"
She peared into the face Of every
man, and finally, stepping to the side
of Reckless JEFF, laid her brown hand
in his
Il like yer looks, " she said, ''an' I'll
go with you"
We took her back to camp, and on
the road she taught us Sc veral lessons
that ser the nen to thinking. We
were pretty rough lot, and when one
man, for some trifing cause began to
curse she raised her hand warningly,
and said:
''Ye mustn't cuss. 'Tain't perIite
when ladies is about, an it's wicked,
too"
When we made camp that night,
BrCncho BERTHE ate her supper In 81
lence, and when one Of the boys
spread some blankets and told her it
was to be her bed for the night she
thanked him gravely, and folding her
hands, knelt down and prayed |
noticed that the eyes.of several of the
boys were moist when she had fin
ished, and when she walked around
the circles and lifted up her dimpled
mouth to each bearded face to be
kissed, she received a succession of
convulsive hugs that must have
bruised her frail body. The entire
company held a consultation over the
matter the night we reached our per-
manent camp, and it was formally