Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-07
SIMPSONS RANCH.
BY A. A. HAYES.

4 l.
| az don't see no sense in it, nohow." It was
4 the older of two stalwart "cow-punchersv that
| delivered this oracular statement. In private
| life he was once probably Mr.. Smith or Mr.
Jones, but this must have been In days which
! were prehistoric far as his fellows In the
cattle country were concerned. To them he was
| and had always been, "Broncho SAM" and old
/ Bill Kensett, up on the Divide, whose age was
| beyond mortal ken, and who was a stalwart
| man when he trapped with Ruxton and traded
| with st. Vrain, was on record as saying that he
| allowed that when tibet thar youngster come
| from the states he hedn't no other name than
Broncho Sam" That settled IL.
"Thet thar youngster," was q relative, GER
| tainly not a positive, characterization; for
Broncho Sam was a veteran, and he looked II
as he sat on a rude bench, outside the ruder log
cabin, and facing the west. To an Eastern eye
| lation. The cabin stood in q narrow valley,
near the bed, almost dry, OF what might be q
| stream To the gray banks inclosing 1t a few
stunted and distorted cedars were precariously
clinging. and at a distance there were some
patches OF sage-brush. As uawise indeed, were
he who should look at these things to the exclu-
sion of distant ones, as he who should curiously
inspect the squalid streets of Naples when by
lifting his eyes he could see across the beautiful
sorrento and Capri in the distance. Here,
above the barren outlines of grim canons, above
the sparsely wooded foothills, above the jagged
outlying peaks, rose in its simple majesty the
great range. Across the exquisite blue sky
overhead drifted clouds as white as the driven
snow, and as light and feecy as those under
which once lay the Isles OF the Blest- It was
near sunset, after the radiance of an autumn
day, and the air was deliciously clear, cool, and
bracing.
BronclIo Sam was not looking at the mount
aims or the sky, but at a gun which he was clean
ing His companion a younger man and evil
IDENTITY a disciple had been watching his skillful
manipulation, and listening to the words of Wis
dom which fell from his lips, for a famed ranch
manager was this same Broncho Sam; and for
tunate were the employers far away in ''the
states, whose interests were Entrusted To his
faithful care.
fresh, youthful, ringing voice:
"Just you wait minute, Sam, and I'll come
an idea what you are talking about. bdt / say
there is some sense in 1t, and there aoas some
| sense and there uiu be some sense in 1t; and
what Is 1t all about, anyway
sam uttered an unintelligible grunt 1t could
not have been one of entire dissatisfaction, for
something like smile showed itself on his rug
ged features and was plainly visible as he look
ed up and saw Jack Reynolds standing in the
doorway. A handsome young fellow was he, and
round. Ever since he came out from Chicago
whence the doctor sent him after long illness
ne nsd added as steadily to his list of friends as
TO the hardness of his muscles, the color in his
cheeks, and the figure at which he turned the
scale.
Blame me If he don't Jest lay over any ten
as he stood in an admiring crowd at the bar Of
the Arcade Saloon in Pueblo. Gimme show,
and allow I'll make him hrst-ciass ranch
hand in year or two"
He amt no SLOUGH Of a ranchman now, &C
cordln to my idee," said . rash newcomer.
tempt, clearly shared by the by-standers. "Per-
haps he is, an perhaps he ain't," said he. IL
allow you oughter know better'n I. Yes, Jim,
Jack, it may easily be believed, was the soul
of the ranch. He interested himself in the OPP
first "round up" He could soon ride the
worst of the 'bucking' horses, and throw a
lariat with many an older man. He was a bit
a gilt cord with pendent tassels around the
crown OF an expensive Mexican sOm6rero, gay
neck.tie loosely knotted and lying snugly nn-
der the rolling collar OF his gray flannel shirt,
or pair of long riding-boots of exceptional
make. All this f1nery, however, was reserved for
than the days passed there. The most CYNICAL
of "Old-timers found nothing to criticise in his
display thereof when he rode into Pueblo tor q
way, they felt a local pride in one who could
hold certificate of competency from such Sir
Hubert as BronchO Sam and at the same time
spectacle "swell" More than one young lady
member of some party Of personally CON
from the window of the Denver Pullman as he
sat on his horse near the station PLATFORM; and
the landlord Of the Arcade Saloon was under
stood to have, in rare interval of sObriety, ex-
pressed the opinion that such an exhibition was
good forthe interest of the region. "Why," said
he, ''thar amt no two ways about it. When them
thar tenderfeet an fancy tourists sees an outfit
like tibet, they'll kind O. think ranchin' is boss
business, an 1T I'll put .em up to comm out here
an helpin' trade. Yer see, they'll think
all ranchmen is like him. an they'll git mighty
badly left; but tibet amt your funeral nor mine.
Wasal, suit yerself"
Three miles above the ranch where Jack lived
was another, of rather better character as re-
tn 10
bed of the creek. 1t belonged to a man named
simpson,, Most people liked him; few knew
abroad that Simpson had a history, and that
his ownership OF a western ranch was but an
most of his neighbors had been born; but there
was that about him which repealed inquisitive-
ness: His cattle were numerous and in good
condition; he was active and efficient in the
roundup, but his patronage of the Arcade
Saloon was of the scantiest, and he was some
what eccentric in the making up Of what in
another and more formal state of society
would have been q visiling-list. Those, how
ever. who had enjoyed the Inequalities of
who often wore "store clothes" and of a daugh-
ter of about nineteen, as pretty girl. 1t was re-
ported, as had ever been seen from Denver
down to Cucharasan as bright as the sunlight
on the plains. Not many had seen her: fewer
still knew her; yet her fame had gone abroad
She was graciously localized; she was held to
belong, In a sense, 70 the region; and there was
not COW boy on the range who would not
have broken a lance tOr, what was far more
pIdcticai, eupaeo his SlX-SnOOter) as her
champion.
Among the visitors at Simpsons Ranch we
may be sure that Jack Reynolds was numbered.
His first visit was made at notable time in its
history. Two days before stopping TO return a
horse which he had found strayfng), he had
made the acquaintance of the family. Simpson
himself had suddenly gone away. He had been
in Pueblo, and the postmaster stated at the
Arcade that he had received a large and thick
letter, but he was a little misty as to the post
mark. That night Simpson departed Some
people thought he rode a little to the nOrthward
and took train at a small station. A theory
that he secreted himself in a freight car also
found supporters. But one individual, and he
was half inebriated, had suggested suicide and
he had been promptly elected from the saloon
by the force OF public opinion.
Months and months had passed, and Simpson
had not appeared. Wonder grew as to his
whereabouts; much curiosity was engendered
as To- the condition and feelings OF his family
and no little effort was made to crafty this
curiosity. Whatever the wife and daughter
thus seemingly deserted, may have felt how.
ever, they gave no sign to visitors. No one was
there half so often Jack Reynolds, and there
that this was as II should be; also that it would
be alike improper and futile to seek for any in
formation about Simpson from him. No better
test, indeed, could there be OF the esteem in
which ne was held than this rare self-abnega-
ton.
Again several months passed, and still there
appeared no Simpson. His neighbors We're
the dark, than ever, and they began to fee.
aggrieved. BronchO Sam had been vOicing this
sentiment, i'll conversation with his assistant
when he made the declaration with which this
story opens, and which was preceded by an
other.