Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1885-11-07

ranchmen IS IKE MN, an they'll git
mighty badly left; but thet amt ,onr
funeral nor nine. Say, Young fellor
what Il yer takes Eotnin'. Wa al, suit
tersotf
hree miles above the ranch whore
Jack lived was another, OF rather better
character as regarded its BUILDINGS
which stood close to the bed Of 1ha
creek 1t belonged to a man namea
simpson Most people liked him. few
knew him well. There was q VAGUE i'm
preston abroad that Simpson had a his
tory and tia. his ownership Of a Wet
ern ranch was but an pi>ode in a life far
different from that TO which most of his
nclghbors had been born; but there was
that sbout him which repeIled in4uisitixe
ness. His cattle we're numerous and in
good condition; he was active and
efficient in the roundup, but his pat
fonagc Of the Arcade saloon was Of the
scantiest, and he was somewat eccentric
IN he making mp Of what IN another
and more formal state Of sccietv would
have been visiting list I hose how
ever, who dad Ell owed the hospitalities
o. ~lmpson 8 ranch had much to saw of
VIE !" no often wore '-storc c othcs. -
and Of a daughter of about nine
teen, as pretty gr, it WAS reported,
as had ever been seen from Denver down
to rucharas and as bright as the sun
light on the plains Not maay had seen
her; fewer still knew her; yet her fame
had gone abroad. She was graciouelv
iieallzcd; she was held to belong. !.
sense, to the region and there was not
a cowbow on the range who would not
have broken lance for, What was far
more practical emptied his six -shooter)
as her champion
Among the visitors at Sim pson' 9 Ranch
we may be sure that Jack Reynolds was
numbered. His first visit was made at
a notable time IN its history. Two DAYS
before fst@ .pping to return horse which
he had found strayingl be 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 re-
cclved large and thick letter, but he
was littly misty as to the postmark
That night Simpson departed Some
people thought he rode little to the
nofthward, and took train at a small
station. \ theory hat he secreted him
self IN freight car also found supporters.
But one individual, and he was half in
ebrlated, had suggested suicide. and he
had heen promptly elected from the sa-
loon by the force Of public opinion.
Months and months had passed and
Simpson had not appeared. Wonder
grew as to his whereabouts: much curl
o>itv was en9eniered az to the condition
and feelings of his familY, and no little
effort was made to gratifv this curl
osity. Whatever the wife and daughter
thus seemingly deserted, may have
felt, however, they gave no
so often rs Jack Reynolds. and there was
a general, if unspoken. sentiment abroad
that this was as it should be also that
it would be alike improper and futile to
seek for any information about Simpson
from him. Na better test, indeed, could
there lie Of the esteem in which he was
held than this rare self-abneeation.
Again several months passed and still
there appeared no Simpson His neigh
bors were more puZZled, more curious,
more hopclessly in the dark than ever.
and they began TO feel agrrieved Bron-
Cho Sam had been vocing this scnti-
mept, in conversation with his assistant,
when he made the declaration with
which this story olens. and which was
preceded by another
II est tell YER" said he, THAT when
a man lights ont and leaves sech a good
wife an sech a pootv little gal
e. is up TO Simpsons, an don't send EN-
no word, it's plavin' it down pretty low
on en-, onlcss he's got blamed good
reason for dom SO
That he would discuss tbs point with
Jack was highly improbable. They
ia kcd of cattle and the seasons pros
poets. and there was no word Of sim pson
during the plain supper or the placid pipe
smok ng which followed When they
''tlrncd in, the sky was overcast. and
during the night there came a gale of
" nd which almost shook the house 1t
was In the gray of early morning that a
VIC cnt knocking at the door brought all
three men 10 their feet alert in an in
>t4ut lack was irst At the door and
opened it, \ man stood there holding
the bridle of painting horse His words
We're few and to the point. There had
the great reservoir which fed
the irri-ating bitches was in imminent
peril; there would be q terrible wash
out" in the valley.
Have von warned them at Simp-
son =" asked lack breathlessly.
. No. ctme the other way"
Broncho sam had his eve on Jack
face. and saw the color leave it. He
rose TO the occasion in an instant.
"ler kin do it nv boy" said he;
but est yer ride like Iehu. Git YER
boots on. an I'll have the saddle on CO.
manche"
In five minutes Jack, with his head
bent to the blast, was squirting his horse
wildly up the valley.
There was nothing esthecic about the
eX.ern ! appearance oi simpsons ranch.
The architecture O. the house was Of the
earlv cow boy period, with suggestions
O.. that OF the min NJ camp. There was
4 severe simp icity about tie roughly
hewn logs which made up the walls. aud
although the freaks ot fashion brlnr
many u~ef things into popular use, the
plaster NJ Il cTetites with adobe has not