The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-02-26
An Interesting Story.

The following stery, coming homo I'd ].
all readers Of the Cow BoY as concerning
a,well known character formerly living
here, will be found fill Of interest:
Seven years ago, the subject Of our
sketch was living in a small eastern
village, supporting by his labor an in:
valid father and mother. In tlIs, he
was assisted by sister and Between
them they barely succeeded in gaining
enough to;suppiy food fer TIE famiIy
The boy, then fourteen years Old. Nss
tcagers 4 tf 4 nd ssiSa! Z
! tion, but poverty compelled him Sto puiss
them off; If u
An old aiena of the family had come;
cut to this country and engaged extern
sively i'll cattle raising He was very
successful and going back east On visit. !.
called on our hero's. family Seeing their
poverty stricken condition, lie ilnmedi-
stely offered the boy whose name was
Stephen, a position On his ranch at i
salary more than he could possibly make
at home. The oHsr was gladly accepted
and Stephen, al Though hnme mediately nick
named the kid" became YaluabIe,
hand, as he was quick to learn and eager
to please. Round-nps followed each
other in rapid succession and last year
Stephen was acknowledged to be one 81.
the best cowboys that rode the range.
He grew in favor with his employer and
and was then appointed foreman Of his
outfit. 3t5s t
Comfort at last came to the sold FOLKS:
at home" for the s'Kid" regularly sent
| the most of his salary to supply their
wants. The future looked bright and
everything went along peacefully until
late last fall, when the HKld'' and a
bosom friend wore driving in a. bunch Of
cow-horses from distant roundup
They were sleeping near.tlIe bunch and {
were awakened in the night by a band Of
rustlers who had stampedel the herd
except two horses which were kept hob
bled near camp. The kid md lis
partf rushed to saddle up and start in
pursuit. As it happened, two of the best
horses had been kept up and as dawn was
just breaking it was an easY matter ta,
follow rapidly onthe trail. An hour OF s
two's hard; riding brought them in view
Of the band and although there were Ave
of tho hsrse thieves naitherso of the cow
boys thohght of the odds l,ut spurred
their hcrses harder than ever to catch
up. The thieves saw the boys at almass
the same time and riding around q butte.
two Of them cached themselves and the
others drove on with the herd. Just al y
they rounded the butte they were Sal
uted by discharge from tlee rides Of the
rustlers. One of the. balls struck tho
Kid in the breast knocking him from his
horse and the other killed his para
horse. The robbers, thinking both men.
were killed Tsde after the herd Isl The
Kids partner extricatel himself frort,.s;
under his horse and l,asteaina ia lila
ehun.'s eide had only time 10 receive his
dying words: Take large enyeiop,io,
from pocket and send to father |.s3sa
The chnm did as requested and accom-
.tE- G,.E.f
panied his friends body to the east. sTt
was d moirnful mission, as. hc had tos
inform the grief stricken family that
their only support was taken from thcrI,.
The loss Of their dearly beloved sol,.
poverty without hope and ths poor house
as q sole refuge was q sickening prospect.
The chum could offer NO eolisolotion ai,a
forgot the envelope entirely until after
the funeral. Thinking Of tt then, hs
gave II to the father and imagine tl,eI
flood Of joy that assTeafaa hini At Tia
though fulness of bis son when lis faunn
that At contained 4 policy for 1000 i1l
4 the safety fuad department of Tie Iart..
ford Lie and Annuity Insurance. ds,,y.
.sessaassv saSa