Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-09-05


that set the men to thinking. We
We're a pretty rough lot, and when
one man for some trifing cause began
to curse she raised her small hand
warningly and said:
"Ye mustn't cuss. faint perlite
when ladies is about, an hits wicked.
too"
When we made camp that night
Broncho BERTHE ate her supper IN 81
1ence, and when one Of the boys
spread some blankets and told her il
was to be her bed for the night she
thanked him gravely and, folding he1
hands, knelt down and prayed. l no
ticed that the eyes Of several Of the
boys were moist when she finished,
and when she walked around the cir
Gle and lifted up her dimpled mouth
to each bearded face to be kissed she
received a succession Of %conyulsiye
hugs that must have bruised her frail
body. The entire company held a
sultation over the matter the nj Git
we reached our permanent camp. and
it was formally decided to adopt this
brown waif as "the child Of Company
T." When BERTHE was informed of
our action by a committee delegated
for the purpose she nodded her head
and made answer III her quaint fash
ion: Il like ye boys, an its a go!"
The best tent was fitted up for her
especial use, and ii a nan had gone
to the post and not brought back q
present for sThe Broncho" his life
would have been placed in jeopardy.
She exerted a wonderful influence
over these rough men, and there was
not one in the company hat would
not have laid down his life for her.
Reckless Jeff in particular was her
devoted slave and THE Broncho' was
always in his company. She loved
him, and would sit for hours IN his
strong arms listening to the stories
that fell from his lips, occasionally
commenting in her old-fashioned way.
Never was Princess draped out more
gorgeously with ribbons and fine
dresses than Broncho BERTHE. Once
when she was sick a mar killed his
horse riding for the post surgeon, and
the men tip-tood their way about the
camp lest The Broncho" should be
disturbed. Mad Milton taught her to
read and spell, and the captain bought
her the gentiest pony that could be
bought for money.
One day-no member of company
E will ever forget it-Reckless JEFF
and Mad Milton went to the post and
came back under the influence Of
liquor. Wehad just finished a shoot
ing-match when they rode in, and
both men laughed at our marksman-
ship.
See here, boys" cried jeff, pulling
out his revolver, III show you what
shooting is. Broncho."
The little maiden stepped forward,
and, whispering somethinginhe her ear,
Jeff handed her an ordinary bottle
cork. She ran to tree about twenty
PAGES distant, and, facing Us, set the
cork on top Of her curly head and
folded her arms. JEFF cooked his six
shooter and slowly raised it.
Don't Jeffmw we cried in chorus, for
be lurched ~unsteadily.
Two Of the men started forward to
prevent the rash act, but they were
too late. Jeif's eye ran along the bar
rel Of his revolver, his finger pressed
the trigger and, as the report rang
out, Broncho Berthe threw up both her
arms and staggered toward him.
My Godm b ecried and ran toward
her.
The blood was streaming from her
head and she was reeling blindly, but
when he caught her in his arms she
smiled family and gasped:
"You-didn't-mean to-Jef-
good
Her curly head dropped and she
was dead. He laid the body down and
stood for a moment regarding the
loved form. Then starting suddenly
he lifted the still smoking siz-shooter
to his temple, pulled the trigger and
his soul joined hers in the Unknown.
We buried them side by side at the
foot Of Mitre Peak, and planted a cot
tonwood tree to mark the spot.
Il took a solemn oath over that
grave never to touch liquor again"
said Mad Milton, when we talked
lovingly Of the dead, and I've kept
II =,