Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-10-30
RECKLESS JEFF's SHOT.
The story or IBroncho BERTHE, the Little
Girl Ward Of Band OF Texas Rangers.


was crossing the military plaza this
morning. working my way slowly
through the crowd Of chili-concarne,
tumaie. and tortilla peddlers. writes
San Antonio, Tex, correspondent to
the Philadelphia Times, when hand
was laid familiarly on my shoulder.
and turning quickly came face TO face
with my old friend and fellow-scout,
mad Milton" We parted from each
other four years ago over the grave OF
two dear friends, who will be rcmem-
bered along the southwestern frontier
MS reckless jeff and Broncho BERTHE.
Late in the winter of 1880 jeff and |
were members of raiding party that
penetrated the Businesses of the Noun
tains of Death in search of family of
COW and horse thieves named Taylor.
The scattered remnants of Chief Vic
toria's band was lurking about that Sec
ton of the country then. awaiting an
opportunity to cross the Death plain to
more secure hiding-place in the Sierra
Diabolo. Aud we were continually find
ing fresh signs as we slowly trailed the
cow-thieves to their mountain camp.
One morning we entered little can
yon, through which ran a stream of
water. About midway down the cam
yon, on the bank of the run, tho scout
| in advance made horrible discovery.
and we rode quickly to his side. The
three Taylor boys, whom we were in
search of, and Mexican vaquero had
been ambushed and killed by the In
| dians, and their stiffened bodies,
bloody and scalplcss lay across the
| trail. They had been killed during the
previous night, and coyotes had not
yet scented them out. All their arms
and their ponies had been carried away
| by the murderers.
We hastily dug 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, in
a canyon similar to the one VIC had
| just lett. The Indians had taken a
nearly opposite direction, climbing the
other wall of the canyon.
The camp of the outlaws was rude
affair, consisting of q small tent, q
campfire, brush corral, and heavy
wagon. Several heads of ponies and
cows werc grazing in the canyon, and
the sergeant commanding our party
ordered several of the boys to round
| up the stock, while he dismounted and
inspected the camp. SGst as he was
about to lift tho fly of the tent q shrill
/! treble voice, which came from the di-
| rection of the brush corral cried:
..Say, thar. mister man, thet's my
tent. Keep out'n hit. y
We all 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
i gate and walked toward us. She was
/ not above years of age, and she had
the shrewdest face and brightest eyes
| imaginable.
Keep out n thet tent. she repeated,
walking toward the sergeant "hi' is
mine, tell you.
.And who might you bep'' asked the
sergeant, smiling and dropping the
tent fiap.
I'm Broncho Berthe. = was the quick
". .Leastways thct's what tho boys
call me. =
"And who are tho boys?h
my buddys, Jim, Bill, and Dan.
Ye ali know 'cm well cnutf, an / know
you; you're rangers, an if you tiiink
YOU ii git The boys, yer lett. They are
out. yonder in the mountings, an
| they'll shoot quicker 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.
/ ii knowed they'd git laid out some
day, she said, sksking her head
mournfully," but hits better that a.
way than TO be drappcd by you'ns.' =
She peered into the face of every
man. and finally stepping to the side
OF Reckless JEFF, laid her brown hand
in lis.
like Acr looks. Isle said an Ill
90 with you. "
/ We took her back to camp. and on
the road she taught ms several lessons
that set the men to thinking. We were
pretty rough looking lot, and when
one man for some triiling cause began
to curse she raised her small hand
warningly and said:
ssY0u mustn't cuss, 'Tain't perlite
when ladies is about, an hits wicked,
toe"
When we made camp that night
BrOnchO BERTHE ate her supper IN
silence. and when one of the boys
! spread some blankets and told her II
was to be her bed for the night. she
thanked him grayely, and, folding her
hands, knelt down and prayed
noticed that the eyes Of several Of the
bows were moist when she finished,
and when she walked around the circle
and lifted up her dimpled mouth to
each bearded face to be kissed she re-
ceived succession of conyulsive hugs
that must have bruised her frail body.
The entire company held cOnsulta-
ton over the matter the night we
reached our permanent camp. and i
was formally decided to adopt this
| brown waif Is ssthe child Of company
E-n When Bertie was informed 0frouE
action By . committee delegated fol
the purpose she nodded her head and
Il - -. - ~#f