The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-04-18
ONE TOUCH OF NATURE
Rr LEEru.

my two partners Were running Cattle
ranch located on the Medicine River, in
south western Kansas.
The recently finished Pacific railroads
to the north Of u had driven the baifalo
pretty ven out Of the southern country,
and the millions OF acres Of rich grasses
which had pastHred countless thousands
Of the animals for untold ages, nox lay
open to the herbs Of the eztileuien.
We were among the first ranehers
who entered the new field, bat at the
time Of which write nearly one hundred
coz camps had been established within
a radius Of fly miles Of ours.
One Of the most recent arrivals in the
neiehborhood was New Englander
named Bailey, a quiet, rather delicate
looking fellow Of about thirty-fiye, who,
q year before my story opens, bad come
on the range, bought couple hundred
head Of cattle, and located a ranch on
the North Fork, about twenty miles west
OF our camp
Baiiey was shy, reserved Sorf Of man,
and aIthough hospitable when visited,
evinced but little Of that whole-soulei
frateTnal scciability which generally
ch4raeierizes the Ionily riders Of the
range. This made him very unpopular
with the rest, and, sith the exception Of
an old Mexican heryisnan, who served
him in the capacity Of o'w boy, he had
very few friends, and no int.inates.
We are al entirely too ready to believe
the worst of any one whom We dislike,
and cowboys are no exception to the
rule
80 when, one autumn afternoon, big
Jem Smith. the boss herier Of the circie
bar ranch came laundering up 10 the
dug-out. with his pony ali a-fzarn, and
calling me outside, told me that Bailey
was running off bunch of steers IN
which there was lot Of sirays belonging
to other rancfers, and that the boys had
gotten wind Of il, and were organizing
: pursuing party to catch and hang him
for cattle thieving. l did not doubt the
accused mans guilt.
Ten MINUTES later / had t,elsei on my
revolver. sad'ilel my pony and was gal
looping Ike the Nind for the appointed
rendezvous. all too ready TO take Ray part
IN the Anticipated hanging bee.
We were q Wild. rough hooking set who
met that evening at the y ranch and
started out on poor Bailey's trail To tell
the truth. We sere most Of Us as wild and
rough as we looked
There were fifieen Of u in the oompa-
nv altogether. for the mos: part owners
Of ranches. aud the rest cowboys We
were al well mounted, and each one
armed with knife and revolver, while
from every saddle horn hung the ever
present lariat, the all important item,
next to his pony. Of cowboys equip
ment
Tom Anderson, j strapping Missourian,
who ran the 3-X brand. and who IVES
the Acknowledged master spirit Of the
range, fell naturally inro the lead upon
this OCCASION, 2s he did Upon ali others.
whose intrepid daring and unyieIdins
firnness were required.
Tom was wha. the cowboys cali @ho-
Is terror He did no. know what fear
was, but though relentiessly ferue and
cruel when enragei, ile had hear. that
was a. tender as child's in some Of its
moods He was lion both in Io1ks and
nature. and we all admired him, and
generally submitted without question to
his leadership.
Oar rarty rode over sixty miles that
night, and just as il began to grow light
next morning We carne 10 with Bailey
IL and his old herder were engaged in
cooking breakfast over their camp fire
when We Z appeared upon the scene. and
we did not wait for them to finish their
meal before explaining our business
Fierce and hagyard from our hard
nights ride, we were an ugIy-looking
crew, and il was little wonder that poor
Bailey looked scared as he rose aud tim
oroasiy greeted rs with Good morn
ing. gentlemen, as We rode up.
No one answered his salutation II was
received with grim, ominous sileace.
-Jast lake care Of him, bows. while
ride out 20 the cattle and see that there
IS no mistake about The ssrays. We want
10 be certain that he's guilty before GO
ing any further said eur leader: and as
he spoke he and several others Of the
party started toward bunch Of cattle
that were grazing on the prairie not far
of. while the rest Of rs kept guard over
Bailey, who had now grown as raie as
death. and was trembling in every lirab-
In moment Tom and the others re-
turned and As they approached, Tom
said: ats true, boys. THERE'S dozen
strsys in the Ios and no mistake and
turning without more ado to the COVER
ing cnlPrit- he added, with harsh alb
rspsness that wns simply terrible: Yea.
Hx,t.zr o>z a r-asffs thief .ud nm 6uva