Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-08-17
At Uncle Bi1ys Ranch.

n stopping place for travellers and a
sort Of gathering place for ranchmen
in the valley. Uncle Billy kept a bar
and general store, and his spacious
corral and big adobe house afforded
ample accommodations for man and
beast The spring Of clearcoOl water
bubblng up in front Ofthe corral was
the only one for miles around, and
the willows ringing the banks of the
little stream, which flowed a few
hundred yards and then sunk into
the ground, were the only trees to
relieve the monotony of the great
level plain.
Uncle Billy prided himself upon his
hospitality, and the little fortune
which he had accumulated enabled
him to entertain his friends or lend a
helping hand to any poor wanderer
who happened to come his way. He
had no family Of his own, and his only
care was for a bright girl, who bore
his name, but was only his by adOp-
ton. Fifteen years before the events
mentioned in this story she had been
thrown upon him for protection
through one of those tragedies which
We're then Of frequent occurrence. The
overland stage Ind been attacked
near the ranch by Indians and all the
passengers murdered except a little
girl, who was carried away, but was
subsequently recaptured by a pur-
suing party. No one turned up to
claim her as his own. Little Carrie,
OF Cad as she was called, was a
pretty. and VivaciOus and light-heart-
ed andfull OF fun. As she grew up on
the ranch she learned to ride and
handle a gun as skillfully as a boy
She had some little education given
her by an elderly lady whom Uncle
Billy persuaded to become her teach
er, and spent several years at a con-
vent in Tucson, so at the age of IS
she was as accomplished as the or
binary frontier girl, and was d gener-
al faYOrite among the young ranch
men III the valley.
Uncle Billy never grew tired of see
ing his beautiful girl enjoy herself
and INDUCED her in every little harm
less Whim. On the eVentful Christ
mas with which our story has to
deal he had determined that she
should have an unusually Jolly time.
A number Of school friends from the
new mining camp Of Tombstone were
invited to spend Christmas on the
ranch, and two days beforehand a
big wagon and six mule team was
sent into camp to bring them out.
Some Of the boys rode down to a
little Mexican town on the border
and secured an excellent string band,
and the big guest room in the adobe
house was put in order for a dance.
On Christmas Eve ranchmen from
all parts Of the valley begun to come
In. Their horses were turned into
the corral and the men gathered
around the front door OF the bar,
where the band was playing some
lively Mexican airs. There was no
excessive drinking or carOusing, for
every man was on his good behavior
owing to the presence of the girls at
the ranch. The young ladies from the
city remained in another part Of the
house. where they chatted and laughed
after the merry school girl fashiOn,a and
hustled around getting ready for the
dance. During the afternoon some
one proposed q race and the girls
were invited out to witness it. They
clapped their hands and applauded
as handsome Bill Stevens won the
race against halfa dozen competitors.
Then when he wheeled round and,
while riding at q full gOllOp, picked
his hat from the ground where he had
purpOsely dropped it, they fairly
screamed with delight.
Bill was q handsome fellow, with
soft, brown eyes and a heavy mus
tache Any woman could have adj
mired him, but he had been engaged
in so many daring adventures that
he was more feared than loved by
those who knew him. He was gener-
ally called ''Apache Bill, " and it was
rumOred that he had been brought
up among that tribe. Hehad been a
frequent visitor at the ranch, and
bright little Cad seemed always ready
to welcome him. She admired his
manly bearing and splendid horse
manship, and, in spite OF atpeOple
said against him, she remained his
friend. Sometimes they went rid
ing together, and one day she
mounted her own feet-fOOted pony
and challenged him to catch her ifhe
could Away she dashed over the
prairie with the speed of the wind, he
following in pursuit. She was laugh
ing galy when the race. began, but
when they returned to the ranch q
few hours later, riding side by side
both were silent. and for one time
Cad's face wore a serious expression
1t was evident that something had