Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-08-02
AT Uncle Billy's Ranch.

ample accommodations for man and
beast The spring of clear coolwater
bubbling up in front ofthe corral was
the only one for miles around, and
the willows fringing the banks of the
little stream, which flowed 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 n
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
were 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 reeaptured by u pur-
suing party. No one turned up to
claim her us his own. Little Carrie,
or "Cad" us she was called. was q
pretty, and vivacious and light-heart-
ed and full OF fun. As she grew up on
the ranch she learned to ride and
handle gun as skillfully as boy.
She had some little education given
her by an elderly ady whom Uncle
| Billy persuaded to become her teach
er, and spent several years at con-
vent in Tucson, so ut the age of Is
she was MS accomplished as the or
binary frontier girl, and was u gener-
al favorite among the young ranch
men In 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 u
big wagon and six mule team was
sent into camp to bring them out
Some of the boys rode down to q
little Mexi.an 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 behcyior
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 and
hustled around getting ready for the
dance During the afternoon some
one proposed race and the girls
were invited out to witness it. They
elapped their hands and applauded
as handsome Bill Stevens won the
race against halfa dozencompetitors
Then when he wheeled round and,
while riding at full gollop, picked
his hat from the ground where he had
purposely dropped It, they fairly
screamed with delight.
Bill was 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. Hebad 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 what people
said against him, she remained his
friend Sometimes they went rid
ing together, and one day she
mounted her own heet-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 gaily 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
Cabs face wore serious expression.
1t was evident that something had
happened which visibly affected both,
but what 1t was neither would tell.
From that day forward Bill acted as
a new nun. He gave up drinking
and forsook his wild companions.
He seemed to DO trying to get away
from every one, and several months
passed without his being seen mt the
ranch, but on this Christmas eve he
come riding up apparently ascareless
as ever. When the race was pro-
posed he was first to leap into the
saddle and In moment all of his
old daredevil recklessness seemed to
return to hun.
In the evening when the big room
had been lighted by dozen swing
ing lamps. the music struck up and
the dance begun. The girls looked
their prettiest in neatly-made, but
very plain dresses, and the young
ranchmen did their best to display a
gallantry befitting the occasion.
Cad danced every set and seemed in
one of her happiest moods, but Bill
stood in silence in one corner of the
room He never offered to dance
with any one, and seemed to be alb
sorbed in watching Cad as she glided
about the room.
just as the fun was at its height q
clatter of hoofs was heard on the
hard beaten trail leading past the
ranch, and few moments afterwards
an eS cited horseman drew rein in
front of the door. The rider proved
to be a Mexican vacquero from one
of the neighboring ranches, and his
evident fright caused everyone to
rush from the ball room and ather
round him to learn what had hap
pened. In broken English and Span
ish he made known the startling fact
that the Indians We're in the valley,
5o,sI thai 49, 60 f------ iN>Fs--1,