The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-04-26
ONE TOUCH OF NATURE
BY L. d. LEECH.


BY L. d. LEECH.
1t was ia the early seventies. and and
my two partners were running a cattle
ranch located on the Big Medicine River
IN southwestern Kansas.
The recently finished Pacific railroads
to the north Of us had driven the buffalo
pretty we'll out of the southern country.
and the millions of acres of rich grasses
which had pastured countless thousands
OF these animals for untold ages past.
now law open to the herds of the cattle.
men.
We were among the first ranchers who
entered the new field, but at the time of
which l write nearly one hundred COW
camps had been established within a
radius of fifty miles of ours.
One of the most recent arrivals in the
neighborhood was New Englander
named Bailey, a quiet, rather delicate
looking fellow of about thirty five, who,
year before my story opens, had come
on the range, bought couple OF hundred
head of cattle, and located a ranch on the
North Fork, about twenty miles west of
our camp.
Bailey was shy, reserved sort of man.
and although hospitable enough when
visited, evinced but little of that whole
souled fraternal sociability which gen
ally characterizes the lordly riders of the
range. This made him very unpopular,
and with the exception of an old Mexi-
can herdsman, who served him in the ca
pacity of cowboy, he had few friends and
no intimates.
We are all entirely too ready to believe
the worst Of any one whom we dislike,
and cowboys are no exception TO the
rule.
SO when, one autumn afternoon, big
Jim Smith, the boss herder of the circle
bar ranch, came laundering up to the
dug-out, with his pony all afoam, and,
calling me outside, told me that Bailey
was running off bunch of steers in which
there were lot of strays belonging to
other ranchers, and that the boys had
gotten wind of it, and were organizing a
pursuing party to catch and hang him for
cattle theving, | did not doubt the ac-
cused man's guilt.
Ten minutes later l had belted on nv
revolver. saddled my pony, and was
galloping like the wind for the appointed
rendezvous, all too ready to take my part
in the anticipated hanging-bee."
We were wild, rough-looking set who
met that evening at the 2-X ranch, and
started out on poor Bailey's trail. To
tell the truth, we were most of us as
wild and rough as We looked
There were fifteen in the company
altogether, for the most part owners, or
part owners, of ranches, and the rest
cowboys. We were all we'll mounted,
and each was armed with knife and re-
volver, while from every saddle horn
hung the ever-present lariat, the all-im-
portant item, next to his pony, of cow
boys equipment.
Tom Anderson, strapping Missourian
who ran the 2-X brand, and who was the
acknowledged master-spirit of the range
fell naturally into the lead upon this oc-
casion, as he did upon all others where
intrepid daring and unyielding 6rmness
were required.
Tom was what the cowboys call a
"holy terror" He did not know what
fear was; but, though relentlessly fierce
and cruel when enraged, he had a heart
that was tender as child's in some of
it's moods. He was lion in both looks
and nature, and we all admired him, AID
generally submitted, without question,
to his leadership
Our party rode over sixty miles that
night, and just as it began to grow light
next morning we came up with Bailey.
He and his old herder We're engaged in
cooking breakfast over their campfire
when we appeared upon the scene, and
we did not wait for them to finish their
meal before explaining their business.
Fierce and haggard from our hard
night-ride, we were an ungly-looking
crew, and it was little wonder that poor
Bailey looked scared as he rose and
timorously greeted us with Good
morning, gentlemen!" as we advanced
and drew up around the fire.
No one answered bis salutation 1T was
received with grim, ominous silence.
"Just take care of him, boys, while
ride out to the cattle and see that there
is no mistake about the strays. We
want to be certain he's guilty before go
ing any further" said our leader; and,
as he spoke, he and several others of the
party started toward a bunch of cattle
that were grazing upon the prairie not
far off, while the rest of US kept guard
over Bailey, who had now grown pale as
death, and was trembling in every limb.
In a moment Tom and the others re-
turned, and, as they approached, Tom
said: "It's true boys. There's q dozen
strays in the lot, and no mistake" and
turning, without more ado, to the cover
ing cul prit, he added. with harsh alb
ruptness that was simply terrible: " You,
Bailey, are a cattle-thiet, and we have
come after you to hang you. You knew
the law of the range when you broke it,
so you must abide by it. You shall
have an hour, and an hour only, to PIE
pare for death"
As his doom was thus spoken, Bailey,
poor wretch, was completely overcome
with terror and dismay.
go boys, boys, don't hang me! You
mustn't hang mel" he cried piteously,
falling suppliantIy on bis knees. IL
swear am innocent call on my Maker
to witness that intended to pay you for
your cattle. Oh, have mercy, and don't
k.cc mn - and he hr0ke cOmDletelv