Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-05-17
THE RANCHMAN'S WIFE
BY FRANK II. CONVERSE.

BY FRANK IL. CON VERSE.
''Whatl Another story about the
wild and woody Westf should think
you boys would get tired of hearing of
Indians and all that sort ofthing. Well,
let me think minute.
Your Aunt Bess isn't anywhere round,
is shea MOI For she isn't over fond of
Indians or Indian stories-and with good
reason.
1t was way back in the seventies. l
fitted out at Fort Caspar, in New Mexi-
co, and started off alone, fur trapping
up among the foot hills.
They told me l was crazy to venture
so far, as the Indians were thicker than
flies all through the section of country
where was going; but was used to
taking chances in those days, and game
was wonderfully plenty round the Gila
ranges. So started off.
Well, reached the southern foot hills
all right, without seeing sign of red
skin. But for all that, didn't get
careless. used a bow aud arrows,
with which was quite expert in those
days, TO kill what game / wanted, rather
than run any risk of attracting the no.
tice of any prowling Apache by rifle
shot. was very lucky with my trap
ping, and in about three weeks had a
mule load of pelts, with which | started
back toward the fort.
The second day of my journey brought
ME to the bottom lands in the finest sec :
tion of grazing country ever saw. A
branch Of the GiIn aiver worzr ssz-.ss
for miles like blue ribbod, through
buffalo grass half way to the horses
knees, while on every side there was
willow and cottonwood enough to sup
ply fuel for the biggest kind of settle
ment.
rode slowly along, with my pack
mule plodding few PAGES behind, think
ing, as ! we'll remember, that l should
like nothing better than to have nice
little ranch of my own in those parts,
and settle down there.
All at once from behind there came a
yell-or, rather, a chorus of them
such as man, no matter how much
courage he may have, doesn't care to
hear more than once in lifetime.
Unslinging my rifle and turning in
my saddle at one and the same time
saw score or more of mounted Indians
coming up at full speed, whooping and
yelling like so many fiends.
OF course there was but the one thing
to do. My horse was tolcrably fast and
in good condition. 1t was late in the
afternoon, and if l could keep well
ahead of my pursuers, might hope to
escape them under cover of the night.
Leaving the pack mule and peltries
to their fate, gave old Reno his head
and then began race for life or death.
For an hour l seemed to gain little by
little Then poor Reno began to flag
while the Indian ponies, lashed to their
highest speed, drew nearer and nearer.
swung half round and dropped big
"buck" with my Winchester at hun
dred yards as neatly as you please, but
so to speak-this. was only drop in
the bucket. On came the rest with
fercer cries and more hideous wells, ac-
companied by fusillade from their car
bines, as well as by some half dozen ar
rows, one of which went fairly through
my right forearm just below the elbow.
The pain was such for the moment that
my fingers relaxed their grasp, and my
rifle fell to the ground, leaving me, ex-
cept for hunting knife, practically un-
armed, as, unfortunately, on the day be-
fore ] had broken the main spring of my
revolver.
'I'll die hard if die must, I NUT
tered, getting hold of my knife with my
left hand, for my right had all at once
become almost useless-some nerve or
cord having been severed by the sharp
point of the arrow, as supposed at the
time.
All at once my tagging horse rounded
a big clump of cottonwood. l saw a
neat cabin, with one or two outbuild-
ings, not furlong away. But at that
self-same moment old Reno's forefoot
went down in a gopher hole, and I went
flying over his head, very much after the
manner of diver, only that my arms
were outs,retched as divers never
ought to be.
Luckily, l struck on my right
shoulder; 50, though badly bruised and
shaken, was on my feet like cat in a
second. And the instinct of self preser-
walton, as a matter of course, led me to
run at fuii speed toward the eala..r~-
thought could see no sign Of life about
;ile prelni-es.
But, run as fast as | might. the pur-