The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-11-13

sure glad to see any one that looked
like man, SO they struck up IN &C.
quaintance an Joe managed to pull
over to the Lone Star station two or
three times a month. Joe used to tell
the boys bout the kid, an they laughed
to see how much he thought O. her, an
one or two of 'em even sneaked down
to the Lone Star to SO tho gal an
talked as much about her a, Joe did
after that.
swell, stranger, to saw off my yarn.
when Joe went down to the Lone Star
the last time he saw tough state O.
things. The sheep Eas gone and thu
dog with 'em, while inside the shack
the kids father was stretched out on
the floor, stone dead The gal herself
was Struggled up to him on his breast,
sound asleep. OF course, Joe was just
human bein' an when he saw the lit
tie innocent chit cuddled down by her
dead pa he probably split few tears
Il don't know as any one could blame
him, do you? Joe just took the little
one in his arms an rode over to Min
gersville an told Burton (Smith's
foreman) what had happened. Bur.
ton sent some men up to the station
an they buried the kids father while
Joe brought the kid to the ranch.
You can bet the P. X. boys made
mighty sight of fuss over her. She
became regular pet, an as l said be-
fore, was known all over the country
as "Joe's kid"
"After year 'or two the old NAH
made up his mind to send drove OF
likely bronchos cross country to sell
in the North Dakoty settlements, an
Joe was the Teller he put In charge OF
the herd. Would you believe it,
just as they were startin' nothin'
would do but the kid must 60 long,
too! She put her arms round Joe's
neck an begged so hard that Joe
couldn't do nothin' but take her. The
old man kicked a little, but the kid
generally did what she wanted to in
that ranch an so she went along.
They had great times on that trip
The kid was ridin' with Joe all the
time. They swan the little Missouri
together, chased bronchos and had
great rides, the kid havin' more fun
than anybody.
swell, they rounded up at Skytown
an commenced sellin' out. 1t didn't
take very long, for the people wanted
horses bad, an Joe sold the cattle
cheap an broke 'em, to boot. When
they had bout half the herd left a
chap came along an wanted to buy
the toughest broncho in the herd--a
great big, handsome buckskin, the
fercest devil in the lot-always led
the herd when it made break, an il
any horse ever jumped the corral or
tore it down. or made 'em any trouble,
you could lay heavy it was that big
buckskin. Joe was glad to sell the
brute, though he lowed he'd have a
tough time breakin' him.
"Joe corralled all the horses. then
he an his partner jumped in among 'em
swingin' the end of lariat round
their heads to keep the wild devils
from trompin' 'em. One O. the boys
opened the corral gate an allowed
the horses to go through few at a
time, while Joe switched his rope in
front of old buckskin an kept him in,
an when all the horses were out but
him they shut the gate an Joe be.
gan the breakin' act. He took his
lariat an got into the pen where
buckskin was kickin' an PAWN at a
great rate. then he threw the rope
an it settled over the broncho's neck.
Joe drew it taut just behind the ears an
the other two fellers hoped in an
got hold OF the rope. The idee was
to choke the horse till he was pretty
weak, then trip him up, tie his legs
an halter him. They got him down
all right an Joe's partner got his
knee on the broncho's neck. Joe
turned around to fix another rope
with which to halter the feet when his
partner called out: Joe! an Joe
turned around an saw the kid stand.
in right by the buckskiu's heels. He
dropped the rope and started towards
her, but his partner felt the horse
begin to struggle and jumped from
his neck to get her himself. This left
old buckskin free an he kicked out
with his hind legs and was on his feet
in second. His cruel hoofs struck
the kid an. she fell down without a
Cry. The broncho jumped the fence
an skurried off to join the rest of the
herd out on the prairie And Joe!
don't. think any TELLER ever took on
the way he did. He picked up the
kid an she died in his arms. What a
sight she was! Her yaller curls were
all dabbled in blood that flowed from
an ugly wound in her forehead. Her
blue eyes were half closed an she put
her arms round Joe's neck an tried
to kiss him before she died. Joe cried
like woman an carried her into Sky
town in his arms They made a little
coffin for her an Joe brought her out
here an buried her."
The rancher's voice grew husky and
some more tears coursed down his
cheek.
That's about all there is to this
story, stranger. 'Taint much of a
yarn, but Joe Rogers loved that little
girl more'n any thing else in the world
an ought to know, cause I'm Joe