The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-05-06
SCOUTS REST.

Little more than this can be seen from
the coach, and then the name Of the
rancho can only be deeiphered by means
of glass, but if the traveller has the
time to hire rig at the city of North
Platte and ride northwestward over the
dusty prairie he will shortly find HIM
self repaid for his venture, for he will
see a picture of Western prosperity which
will live long in his mind. Three thou
sand acres of the most beautiful stretch
of land on the Nebraska prairies; mag
ni6cent stock buildings and grand old
dwelling of a cheeringly roomy appear
ance; thousands upon thousands of head
of cattle and horses here, there and away
off on the prairie and in their corrals;
acres of land under cultivation; horse.
men riding hither and yon evidently
without fixed point in view but un-
questionably to the posted ranchman
doing nothing unnecessary. This is
Cody's ranch and it is here that he makes
his headquarters for the most part when
he is on this side of the ocean.
Mrs. Cody herself Is an intensely do.
mestic woman, loving her home life
above all the glory coming to her as the
wife of SO celebrated character as Buff
falo Bill. She is loyal to North Platte
and to North Platte institutions. The
one little girl left her attends school
chere, as had her sisters, and the other
little one. who eight years ago left the
little prairie settlement which had been
her only home to return no more,
sleeps under little mound where the
Nebraska prairie is her covering ever.
even Miss Arta. after visiting the capt.
calls of the old country, came back to
marry Nebraska lumherman, w. Ell,
Boal. Mrs. Cody is as yet on the sunny
side of life and the grey has hardly yet
come to her hair.
Not altogether pleasant has her life
been since she left her Missouri home
oack in the Cos to join fortunes with
Government scout, for in those early,
wild days there were many hardships
which could not even be guessed by
Eastern wives. But she looks none the
worse for it now.
There is one phase of Cody's own char
acter which I do not remember to have
ever seen in print. This is his vanity.
There is no question that Cody is az
vain as could be desired, but he isn't Of.
fensive in evidencing it. He would be
mighty strong minded if he didn't evince
some dissatisfaction, An interesting
story is told by one of the many awar
correspondents" who happened to be in
an Indian outbreak. Speaking of Cody,
he said:
happened to be his roommate in
country hotel up in the Pine Ridge In
dian country in the winter OF 1890. !
had the only room in which two people
were not lodged and when Buffalo Bin
came he made up the last man with me,
Not feeling particularly well that day /
nad taken to the room and was reading a
book on Western Characters, Cody
busying himself writing letters. Some.
where over in the back Of the book
struck the name of Buffalo Bill
"'Hello. Colonelp sang out. Here
you are in this book Every body out
here of course calls him colonel because
Of his connection with the militia. 3'That
sor he said, in his quiet, 800 words-a-
minute way. Read it,
Il started in and discovered in two
lines that it wasn't just the kind Of a
write-up man usually liked. It spoke
Of Cody as having been a bushwhacker,
and hard man down In Missouri. Il
stopped.
@'That amp he asked interestedly. stop.
ping his writing.
No; it calls you cattle thief in the
next line.'
go onl Go onr
l went on, but it broke me all up.
had never met Cody before that day and