The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-06-07
TEDDY'S MAVERICK.
A Pretty Romance of the Great
 Plains.

Sagebrush and sand-sand and sage 6rush-sagebrush and sand again, be- fore, behind, on either side, as far ss the eye could reach. All the afternoon the overland" had been creeping across the sand plains of the great American desert and to the passengers in the Pullman cars-especially to those who disliked cards, were too nervous to read, or who didn't care to drink-the journey was growing very tircsome. It really seemed, to the more imaginative ones, that the refrain of the car wheels was: "Sagebrush and sand, sagebrus and sand"
 The weary afternoon dragged slowly by, and the conductor of the dining car came through to announce dinner--a diyerson, at least.
 "Ah!' remarked one tourist, sudden ly, in agratified tone; there's typical scene for you, me boy"
 Against the red background made by the rays of the setting sun, a short dis tauce from the track, sat 8 solitary horseman, motionless, one hand resting on the pommel of his saddle, the other in the act of pushing back from his forehead his wide brimmed white hat. Then, just as the rear cars of the train approached, he suddenly took off the hat, waved it, jammed his spurs into his wiry little bronco, and started to race with the train, yelling at the top of his lungs. At the end of a quarter mile or so, he slowed up, drew his re- volver and fired a parting salute into the air, accompanying the volley with few more wild howlS-
 The occupants of the Pullmans were amused; they had not seen anything so interesting for long time. The tour ist who had first observed the horse man sighed, and declared he envied the cowboy-he really did.
 How they must enjoy it, this wild, free life of the plains, without worry or care-nothing to ao but commune with nature-when they feel restless, to be able to indulge in a wild, reck- less gallop suitable to the mood and and -er-all that, don't you know?"
 But it did not strike Teddy MacLen- nan, cowboy, that-er-way at all, don't you know? He was just think ing how oppressively tiresome that wild, free life of his was getting to De with
 "Nothing to do but work,
 Nothing to eat but food"
 and
 Nowhere to go but out,
 Nowhere to come but in"
 And, for the rest, nothing to do but get drunk or amuse ones self like howl ing maniac, as he mad just been doing for the delectation of the "tenderfeet' '
 Hits sho' he'll" he reflected, as he continued beside the track, giving the 'bronc" "breather"-"hi sho' is, an do? Seems like we all gifts shif'less, hit does; jes' pluggin' along an workin' hard an playin' hard likewise (ontell the stuff gives out, an no airthly reason fir beiu' alive
 Great sacrificed Wash'n'tn" he rejaculated suddenly, jerking up his horse, "Pll swaller snake, will"
 heard the story from Jerry Mad den, Teddy's present partner in the cattle business, couple of years ago as we sat in the shade of the ranch house one afternoon.
 Why, Teddy don't drink, an like wise swears quite few?" he asked, ir response to query of mine That Sho', he hain't tux nothin' fir most twelve r thirteen year, count O his kid 'Married?' Oh! no, none what. ever They hain't no heifer gifts Teddy not much. 'Why?' Give it'up Mebbe gou c'n tell mel
 Ted was ridin' along one day-'tis thirteen year ago-ridin' clost by tn railroad track one evenin', feelin' kind O sore an disgusted-like, when, all ot student, he sees somethin' funny trottin' along tn track. Ted stops n wipes his eyes an gazes hull lot more, cause what he seen want noth In like what we finds round this yere patch O bresh; none whatever. More oyermore, Ted d ben tankin' up quite plenty that day, he had, an was dead ieary O what might be tn matter oi hls peeps. But e rubs 'em quite lot more, an l hope l may straddle tn ghost bronc' eff there want tn purtiest tittIe maverick ye ever see-little girl bout five year old, browsin' along tn Sack, lookin' lost