The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-04-27
TRUE TO DEATH.

When I was in Montana last summer, 1
put up one evening at the sheep ranch of
Joel Weideman.
Joel was known as the sheep king of the
county, but he had another title among
the ranchers that was still more honorable
to hint was Honest Joel.
Twas sitting on the veranda of their great
log house enjoying the landscape and chat
ting with Joel and his wife and his charm
ing daughter Nellie when my eye was at
tracted by a singular object in such a
place.
1t was a shaft of shining white marble
4 feet high standing on the edge of the
bank of the rapid creek that flows through
the ranch.
I excused myself to my hostess and
sauntered over to the spot to ascertain what
it could be.
On its face, half way up, was chiseled
the head of a shepherd dog. Under the
head were the words ''Died on Duty, and
across the base in large letters was the
single word "Shep."
When I returned to the veranda, I asked
my host to whom the stone was erected.
cit is the grave of the noblest fellow
that ever lived. No relation, but the best
friend | ever had. | might not have had a
penny today were it not for old Shep.
"But he did more than that-he saved
the life of my daughter Nellie here, and
he died in trying to saw my property.
"He was only a dog, but he had better
sense and a kinder heart than almost any
man I ever knew.
"When I took up this land, nearly 90
years ago, was very poor and had to take
a herd of sheep to care for, getting one
half the increase from the owner for my
work.
"In the course of a few years my share
gave me enough to start a herd of my owl,
which increased to nearly 5000 head at
the time when this incident happened.
"One day in February my herder left
me without any notice, and I was placed
in an awkward p~redicament.
"My wife was i'll in bed, and there was
no n about to herd the sheep while 1
went to the village to look up another
man.
"My wife and I were discussing the
question when my little girl Nellie, who
was then 10 years old, climbed on my
knees and said: Father, it's going to be
fine weather tomorrow, and Shep and I can
take care Of the sheep for one day just as
well as any man, can't we, Shep?'
ave had brought the dog up from a pup,
and we all thought nearly as much Of
hin as though he were a child.
"In the management of sheep he GER
tainly knew more thar any herder I ever
saw.
ut was a risky thing to do at that sea-
son., when storms came up very suddenly,
but prospects for fair weather were excel
lent, and I let them coax me into a prom
Use to think about it.
II saw the sun was shining, and all in
dictated a fair day, so l gave my consent.
"The last thing I saw was little Nellie,
with her long, golden hair blowing in the
breeze. Juggling up yonder hill, with the
sheep ahead of her and old Shep jumping
at her side, just as happy as could be.
II went on to town and put up at old
Sol Days hotel and was starting to look
about for a herder when up came Roberts,
the consta BILE, and summoned me for a
juryman for a trial to take place at 9
O'Clock in the afternoon.
II tried to explain to him the fix / was
in, and that I had to be back that after
noon, but he would not listen to me.
II went then to see the justice, but he
would not let me off.
HE looked upon it as a joke and kept
laughing at me, but I did not think it was
SO funny, particularly when I vent out
again and found that snowclouds were
gathering in the sky, and it was beginning
to blow.
II went back and told him a storm was
coming up and how l had left things at
the ranch, but he stuck to it that the
weather was all right and thought I was
trying to fool him to get off the jury.
"When I came out again, l could see
that a regular blizzard was coming up,
and I was getting scared when I thought
of Nellie out with the sheep.
II went for the justice again, but he
only p~oohpoohed and would hardly listen
to me. I got raging mad at the man and
told him 1 would go home in spite of him.
"'H you try to- he said, L will have
the constable arrest you and make you
serve and fine you in the bargain
"But I did not care for his fine when
my little daughters life and all my prop
erty might be at stake, and INVENT over to
the stable and got out my pony.
81 was just mounting when the consta-
BILE came up, grabbed hold of the bride
and stopped me from riding off. All the
rest of the men who were to go on the jury
began gathering around, attracted by the
fuss.
II was blind with fury and hit the fell
low over the head with my whip, and then
he called on the men about him to help
arrest me in the name of the Jaw.
"They were mostly neighbors and friends
OF mine, but they were compelled to obey
and were coming for me when I yelled out:
"'Men, you all know my little girl Mel
liei She is out with my sheep today on
the prairie. Look at the blizzard that is
coming. Will you hold me from going to
her?'
II struck out with all speed to make
that 20 miles before the night would come,
but before had gone o~ne-quarter of that
distance the blizzard was at its height.
and I could not see a foot ahead of me.
"Suddenly the animal stopped, and look
ing out I saw that I had turned complete
~ round and was on the path I had just
passed over.
II turne his head homeward again and
gave him the reins, knowing he would be
most likely to find his way to the ranch.
Might came On, and I did not know
whether we were nearer or farther from
the ranch as the now jaded pony staggered
along in the darkness hour after hour.
tSuCden1v I heard a h0rSa ua;ob oDd