The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-08-27

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'GPAPTER XII.
Cheyenne
Preston and his nephew laid thei
course toward the southwest afte
crossing the river and we're soen in the
midst Of the sand hills whose abrup'
peaks cover for miles that section OF
country which is marked upon thu
atlas of the sixties as t"tthe great
American DESERT" and athe bad land.
of Nebraska"
Many men claim that,Ia few years
since, these great sand hills were bar
rem white sand, no grass Or other vege
table growth upon them. Now VT
would like to have these same men ex
plain to us what kept the deer, buffalo
Indian ponies and the horses of d.
soto's Spanish expedition when they
visited this same section almost foul
hundred years ago. Perhaps they cub.
sisted on sand, but we doubt it
Speaking Of De Soto's expedition, re.
cent discoveries prove beyond all rea.
able doubt that at least a part of De
Soto's expedition which left Florida
for the west in the year 1910, visited
the Niobrara country. This is a fact
not generally known among readers OF
history, but several years. since a skel.
eton in armor was found near the Mo
brara, and near the bones were a few
Spanish coins of ancient stamp, to-
tgether with a flint lock, bell muzzled
spanish musket, bearing on its lock
the stamp of 1886. Now unless the
PARTICLES and the bones were dropped
here by a cyclone they prove that the
Spanish. after crossing the Mississippi
and heading for the northwest, did
come northward as far as the Niobrara
river i'm their'search for gold.
After a weeks riding the Prestons
reached Cheyenne. Here they rested
for several days without hearing a
word from the mysterious No Name.
One evening John went for stroll
about the town, leaving Preston at the
hotel. 1t was a cool aud pleasant even
ing and the town was the scene of
merry making, for the cowboys were
in from the neighboring ranches for a
carnival, and Judging from The ear
splitting din one would suppose that
they were having one,
AS Preston was returning from his
stroll he was startled by the sound of
curses, Mingled with the plunging or a
horse a short distance ahead of him.
Drawing bis pistol he hurried upon the
scene of action. In the glow of the
lights, somewhat dim just there, he
made out the form of a man on horse
back who seemed to be struggling to
free himself from the grasp of two
burly rnfiaps who had seized his bri-
die reins and arms and were trying to
drag him from his horse.
John always termed himself the
friend Of the under dog in a fight.
Stealing silently up he dealt the near
est man a blow on the head with his
Colts revolver that tumbled him in q
heap, on which the other man loosed
his hold of the horseman's bride and
dashed off down the street. After
firing a shot over his head to brighten
him, John turned and snapped his
handcufs, which he always carried, on
the wrists of the fallen tough who was
already showing signs of returning
consciousness, after which he turned
observe the horseman who was
watching him. He seem.
ed to be a young man Of about twenty
i've years of age, and was mounted on
a fiery horse that showed the thorough
bred in every movement of his impa.
tient body. The young man was fully
clad in buckskin, well armed and seat.
sd in a splendid saddle of Mexican
pattern.
THANK you, pard, for your timely
assistance" said the young man in a
pleasant voice, holding forth a small
hand, and pleased with the frank face
the young fellow, John grasped
heartily the outstretched palm.