The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-08-07
BREHKING 4 BRONCHO.
BY ARTHUR PATTERSON.
ooooooooooooo-oooooooooot


TT WAS early In the afternoon of a
warm day in August, and business
was to begin in few minutes. / stood
on the box of an old lumber wagon,
peeping into the corral of Col. Jensen,
a breeder of horses in New Mexico.
Col. Jenson's foreman stood beside me
in the wagon and half dozen cowboys
were perched on the stable roof oppo-
site. Below us was the corral, an in
closure about so yards square, and in
the corral was the horse which was to
receive its first lesson in obedience this
day.
l was very skeptical as to the inter-
est of the event. The broncho was not
very big, nor very beautiful. He only
stood Is hands and was lightly
built-anything but formidable beast
~ look at, the only distinctive points
about him being a Roman nose and a
restless eye.
/ could not help remarking upon his
mild appearance to Ezekiel Yates, the
l1Lthiti was u W"
legged man, with a wizened, clean
shaver face, sharp as a weasers, round
us an oak apple. and nearly as brown.
When made my observation in the dig
nified tone Of assurance natural to a
man who had only been out west four
weeks, Ezekiefs bright little eyes
cleaned with amusement.
Quiet? That is so. 1t is way of ev-
cry species of devil in this country. You
would get inside the gate, would ye, to
improve your acquaintance with him?
] dessay you would. Nay, nay, do not
hold back. would not spoil the chance
of a man findin' a short road to Heaven
for gold dollar, as long as he tells 'em
that he hoisted himself See here; =
grizzly-do We know what grizzly is?
well, grizzly with his head singed is
safer critter to interview by about IA
mile and half than an unbroken bron-
cho at loose ends in corral"
l coughed and subsidized No doubt
Ezekiel was chatting me. Was there not
grin upon the face of every man on
the stable roof? Still, did not go into
the corral and refrained from ventur-
ing another opinion upon the quail
ties of the horse. After pause Ezekiel
said, mournfully: 81 he'd counted upon
putting this job through myself; but
the boss blocked me. He said we'd
worked together too many years for me
TO take chances. Mebbe he's right.
But it is tough to see another man step
in--ain't it?"
l murmured polite assent, and then
racked my brain TO discover his mean
ing, for l had been told by Jensen that
no better rough rider lived than Ezekiel
Yates. AT last, in desperation, haz-
arded a question. A smile of ineffable
contempt came into the face of the lit
tie man, and he swore softly to him
self. Finally he answered.: What dew
they teach folk where you come from?
I'll try again. This broncho will be
broke to-day or killed. Two boys have
tried; one was laid out in ten minutes
with his chest like an apple pudding
eos the pony danced on him. The other
stuck 10 it longer. but were chucked at
last, and his skull fattened agin the
paling there like bit of soft lead. Now
We see the chances. It's a job for an old
hand, and even man who knows may
be tripped by such a demon. SO the
boss sent for Joe Starting to make it
sure, slapped down double stakes, $50,
and there the matter lays"
l began to feel a little excited.
Ezekiel was in earnest, and his words
were suggestive. And now, to set all
doubts at rest, horseman, whom rec
ognized as the person in question, trot-
ted in from the west, and in very
short time appeared with Col. Jensen,
stripped to shirt and trousers, and
ready for the fray.
l had heard of Joe Starting. He was
one of the widest characters in the set
tlenient; a daredevil, reckless Gus
toner, the hero and god of lawless men,
and the dread-except when wanted
of all settlers fond of peace and proper
~. We left our places and was intro
duced to the famous Joe, whom /
found 10 be a slender, long-limbed per
sonage, with sandy beard and keen
eyes, modest, unassuming manner,
and very sparing of speech. | noticed
that Jensen, the burliest and most iov-
ial of men, treated Joe with a Difference
which struck me as odd until learnt
from actual observation what kind of
business this man had agreed to under
take.
The broneho colt was interested by the
proximity Of powerful roam mare held
by Joe, and now came close up TO the
gate and shifted at US. Joe observed the !
animal attentively.
How many hev tried him, kunnel?"