The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-11-25
AT THE he END OF y
~ THE LARIAT.
BY JUAN MORO.

A LII sorts and conditions of men and
"A women came together in the cattle
days. 1t was one of the peculiar fea-
lures of the time that there never was
asked the question:: "Who are you?'
The newcomer introduced himself, as
did the miners of the mountains, in his
own way, and was taken for what he
was worth. His real value was usually
determined at short notice by the men
of the frontier, and when they had once
branded stranger he might as we'll &C.
quiesce, for the word went along the
line as to his standing. When he did
not do so he found that there was likely
to be hint that he could not afford to
neglect-and he obeyed.
When James SOFTEN came to the Cim-
maroon ranch and introduced himself
as the younger son of a wealthy New
Highlander, disinherited because of his
fondness for the sports of the plains, he
was believed. He looked it. His ad-
mirable form and his charming man
ners-as manners went in those days
won to him the men-and women-of
the settlements, and made him the
friend of the ranch boys wherever he
met them. Some of the boys will yet
remember him and the lively part he
played in the drama of the latter COS.
Rivalries that are now turned toward
the management of the corporations and
the manipulating of the prices of stock
were then in that section devoted to the
handling of herds, and the ranch that
had the largest and most energetic
force OF cowboys was the one that had
the better fortune in that line. Sorten,
who soon gained the title of yellow
back" because of his customary clothes
Of bright saffron; was the leader of the
rustlers. He could scent a maverick
ferther than anyone along the trail,
and woe to the herder that allowed a
bunch to remain out on the prairie over
night-it was likely to be missing for
good.
OF course there were efforts to put a
stop to the practice of running in the
wanderers, for at least a reasonable
time after the finding of the same. But
who could prevent it? SOFTEN went to
the trail every night to see if there were
any wanderers that needed protection
from the billiards., and often returned
with two or three that had strayed from
some passing herd. One night he did
not return as soon as usual, and when
he came in it was with a white face, and
agitation written upon his entire body.
whats the matter, jim? ?" asked the
chief herder.
"Seen ghost?" asked another.
mo, but I'll tell you, boys" were his
words, Give seen the fastest rider that
ever was in this valley"
! "Tell US about it,
"There amt nothin' to tell. 1 was
over in the upper ravine looking fer any
a-wanderin' steers that might be need
in care and had found two, when along
come stranger on horseback and or
dered me to git. don't take any mans
sass, and told him so. What did that
critter do but give whoop an scare
them steers so that they went bel
lowin' down the ravine. I follered, of
course, an when saw that there wasn't
no chance to git them home turned
around to look at the other one. He
sat on his boss as quiet as you please,
an when looked at him smiled, then
with another whoop started after the
steers himself, an what do you think,
in a minute he had 'em in his line an
was drivin' 'em home-which I take
It is over the other side of the trail"
d 1t appeared afterward that he had
tried to overtake the stranger, but
failed-hence his perturbation. The
boys all laughed at him good deal,
and he fairly haunted the trail to catch
another glimpse of the mysterious Wis.,
itor. But it was week before he was
satisfied.
A day off was given the cowboys by
reason of the failure of herd to get
in from the farther range, and we all
went up to the town for time. Jim
was looking for something all the
time, and when as we came within a
mile of the settlement he caught sight
of sorrel horse ahead of us he gave
little cry of joy and sank the spurs
into the TANKS of his pony viciouslv.
We followed, and were by his side when
the sorrel was overtaken. Then we no.
ticed something that we had not been
sware of before-that the rider of the
sorrel was a woman.
Jim's face was study. He was so
sure of his game, and when it came as
II did he wilted. But he braced up a
little and began conversation. [:
vas the daughter of the chief herder
lcross the river. and she was about as
pretty picture as often came to the
eyes of the herders in the territory.
She laughed and ioked with Jim, and
be deserted US to be by her side. We
rode and'left them together. p , 4
That was the beginning, and for
shout . month Jim and his girl were
ID he talk OF the country around. They
y were stack g. sach other Il any two