The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-07

women came together In the cattle days
it was one Of the peculiar features Ofstho
time that there never was asked the ques-
tion: "who ara your" Tne newcomer in
troduced himself as did the miners of the
mouutains In his own way, and was
taken for what he was worth. dis real
value was usually determined ct short
notice by the men Of the frontier. and
when they had once branded stranger
he might as well acquissce, for the word
When he aid not do SO, he found that
there was likely to be hint thAt he
could not afford to neglect-a7d he
obeyed.
Wlel James Sortsn camc to the Cim-
marron ranch and introduced himself as
the younger son OF wealthy New Eng
lander, disinherited because OF his fond
ness for the sports OF the plains. he was
believed. He looked it His admirable
form and his charming manners-as man.
ners went in those days-won To him ths
men-and women-of the settlements. ana
made him the friend or the ranch poys
wherever he met them. Some OF the Dovs
will yet remember him and the lively part
he played in the drama OF the latter COS
Riyalrics that are now turned toward
tho management OF the corporation ana
the manipulating OF the prices OF stock
were then In that section devoted TO We
handling OF herds, and the ranch that
had tho largest and most energetic force
OF COW boys was the one that had the bet
ter fortune in that line. Sor.en who soon
Qsined the title OF yellow back, be-
cause Of his customary clothes OF bright
saffron, was the leader OF the rustlers.
He could scent n maverick farther than
anyone along the trail, and woe to the
herder that allowed a bunch to remain
ont OH the prairie over night-it was
likely TO he missing for good.
OF course there were efforts To put a
stop 10 the practice of running In the
wanderers for at least n reasonable tims
alter the hndine Of the same But who
could prevent itf Sorten went TO the
trail every night TO see III there were any
wanderers that needed protection from
the blizzsrds, and often returned with
two or three that had strayed from some
passing herd. One night he did not re-
turn as soon as usual and whom he come
in it was with a white face, and AZ ithtion
written upon his entire body.
What's the matter, JIM asked the
chief herder.
seen a CHEST asked another.
mo, but I'll tell you, boys, wers his
words, I've seen the fastest rider that
ever wns In this valley"
Tell US about 1t.
"lhere Amt uothin' to tell. 1 was over
In the upper ravipe looking fer any "a
wanderin stesrs that might bs neadin
care and had found two, when alorg Y
come q stranger on horseback and ordered
me Tn cit. don't take any mans sass,
and to ID hi.n So What dad that crit
ter do but give whoop an scare them
steers SO that they went bellowin' down
the rayinc follered. Of course, an when
l saw that there wasn't no cbancs to SIT
them home turned around % look at the
OF Ter one. He slt on mis- noss 's qule' as
you please, an when looked at him
smiled. then with ancEaer whoop started
after the steers himself. an what DO you
think, in minute he had 'em Ia his Iine
an was drivin' EN- home-which take
II Is over the other side OF the trail
IL appeared afterwa ard that he nan tried
TO overtake the stranger. but failed
hence his pert IrbHtion. TIE boys all
l,ugEed at him q good deal, aud hs fairly
haunted tho trail TO catch another
glimpse OF the mysterious visitor. But
il was a week batore he was satisfied.
A day of was given the COWBOYS by
reason of tho failure Of herd Co get in
iron the farther range, and We al went
M TO the tow for time. .'im was look
inR for sometsing all the time. and wben
n we came within a mile OF the settle
ment he caught sight OF sorrel hors,
aaead sf us he gave little cry OF Joy ana
sank the spurs into the Hanks of his pony
vicIously. We followed, and were by his
side when the sorrel was overtsken. Then
we noticed something that we hau not
bsen aware Of bffore-that the rider or
tie s1rrel was woman
Jtm's face wss "a stuiy. lie was 80
sure OF his game. and when IL came az 1t
did he wilted. But he bracea up little
and began conversation. lt was tho
daughter of the chief herder across the
river. and she was about as pretty PIC
ture az ever came Tn the eyes OF the
herders i'm the territory. She iangned ana
G.l. hlE n An
by rer side. We role and lett them to-
Lether
That was the beginning. and for about
n month j i'm and mis- girl wero the talk
of the county round. Ihey were stuck on
each other If ary two ever were, ana rode
up and nown the ranges ike wandering
twin spirits.
Once jim was scared on the range
again, and this time he swore that tue
visitar ma Ia him give up ten head of tho
finest calves that he bad ever LAID eyes
o.. But none of us sHw STRANGER.
and the opiniun Of the ranch was that
Jim was little leary that night
One day the order cams to go 10 the
south west after n herd and drive Forth.
IL meant two months of nard riding, and
how Jim did hate 1t!
lie rode over ~ sec his girl for goodbye,
and they hsd an affecting parting, L
guess Sne loved him and waited II marry
hi,n II, fore he went, but jim wouldo't 9
have it So though be lrCm that III
should 10 done as soon as lie returned
That was thu year OF tho cattle suffer
ing on the plains because of the rain ana
sleet. The nerds were unable to get from
the ice the wet grass beneath ann starved
and froze To death on the northern
pleius. In tho territory there was no
suffering Of this sorr, nut toe coll ram
made IL hard for the cowboys and they
had the tiu2hest time they had ever seen
10 keep warm while on the range. They