Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-12-31
RETRIBUTION.

All sorts and conditions of men and
women came together in the cattle days.
1t was one of the peculiar features of the
time that there never was asked the ques-
tion, "Who are youg The newcomer in
troduccd himself, as did the miners of the
mountains, in his own way and was tax
en- 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 a stranger he might as
well acquiesce, 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 Sorten came to the CT
marron ranch and introduced himself as
the younger son of wealthy New Eng
lander disnherited 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 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 sixties
Rivalries that are now turned toward
the management of the corporations and
the manipulating of the prices for 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 "Yellowback, because
of his customary clothes of bright saffron,
was the leader of the rustlers He could
scent maverick farther than any one
along the trail, and woe to the hcrder that
allowed bunch to remain out on the
prairie overnight. 1t was likely to be
missing for good.
OF course there were efforts to put stop
to the practice of running in the wander
ers for at least a reasonable time after the
finding Of the same. But who could pre-
vent 1t? Sorten went to the trail every
night to see If there were any wanderers
that needed protection from the blizzards
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 white
face and agitation written upon his entire
body.
what's the matter, JimY'' asked the
chlet herder'
seen ghostf' asked another.
NO, but l tell you, boys" were his
words, GIVE seen tho fastest rider that
ever was III this valley"
Tell us about 1t. -
There amt nothin to tell. was over
in the upper ravine lookin for any wan
derin steers that might be needin care and
had found two when along come stran-
ger on horseback and ordered me to git.
don't take any mans sass, and told him
SO. What did that critter do but give
whoop and scare them steers so that they
went bellowin down the rayine. Ifollered,
OF course, and when saw that thorc wasn't
no chance to git them home turned round
to look at the other one. He sat on his
hoss as quiet as you please, and when
looked at him smiled, then with another
whoop started after the steers himself, and
what do you think--in minute he had
EN- in his line and was drivin 'em home,
which take it is over theother side of tho
trail. !"
1t appeared afterward that he had tried |
to oyertake 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 tho
visitor, but it was week be-
fore he was satisfied.
A day off was given the cowboys by
reason OF the failure Of a herd to get in
from the farther range, and we all went
up to tho town for time. Jim was looking
for something all the time, and when, as
we came within mile Of the settlement,
he caught sight Of sorrcl horse ahead Of
US he gave little cry of JOY and sank tho
spurs into the fianks Of his pony viciously
We followed and were by his side when
She sorrel was overtaken. Then we noticed
something that we had not been aware Of
before-the rider of the sorrel was q
woman.
Jims face was a study. He was SO sure
II his game, and when 1t came as it did
le wilted. But be braccd UP little and
began conversation. 1t was the daugh-
er OF the chief herder across the river,
md she was about as pretty picture as
'ften came to the eyes Of the herders in
he territory. She laughed and joked with
linn, and ne deserted us to be by her side.
We rode and LETT them together.
Ihat was the beginning and for about
|, monbn l Jim and ms girl were the talk Of