The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-12-01
SELECTED STORY.
At the End of q Lariat.

1t was one of the peculiar features OF
the time that there never was asked
the question, Who are your" 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 well ac-
uuiesce, for the word went along the
line as to his standing. When he did
not do go 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
Cimmarron ranch and introduced him
self as the younger son of wealthy
New Highlander, disinherited because
of his fondness for the sports of the
plains, he was believed. He looked it,
His admirable form and 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 whenever 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 to-
wards the management of the corpora.
tons and the manipulating of the
prices of stock were then in that sec
ton 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. SOFTEN, 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 farther than
any one along the trail, and woe to the
herder that allowed bunch to remain
out on the prairie over night-it was
likely 70 be missing for good.
Of course there was an effort to put
stop to the practice of running in the
wanderers, for at least 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 who 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 q
white face and agitation written upon
his whole body.
sWhat's the matter, Jim2" asked the
chief herder.
"Seen ghost?" asked another.
"No, but l tell you, boys" were his
words, '' I've seen the fastest rider that
ever was in this valley"
"Tell us about it,"
"There amt nothin' to tell. was
over in the upper ravine looking fer
any a-wanderin' steers that might be
needin' care an had found two, when
along come stranger on horseback
and ordered me to git. don't take
any mans sass, and l told him 30.
What did that critter do but give
whoop an scare them steers 30 that
they went bellowin' down the ravine.
l followed of course, an when saw
there wasn't no chance to git them
home turned round to look at the other
one. He sat on his boss as quiet az
you please, an when looked at him
smiled, then with another whoop start
ed after the steers himself, an what do
you think, in minute he had 'em in
his line an was drivin' 'em home
which take it is over the other side of
the trail"
1t appeared afterwards that he had
tried to overtake the stranger, but fail
ed-hence his perturbation. The boys
all laughed at him good deal, and he
fairly haunted the trail to catch an
other glimpse of the mysterious visitor.
But it was week before he was salts
fed.
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 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 viciously. We followed
and were by his side when the sorrel
was overtaken. Then we noticed some
thing that we had not been aware of
before-the rider of the sorrel was a
woman.
Jim's face was a study. He was 80
sure of his game, and when it came as
it did he wilted. But he braced up a
little and began a conversation. 1t was
the daughter of the chief herder across
the river, and she was about as pretty
picture as often came to the eyes of
the herders in the territory. She laugh
ed and joked with Jim, and he deserted
US to be by her side. We rode and left
them together.
That was the beginning, and for
about month Jim and his girl were
the talk of the country around. They
were stuck on each other if any two
ever were, and rode up and down the
ranges like wandering twin spirits.
Once Jim was scared on the range
again, and this time he swore that the
visitor made him give up ten head of
the finest calves that he had ever laid
eyes Oh. But none of us saw the stran-
ger and the opinion of the ranch was
that Jim was little leary that night.
One day the order came to go to the
southwest after herd and drive north.
1t meant two months of hard riding
and how Jim did hate it'll
He rode over to see his girl for good
by, and they had an affecting parting, l
uess. She loved him and wanted to
marry him before he went, but Jim
wouldn't have it so, though he prom
Used that it should be done as soon as he
returned