Connecticut western news., 1898-05-05
BILLS LITTLE GAL.

BILLS LITTLE GAL. Being 8 man with a wide circle of acquaintances, I purposely avoid &C., curacy as to dates and localities. It is not even necessary to explain how be- came associated with General Surly in the management of big cattle ranch. He was one of the southern gentlemen whose earthly possessions were pretty well wiped out by the war, but he did not stop to chide fate nor wait for some thing to turn up. He converted his available assets into cash and made the investment in which was eventually interested.
 Of course the general had beautiful daughter, or I would have nothing worth the telling. I avoid going into rhapsodies by simply saying that she grew to be strong, stately and grace full woman whose physical attractions were matured in the outdoor world, whose education and accomplishments were those that few women have the mental grasp to acquire and whose heart wassas tender as when her little girlish voice was raised in angry protest against placing the cruel brand upon some bleating maverick. I'll not betray by how many years I was her senior, but fell in love with her the first time I saw her, a little vision of beauty astride burro, riding wildly and with out fear, swinging miniature lasso, her black eyes aglow and her raven hair streaming in waves that even the sweep ing wind of the prairie did not straighten.
 Though she was gentle little mis- tress, every one about the place was her slave. Even stoical old Bud Whipley, who should have lost every vestige of romance in his experience as trapper, scout, Indian fighter and cattle man, had secretly adopted the little witch in his heart, which had come warm and true through all these experiences. Like many man who led the rough life of the frontier, he idealized a good wom- an, and the adoration bestowed by him upon Kitty Surly was as devoid of our earthly conception of love as though she had been an angel.
 It was after she had been east to school and returned to us with all her natural beauty enhanced by the refining influences and opportunities she had en- joyed that old Bud came to me. "l don't like the way that coyote from the Robelda ranch is a-tryin to git inter the round up over here," he began. "Jim Bumpers no sorter feller fur sich a woman as our Kitty. I never heerd yet where he wiped out feller critter what he didn't take unbeknownst or to @ dis advantage. He's made big money, but he ain't square, an he'd make it hell on airth fur woman. He's maxim a strong play fur to git on the good side of the gineral, an I've bout made up my mind that l orter to tend to slippin Jim S | cinch. Takin chances with critters like him is the same as takin chances with rattlesnakes- Jist say the word, an I'll make Jim Bumper git out O here or fight, an he won't fight me fur certain reasons as is private till git ready to turn loose. I reckon he's feelin kinder panicky already, fur I give it out all an singular to the boys over to the ranch that our Kitty warn't agoin to graze | her pritty face on no range 'ceptin our | own an that any feller what tried rop- in her wouldn' never know jist how it | happened he was disapp'inted I don't t of 'en cut loose, but there hain't none O the boys is hankerin partickaler to be round when 1 blow up"
 I could see that the veteran was in deadly earnest, for his parchmentlike | face had an unwonted glow of color, and in his deep set gray eyes there was | glint as ominous as a death warrant. ''See here, Bud" said in a concil- iatory tone. "There are some things about this case that understand better than you do. I'm as determined as any man living that Jim Bumper shan't have Kitty Surly. happen to know that she loves another man who would try to be worthy of her and who will marry her if the general can ever be convinced that big fortune is not es- sential to her happiness. Jim S immense wealth, got nobody knows how, dazzles the general for time, but he will nev- CT ask Kitty to marry against her will, and l can see that Jim is losing ground every day in the generals esteem. It is all right to let matters take their course, and nothing must be done that will make her talked about.
 But old Bud did not belong to the class of men who are content to drift. The necessity of his life had been to plan, plot and anticipate the movements of the enemy. But he said nothing, and I accepted the matter as at an end for the time.
 It was a month before we were startled by very unexpected occur renee. Bud rushed into the room where the general and I were transacting some business to announce that Jim Bumper had kidnapped Kitty and was following the old trail to the nearest large city No time was lost in lamenta- tions or inquiry With rush for arms and horses we were ill the chase. For hours Bud staid right with us on his dilapidated broncho that he always said had done nothing more than switch its abbreviated tail when struck by light ming some 15 years before. Though Jim had one of the best mounts ill the whole territory the extra weight began to tell, and little after midnight we had our quarry in sight. The general was a