Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-06-16
THE FAILURE AT RED FORK.
A story of the Brief Career of Bill
Cook,

typical garb OF the western COW
boy, heavily armed with winches-
ters, sixshooters and great clank-
ing spurs, logged along on their
bronchos one sultry afternoon. All
day long they had traversed the
rugged hills and hollows OF the
Spavinaw mountains and at last
they were leading off across the
broad expanse of prairie that
stretches out for miles and miles
in a westerly direction from Grand
river For hours the two men,
m;,h ,be,r broad-brimmed hats
drawn well down over their eyes,
rade on in silence, occasionally
raising their heads to scan The
nrairie in all directions around
Them. For hours the merciless
rays of the hot afternoon sun
streamed down upon the fatigued
horses and their riders, and for as
many hours not a breath of fresh
air disturbed the tall prairie grass
through which they passed. The
scattering farm houses and ranches
along their route were carefully
avoided and left far to their right
or left, and not human being save
themselves were aware of their
weary pilgrimage across the grassy
desert of the great Cooweescoowee
district.
Finally, late in the afternoon as
the big red sun was creeping down
behind the western foothills, the
two men halted on the banks of
small prairie stream. here they
staked out their ponies TO Craze on
the luxuriant grass and proceeded
to partake of a meagre lunch oi
dried beef and bread, which they
carried in their saddle pockets. at
ter which they stretched them
selves out upon their saddle blan-
kets for few minutes rest before
resuming their journey.
Think we kin make it in time,
Bill?" said one of the men finally,
breaking the long silence.
"Yes, easy" answered Bill,
smoolh-faced boy, apparently not
more than 10. make it easy. It's
only ten miles to Red Fork, an
that's where we're to make tn
roundup. The passenger is not
due there till about 1880 tonight. "
After another silence of a few
minutes, Bill raised up on his ell
bows and swept the surrounding
prairie with his keen blue eyes.
Say, Jack, if we make a failure
out'en this job the jig's up wi me.
Tn gal says she'll skip wi me to
Mexico if | git tn money to 60 on
in style. an if | don't she won't.
I'd ruther punch cattle ur farm for
it, but BEINGS thet tn marshals
keep doggin' me an won't let me
make an homes dollar, guess one
little hold-up won't hurt my repu-
tation. I've been gittin' tn credit
fer all tn devilment done fer some
time, anyhow. But, Jack, this will
be tn first job o. tn kind fer me,
an hit'll be tn last'un, too. Ef /
win out stake at it, tn gal II go
long WI me to Mexico, where
we'll marry an maybe live happy
an at peace. Ef | don't win a
stake IN go alone. ! don't like
tnis ropDIn' Dut KINDER love IN
gal, an hits my only chance ter
git her out'en tn country now"
Bill Cook, who thus soliloquized
in The fading twilight of that sui
try afternoon. was not an outlaw
from choice. Like the James and
Younger boys, he bad rather been
driven to It by unfortunate circum-
stances over which destiny alone
reigns. At an early age Bill was
left an orphan, with sister and a
younger brother to provide for.
The cold charities of the world
were seldom extended to them,
and they grew up with the idea
that life was a hard battle and that
the rest of the world were their
enemies. Bill grew up on ranch
as a cowboy, with only the rough
est element of western civilization
as associates, but withal he clung
to an uprightness and honesty in
herited from sturdy, honest pa
rents, and, Notwithstanding his i'll
advantages, no kinder hearted or
more peaceable cowboy ever
roped a maverick or straddled
bucking broncho He was always
quiet and industrious, and up to
the time mis- enemies began their
campaign OF persecution rather
than prosecution against him by
falsely charging him with cattle
stealing be managed 10 provide a
good living for himself, brother
and sister. When Bill heard of
the charges against him he decided
to surrender when the proper Of
ficers came for him, although he
knew strenuous efforts would be
made to convict him in the farci-
cal tribal courts by the introduc-
Iticn of false witnesses or by some
other unfair means. Many false
stories had already been put in
circulation of the depredations of
line @ieving Cook gang" for the
purpose Of making a bad impress
Ion ior Kill in the nation, and
hnally one Say a lot of drunken
officers went ovel to the ranch to
arrest the ALLEGED cow-thief, dead
or alive" as they expressed IL
When the bloodShirsiv officers
reached the ranch, Bal his rister
and brother, Jim, werein their III.
tie home, just sitting own TO a
frugal meal. A fusillade # shots
was the first warning the udicers