Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1900-12-20
TOLD IN HIS DREAMS.
PECULIAR VISION OF A RANCHER ON
A NEW MEXICO PRAIRIE.

His Partner Appeared 90 Him DUR
ing Sleep and Informed Him of the
Fearful Fate That lie Had Met at
the Hands of the Indians.
mo, l can't say 20 much on super
stition and that sort of thing, but I'd
like some of these wise chaps to ex-
plain n little incident that happened to
me downein the Pecos valley, In New
Mexico, n few years ago"
Grizzled Bob Morrow, veteran cow
boy, ranchman. globe trotter and phi
losopher, took another pull at his cigar
as he sat comfortably IN his seat In the
hotel lobby. A thoughtful look came
over his face, and his companions at
the table awaited In silence his further
utterances. After a pause Bob con-
tinued:
1--WE were sign riding. Lee Wells
and I. Know what sign riding isl
An imaginary line Is drawn OH the
prairie. Two men, one stationed mt
each end, ride toward each other at n
given hour Any cattle that have
crossed that line are rounded up ana
driven back. The idea Is 20 keep the
cattle together as much rs possible
during the winter.
"Our line was about ten miles long.
Lee and used to meet half way every
day, and if no cattle had crossed we'd
sit down and smoke and chat bit.
Sometimes we'd visit each Other's
'dobe and generally chum together as
far AZ men can when ten miles apart.
We each had six horses. the pier of the
herd, and mighty proud we were. too.
Of 'em.
"Bout that time the Indians were
rather troublesome. They generally
sent in small bands. and occasionally
the loss oss, bunch OF horses would be
reported by nnchmcn thcrcabOut Lee
and | didn't fear 'pn much. They car
rIcd only bows and arrows. and if II
came to chase our horses could cas-
lily outrun theirs. The greatest danger
we had to fear was the loss Of our
horsea
lee and | had talked frequently
about the Indians. and both were of
lHe Hhult IL hNNuNhNNN NH wv
horses rather than let the marauding
thieves get 'em.
81 left Lee at the half way mark, as
usual, one day. got back to my 'dobe
and after eating dinner turned In. l
hadn't been asleep very long when |
was awakened by a sort Of feeling that
there was somebody In the room. l
CROPPED under the pillow for my gun,
turning over as did So and there In
the doorway stood Lee Wells. The
feathered shafts of six arrows were
sticking from his breast. and his face
n the moonlight looked drawn and
CHASTITY. There was smile Of salts
faction on his face, though, as he said
quietly:
"'Weil, they got me. Bob, but they
didn't get the horses
II was out Of bed In an instant. The
minute my feet touched the floor Lee
vanished. The door was shut and lock
ed Just as left it when went to bed.
Pondering over the realistic dream
or whatever 1t was, turned in again,
but it was a long time before got to
sleep again.
"a second time I was awakened by
the same vision. There stood Lee In
the doorway, and again he pointed to
the arrow shafts and said:
""Tbey got me, Bob, but they didn't
get the horses
mo more sleep for me that night.
looked around the 'dobe, thinking per-
haps Lee was playing me a trick.
went out TO the corral. The horses
were all right. and there were no signs
OF anybody having been around. l sat
I'D and smoked and thought a whole
lot until daybreak; then mounted and
set on for the half way mark. Lee
wasn't there, and there was no sign OF
his coming, so I rode on to his 'dobe.
There, at the gate of the corral, was
Lees body, with six arrows In his
chest, Just as had seen them In the
vision. Inside the corral lay the bodies
OF his horses, all killed with bullets.
"It was plain to me that, seeing the
Indians coming. Lee had deliberately
killed the horses before turning his at
tention 10 the thieves. Judging from
the hoof prints, there must have been
about 20 Indians In the bunch. Lee
must have damaged them some before
he fell, Judging from the cartridge
shells lying around. They took his
Winchester, OF course, and looted the
'dobe. They didn't set much for their
trouble, though. .',,N..E
But what l want, to know is was
that a dream or did lee Wells really
appear before me In some sort OF
formT 49,,
His hearers could not expiain.-Newl
York Mail and Express.