The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-26
DUCKSKIN IKE'S LITTLE JOKE.
COWBOYS NAVE THEIR FUN. AND
HE HAS HIS AFTERWARD.
Ease and Nonchalance on the BACK Of
the worst Bucking Bronco In Seven
states Tricks Not Learned Ridlng
. Mule Back In Old Missouri.
From The Denrer Times.

AoNh " Ou "tsoVu'
From the Donrer Times.
The boys OF the Carlisle ranch In southern
Utah will never forge their introduction 10
BuckskIn. or rather Buokskin Ike's intro
duction In the early Dos. Ike stroiled up
TO a cabin OF the Bar X ranch with n gunny-
sack on his shoulder and a woe-b gone er-
preston oil his face. and sought admission.
He told a hard-luck story about a sick horse
that died down In the hills yonder." and he
wanted to stay a few days until he found
out where he was at" Hospitality II one
Of the most pronounced features OF row.
boys and cattlemen In that part Of the world.
and as no wanderers plea for shelter was ever
in vain. therefore the invitation to come In
was hearty and unqualified
Tn man was about as long and loose
jointed a specimen OF humanity as IL gem
orally given to mortal eyes TO behold. Six
feet and 4 inches tall and weighing but about
i30 pounds he appeared, as he stood leaning
against the doorway, TO be much taller and
simmer thnn he really was. His hair was
OF a coiorless. milde wed hue. rather long.
and his sleepy blue eyes and general ~listless
appearance Indicated that he was not a char
acter OF much force. His long. thin neck
and large ears gave one the impression that
he had been carried around by the ears when
a child and stood up In the corner out OF the
way 10 grow. His actions as he moved to
the centre Of the room and cast n gunny-
sack he was carrying over his shoulder on
the floor were slow and uncertain, and he
wore an apologize air. AS though he felt
there was some excuse necessary to oner
for being alive. He was dressed in n faded
and worn suit Of overall goods and a soft
gray hat. not OF the style usually worn by
cowboys. The only article Of apparel which
was In keeping with his location and the COM
pany he was In were his high-heeled boots,
which were the regulation article Of the
range.
Gosh. I'm glad TO get somewhere" was
his exc reclamation as he let his pack slide TO
the floor and looked around with a bewildsred
air.
"where'd ye come from and where are ye
goinR?" asked the boss OF the ranch, Billy
Madden.
Il come from Blur City and I was goin'
TO the mines down on the river. but my horse
took sick and died down yonder about twenty
miles. an ] hoofed II all the way up here with
the saddle and blanket on my back" replied
the stranger. as he slowly looked around the
crowd Of cowboys gathered in the cabin
waiting for supper An I'm alfred hun
cry" he added, with an appealing air. look
ing toward the cook, who stood. kettle in
hand. listening to his story.
well. fall in: chuck's ready" said the
cook It's a pretty big contract to Ill YOU
up. but you're welcome to all you can hold.
-Where are you from, inquired the fore
man, after he had watched for a time for evil
dence Of the truth Of the strangers assertion
'"@ apr Ts Missouri youchsafed the busy
guest. between bites. IAN my names Ike
Ike Jarvis"
/" Bout as long as they make 'em, | guess.
replied the lengthy Ike. as he'glanced down
II guess that's a fact" replied Madden.
with = grin, but how ooes il come you're
short?"
say. you'd make a pretty good tie-rope
down at the other end Of the table.
Yes. I've held good many mules dowp IN
After supper was over. the gang gathered
around the newcomer TO quiz him.
your horse is desd1 You can I travel on them
legs. said Jud Smith. a cross-eyed COW
-Gue.s III have to look around for a job"
-Can you ride?"
Ride or copt,e ! can ride Ever see
ride Wild A horses breae' ''em' We Want a
good buster here, as our strings getting
well. I don't know, about these pesky
animals here, but I used to break mules and
colts back in Missouri"
why. I'D wait til | worked a colt all day
ploushing and then jump on his back Y the
gglS%1ssfhis%de sr tSay and E1cE RIDE sp han, and 20 run ihe a Sa1g.
but you bet I'D ride 'em.
well, that amt the way we do y out here
ride" said Madden. with a quiet grin at his
head buster" a man Of considerable repute
I'm Your huckleberry. when can I begin''
shouted Ike, all excited over his good fortune,
"ani how much do YOU paw
can n beam Ssy ' n H., : moth %olnIn snd . SGdFS MADDEN sGs you
will the Job be steady how long will it
last'" persisted the lengthy Miss9urian,
he was not 80 green or unsophisticated as
That depends on yourself 1t will last
'o! 9Whoop S''G 'hoorsRj IN ride 'em till the
DO IL down in Missouri. cried the Optimistic
lsnk. body that, somehow. IN spite Of lie un-
tlvity and movements Of gracefulness about 1t,
Turning-in time was row announced and
q general movement took place, as the boys
Early the next morning all hands we're
called out 10 the corral to catch their mounts
not the most successful, one in the gang
Catch tina, bald-iaeed sorrel there: he's
yogr mount on for he .o, TinSsd w a. m, he boysl Mbs
knew What was coming and PREPARED 90
enjoy the fun OF watching Ike ride old -Sa-
tan, the w~orst-spoiled bronco in Utah.
This horse was known as the bronco buster
buster and had never been conquered. lie
had thrown every rider WHO had ever got
on his back and was kept for the purpose
OF Initiating greenhorns and testing the
sticking qualities OF the professed horse
breakers who travelled over the country
breaking horses at so much per head He was
a powerful. ranRy horse. weighing about 1. 100,
was s years old. and so poison you
could scrs pc strychnine of his neck. as one
fellow put Il. lie could rag a little lvelier and
hump his back a little keener and faster than
eny horse on the range. He knew every
trick and crook OF the business and was
pa st master in the art OF giving aspiring
bronco riders a lift In the world.
Ike put In about an hour of good. solid
work In an endeavor TO oatch old Satan,
He was an energetic, persistent, "cuss" and
so was old Satan, who could dodge the rope
with marvellous cunning. Jarvis tried hard
and had the horses about crazy with excite
ment before the boys came TO his aid. but
somehow his rope never seemed 10 fly straight,
or il would get tangled around his legs and
trim him. Several times he caught the wrong
horse. Whatever he might be as q rider.
he certainly was not an expert with a rope.
and his antics afforded much amusement for
the boys who had caught their string" and
we're handing around watching him.
To n friendly offer by one OF the boys 20
catch his horse for him, Ike replied. Nav.