Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-10-14
CHAPTER II.

"a is we were disappointing the
IA cries, Hello. Jack!" How do,
eS1S Dalel" Hello, old Smoker in
S8sS the heartiest of tones made
me see that my cousin was favorite
with the men grouped about the door.
jack simply nodded In return. and
then presented me in due form. my
tenderfoot cousin from the effete," he
said. with n flourish. was surprised
at the grace of the bows made me by
these roughly dressed. wild looking fell
lows. might have been in a London
drawing room was put at my ease
at once by the kindness Of their greet
ing, for, upon jacks Introduction,
was admitted Mt once into their circle,
which to tenderfoot was usually
closed
What hardy looking lot they We're!
Brown, spare, .sinewy and hard as
nails, they appeared like soldiers back
from hnrd campaign. They moved
and spoke with an easy, careless mir
of almost lazy Indifference, but their
eyes had a trick of looking straight at
you, cool and fearless, and you felt
they were fit and ready.
That night ~was initiated into the
Company Of the Noble Seyen-but of
the ceremony l regret to say retain
but an indistinct memory; Cor they
drank Us they rode, hard and long,
and 1t was only JACKS care that got
me safely homo that night.
Tho Company Of tho Noble Seyen
was tho dominant social torca IN the
Swan Greek country. Indeed, 1t was
tho only social force Swan Greek
knew Originally consisting Of seyen
young fellows OF the best blood Of
Britain, banded together for purposes
Of mutual improvement and social en-
joyment," 1t lad changed its character
during the years, but not Its name.
First, Its membership was extended to
include approved colonials," such as
Jack Dale and Others Of kindred spir-
It," under which head, l suppose, the
two cowboys from the Ashley ranch,
Hi Kendall and Bronco Bill-no one
knew and no one asked his other
name-were admitted. Then its pur-
poses gradually limited themselves to
those of social nature, chiefly In the
line of poker playing and whisky
drinking. Well born and delicately
bred in that atmosphere of culture
mingled with a sturdy common sense
and certain high chiyalry which sur
rounds the stately homes Of Britain,
these young lads, freed from the re-
straints of custom and surrounding,
soon shed all that was superficial in
their make up and stood forth in the
naked simplicity of their native man
hood. The west discovered and re-
yealcd the man in them. sometimes to
their honor. often to their shame.
The chief of the Company was the
Hon. Fred Ashley Of the Ashley ranch,
some time of Ashley Court, England a
big good natured man with a maenifi-
cent physique, n good income from
home and beautiful wife, the Lady
Charlotte. daughter of noble Engliah
family. AT the Ashley ranch the tradi-
lions OF Ashley Court were preserved as
far as possible. The Hon. Fred APP
peared at the wolf hunts In riding
breeches and top boots, with hunting
crop and English saddle. while in all
the appointments of the house the Gus
toms of the English home were OBJ
served. 1t was Characteristic, however,
of western life that hts two cowboys,
HI Kendall md Bronco Bill. felt them
selves quite his socini equals. though In
the presence of his beautiful, stately
wife they confessed that they rather
weakened" Ashley was thoroughly