Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-20
CHAPTER III.
THE COMPANY OF THE NOBLE SEVEN

THE COMPANY OF THE NOBLE SEVEN.
"a Ks we were dismounting the
IA cries, Hello. jack" "How do,
a.SsscsH Dale|" Hello, old Smoke in
tSsGEJ the heartiest of tones made
me see that my cousin was q favorlte
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 a flourish. | was surprised
at the grace of the bows made me by
these roughly dressed. wild looking fel-
lows I might have been in London
drawing room was put at my ease
at once by the kindness of their greet
ing. for upon Jacks introduction, L
was admitted at once into their circle,
which to a tenderfoot was usually
closed.
What q hardy looking lot they were.
Brown. spare, sinewy and hard as
nails. they appeared like soldiers back
from u hard campaign. They moved
and spoke with an easy, careless air
of almost lazy indifference, but their
eyes had Il trick of looking straight at
you, cool and fearless and you felt
they were fit and ready.
That night l was initiated into the
Company of the Noble Seven-but of
the ceremony ! regret to say / retain
but an indistinct memory; for they
drank as they rode, hard and long,
and it was only Jacks care that got
me safely home that night.
The Company of the Noble Seven
was the dominant social force in the
Swan Creek country. Indeed, 1t was
the only social force Swan Creek
knew. Originally consisting of seven
young fellows of the best blood OF
Britain. banded together for purposes
of mutual Improvement and social en-
/ ioyment." it 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
1 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 sturdy common sense
and certain high chivalry which sur
rounds the stately homes of Britain
these young lads. freed from the re,
straints of custom Hlnd 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-
yealed the man in them, sometimes te
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;
big good natured man with magnih
cent physique, good income from
home and a beautiful wife, the Lady
Charlotte, daughter of noble Engllsi
family. At the Ashley ranch the tradi
tons Of Ashley Court were preserved a.
far as possible. The Hon. Fred ap
peared at the wolf hunts in riding
breaches and top boots, with huntin:
crop and English saddle, while in al
the appointments of the house the Gus
toms of the English home were OBJ
served 1t was characteristic. however
of western life that his two cowboys
Hi Kendall and Bronco Bill, felt them
selves quite his social equals, though II
the presence of his beautiful, slater.
, wife they confessed that they "rathe
weakened" Ashley was thorough.