Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-22

kSy the heartiest of tones made
me see that my cousin was favorie
with the men grouped about the door.
Jack simply nodded in return. and
| then presented me in due form. "My
tenderfoot cousin from the effcte," he
said with flourish. | was surprised
at the grace of the bows made me by
these roughly dressed wild looking fell
lows. I might have been in Il London
drawing room. | was put at my ease
at once By the kindness of their greet
ing, for, upon Jacks introduction, /
was admitted at once into their circle,
which to n tcnderfoot was usually
| closed
What n hardy looking lot they were.
Brown. spare, sinewy and hard as
nails, they appeared like soldiers back
from hard campaign. They moved
and spoke with an easy. careless air
of almost lazy Indifference. but their
eyes had 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-hut 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. it 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 ana social en-
/ ioymcnt," 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 | 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 a social nature, chiefly in the
line of poker playing and whisky
drinking. Well born and delicatcly
bred in that atmosphere OF culture
mingled with a 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 and surroundings
soon shed all that was superficial in
their make up and stood forth in the
naked simplicity of their native man
hood. TIE wpst discovered and re-
voaled 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
liz good natured man with a magn' fl
"ent ply siQue, n good income from
home and beautiful wife, the Lady
Charlotte, daughter of a noble English
family. At the AS' ley ranch the tradi.
tons Of Ashley Court were pres rived as
far as possible. The Hon. Fred an
peared at the wolf hunts in ridi =
Dreeches 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 thai his two cowboys.
Iii Kendall and Bronco Pill felt them
selves quite his social equals, though in
the presence of has beautiful. stately
wife they confessed that they RATHER
weakened" Ashley was II thoroughly
good fellow. we'll up to his work as a
Of "a 10
man TO feel, much less assert, any ST.
periority of station. He had the lar
gest ranch in the country ana was one
of the few men making money.
Ashloy's chief friend. or at least most
frequent companion, was man whom
they called the Duke. No one knew
his name, but every one said he was
the son OF lord" and certainly from
his style and bearing he might be the
son OF almost anything that was hiEh
enough In rank. He drew "a remit
lance but as that was paid through
Ashley no one knew whence it came
nor how much II was. He was a per-
feet picture of man, and in all west
ern virtues was easily first. He coul
rope a steer, bunch cattle, play poker
or drink whisky 10 the admiration OF
his friends and the confusion of his
foes, Of whom he had few, while as
to bronco busting" the virtue par eX-
eellence of western cattle men, even
Bronco Bill was heard to acknow led e
that "he wasn't in it with the Dock.
for II was bis opinion that he could
ride anything that had legs in under it,,
even If 1t was BANKED centiped."
And this, coming from one who made
a profession Of "bronco busting" was
unquestionably high praise
The Duke lived alone, except when
he deigned to pay a visit TO some lonely
rancher who, for the marvellous charm
OF his talk, was delighted TO have him
as guest, even at the expense of the
loss Of few games at poker. He
made friend of no one. though some
men could tell of times when he stood
between them and their hast dollar, ex-
acting only the promise that no men
tlon should be made of his deed. lie
had an easy, lazy manner and slow,
cynical smile that rarely left his face,
and the only sign of deepening passion
in him was little broadening of his
smile. Old Latour, who kept the Stop
ping Place, told me how once the
Duke had broken into a gentle laugh.
A French half breed fighter on his
way north had entered into a game of
poker with the Duke, with the result