The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-10-06

and could both shoot and drink; these were his passports. It wasn't consid- cred polite in that country and in those days to inquire for more than a mans present wellbeing. That the man they knew as Bridges came of good family "back East and had but short time before graduated from college, the fellows found out, and to close ac- quiantance Bridges one time remarked that he and his family couldn't agree.
 The Texas Panhandle is still consid- cred somewhat crude, but 1t is varit- able cradle of refinement now compared with what i. was then. Men drank deep, shot straight and died young. It was into such a goddess society that Bridges was cast, and, while evidently 6 man of some culture, he became at once one of the boys" The night was never too dark nor the way too long for Bridges to go If a friend was in trouble or need, In a short time he gathered good-sized bunch of cattle and, as he paid his riders" good wages and fed them well, they swofe by him to a man. As result. his herds pros pered and he grew wealthy, until at last he became known as Bridges, king of the range.n Riches did not change him one whit, however, and he was still the hail fellow well met he had been when a tenderfoot.
 Unlike other men of his stamp Bridges never cared to go back East and see the folks He seldom even visited the larger towns in Texas, and when he did several of his tpunchers" went with hin1-"for company" Wheth- CT all this was because of a more sin- ister motive, no one knew. One time, it is related, he accompanied bunch of cattle driven from one of his ranches to Dodge City, Kan. While there dis tinguished looking old man, wearing a silk hat and snow-white sideburns, alighted from train and with a sweet faced old woman marched arm in arm up and down the platform. One cow boy, little drunker than the rest, raised his revolver to puncture the "stovepipe," when Bridges. with an oath, covered" the facetious comrade, saying Put that down, you dn fool, and remember your mother. It was noticeable, however, that he kept out of sight of the couple until they climbed back Into the train, and he never could be persuaded to go to Dodge City again.
 All the ranchers Tn those days ex perienced considerable trouble with cattle thieves, known as 'rustlers ' and Bridges was no exception. But he waged a relentless war aganst them with considerable success. At one time, after chase of several hundred miles, a band of these desperadoes was cornered and forced to surrender. The ethics of the country demanded that they be hung at once to the nearest tree. Gaptors and captives had reached the favored spot which boasted tree, when Bridges interrupted the impending ceremonies with a remark that he wished to speak to the leader around the fellows neck, but it was withdrawn, although his hands were still tied behind him. He and Bridges walked short distance from the others and conversed in low tones. At length they came back and to the expectant circle Bridges said:-
 "They were my cattle this fellow stole, weren't they?"
 The crowd assented.
 "Then I reckon this fellow is my prisoner, since I'm the injured party, isn't he?''
 tYep,a remarked the crowd in uni- son.
 Then | decree that he goes free, " said Bridges, and, suiting the the act- ion to his word, he cut the bonds about the cattle-thiefs wrist and, while the fellow, who was astride his horse, pre- paratory to riding beneath the fatal tree where several of his comrades all ready hung, dug his heels into his pony's Hanks and raced out across the plains, Bridges stepped back and faced the crowd with his hands resting lightly on his hips, near to his brace of six-shooters. There was no objection, however, and after completing work the cattlemen rode home, but it was quitely found, upon comparing notes, that Bridges and that "cattle rusher' looked enough alike to be brothers. One spring Bridges was caught out in a blizzard, and hardened as he was, he contracted cold which settled on his lungs, and from which he never re- covered. When he knew that he could not last much longer Bridges called all his cowboys into the room where he sat, wrapped in a blanket, in rough hewn arm chair.
 Boys, Pm going to die" he said, land I called you in to hear me make my will. I'm not going to write it down, but as a friend to each of you I expect you to respect my wishes and see that they are carried out as would like. Big Ben, come closer and let me hold your hand. You are to have the south ranch and 1000 head of cattle. Oscar Cto another of his cowboy friends1, you come here and let me hold your hand, also. You are to have the little ranch on Big Beaver creek. It's smaller than the other but there is more water there and you, too, are to have 1000 head of cattle." So on down the line to the five men with whom he had been closely associated