Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-26
AS IT USED TO BE IN DAKOTA
Thrilling Sights and Stirring Incl
dents Noted by q TenderfoOt
in the Old Days.


of an October morning to find the hopes
and longings OF a lifetime suddenly taxi
ing on form and substance and all crea-
tion harmoniously responding to youthful
heart throbs?
1t was with something of this sensation
that, at the age OF II. / looked from my
bedroom window in the Northwestern ho-
tel at Pierre. s. D., back in the sos, and
beheld the lifeless form Of man sus-
pended from the top OF a fagpole.
Yes, things really happened on the out
skirts of the Sioux reservation. Here wat
no longer q dreary grind of grammar and
Biographies, with organized society. espe-
cially the severe-faced school mistress, per-
petually challenging and thwarting a boys
right to life. dime novels and truant fish
ing excursions.
And on this very day, aye, within two
hours. was to penetrate the great reser-
vatlon itself. striking of across the trai
in the Deadwood stage.
The hfeless form suspended frcm the
fagpole, as soon learned, was that OF
lawyer named Bell. who some weeks pre-
vious had had a Misunderstanding with q
fellow attorney from Blunt.
Bell finally had written to the man from
Blunt: Meet me tomorrow at noon. half
way between Pierre and Blunt, and we
will amieabiy discuss and settle our diff
| ferences."
The next day, after the forwarding of
| this peaceful missive, the lawyer from
Pierre and the lawyer from Blunt had each
set out toward the appointed trystfng place.
! Bell, II seems, took with him an ak and
! a spade. The discussion was advanced. on
his side. with the ak, and he settled the
| matter, so far as he could, by burying.
with the spade, the body Of his opponent.
| and with IL his own blood -staiped over
coat.
The overcoat, discovered with the body
| after a diligent search, disclosed the hor-
ribie secret to the searchers for Blunt
The dead lawyer was a popular favorite In
his town. and by night every available
blackboard and saddle horse had been re-
QUESTIONED in the cause of summary jus
| tice.
30 quietly did the Blunt delegation dc
its work that II was not till broad day
light that Belts body was discovered by
his fellow citizens. hanging from the flag
pole In the center Of the town, where !
had seen II from the hotel window.
From this sudden foretaste Of real ad-
venture was soon brought 70 earth. Boy
like, I had spent all but Is cents OF my
travelling money. I had my stage ticket.
but my hotel bill was $3.50 and learned
tina. every meal OF bacon and potatoes at
the stnge station would cost 81. I appealed
10 the first man ! met. who happened "a
be a former postmaster at Custer When
I told him my brother was cashier Of a
bank In the Hills and gave him my name
he said; ''oh, that's all right. I'll give you
the money and draw on your brother for
IT," And with that, without further ques-
tionins he put me in funds.
The trip across the reservation was Ions
and tedious. Finally even the prairie dos
towns and the passing Indians lost their
interest. At this tuncture we met a buck.
board, driven by a tall. powerful-lookinR
fellow, In white sombrero, chaps and all
the rest OF the typical frontier makeup
He was greeted IN cordial fashion by bott
the stage driver and the weIls-Fargo ex.
prees messenger, between whom was per.
mitted to sit on the front seat
| II was Bill Souter, the hrst sheriff OF
Meade county. recently seeded from Law
renee county. and created into a self-taxfns
and self-sovernins bailiwick. with "scooI
town" as It's seat OF government. in III
face Of bitter and contemptuous oppositio
from the good taxpayers OF Dsadwood.
Bin was looking for a soldier from For
Meade who had secured his discharg,
drawn his pay and skipped without payin
his bills al "scooptown."
When Bin was told who the Kid" wa
he promptly invited me to come with hir
IN the buokboard.
TN beat the stage into the hills by eigh
hours" he said. and you'll be q durns
sight more eomfartabls."
Attracted partly by this promised short
ening OF the journey. but more. az believs
: by the romantic fascination OF Bills pres
enee. promptly accepted the invitation.
, Bill had not yet secured his man, but I