Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-01-10
The Trouble
at Sum Dance

G7s6I151S151515II1 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. II
On the Sun Dance range, freshly
won from the Sioux and Cheyennes,
and taken in a rush by the cow-men,
there was constant trouble for sever
al years.
At Bar-Two-V'sranch ten line riders
were employed, and extra men were
constantly on duty to guard the ranch
buildings and horse corrals. The
limit of cattle range on the north was
Cheyenne reservation. Rustlers, both
petty steal.ngs of horses or cattle oc-
red and white, we're on the alert, and
cured nearly every month in the year.
But the thieves were not always
content With small pickings. In sin
gle raid in October Indians ran eff
six hundred head of cattle, scattered
them among the mountains of the res
-ervation and slaughtered them there.
When complaint was made at their
agency, the Crows declared that the
Cheyernes had done this wicked bust
ness, and the Cheyennes were equally
firm in asserting that the Crows were
guilty. 1.-THE Crows are always steal
Ing" they said.
Nevertheless, it was noted that
good deal Of beef was hung up to dry
at their several villages. The at
tention Of their agent was called to
this fact, hut that individual proved
lethargic, and would take no action.
Thereupon the half-doZen cow-men
who had lodged complaint declared
that they would shoot his Indians on
sight whenever any set foot upon their
range.
You'll have to get sight of them
first" was the dry rejoinder.
So the Bar-TWC-Vs men rode home
in high dudgeon. Some days later
two pony-riders drew rein at the door
of their ranch-hCuse, and inquired if
more men were wanted there.
"A regiment" replied Allen, the
foreman, who CHANGED to be at the
ranch. "How do you size UP against
a. bunch of reds?''
The two were young men, we'll arm
ed and mounted. They laughed. IF
you mean the Crows and Cheyennes,
said one, speaking slowly and with a
slight halt in his accent, 81 think that
we can keep them off your range"
'You can sure brag some,'' said AL
gen Light and set your teeth
against bull beef"
So the young strangers, boys and
brothers of eighteen or twenty years,
fell into the ways of the ranch. The
elder gave his name as Hugo and the
other as Raymond, which, as well as
their carefully spoken English, mark
ed them as foreigners. The etiquette
of the range did not require any show
of antecedants.
But the dress and armament of the
newcomers were CT the range, their
ponies certainly cow-horses, and their
saddles Of unimpeachable Cheyenne
manufacture. In fact, as punchers,
they proved wholly fit save in the one
matter Of choice precision in the use
of English.
Get a move on your chin!" was an
injunction which each frequently
heard. and which seldom failed to
provoke a broad smile.
The proved valuable additions to
The line-riding force, and each earn
ed his good wages by honest and eff
Gective work. Thus matters ran on
Through the fall and winter months,
and, as it happened, no stock was stol-
en- from the Bar-TWO-VS people during
these seasons.
"You fellows have sure brought
good luck to this outfit" Allen admit
ted to them. at the spring roundup;
and as usual the brothers grinned
their appreciation.
About the first Of June, however,
the good opinion they had won was
wudely set aside. 1t happend thus.
Hugo and two punchers named Far
ley and Morgan were riding the line
on Oxus Creek, very close to the res
ervation boundary, when a number
across the line.
"Injuns!" pronounced Farley.
Sure" assented Morgan.
"Cheyennes," said Hugo, casually,
and as the others rode on he stayed
behind, apparently busy with his sad
die cinches.
1t was some time after they had
rounded the next bend that the new
cowboy came up with his fellows, and
as the sun had set and their horses
were tired, the three made a night
camp on the bank Of the creek. They
made coffee, ate Their supper, and
.chatted of old times on the range in
Colorado. Hugo listened until it was
nearly time to turn in.
Fellows" said he, I'll take a stroll
down the creek. If that bunch of
creatures I took for elk back ways
should turn cut to be steers, they'd
need looking after tonight. They'll