The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-04-12
A TENDERFOOT ON WOLF RANCH.

western mountains throw Their shadows on
the plains you may hear this story of Wolf
Ranch.
Wolf Ranch was the property of dad"
Perkins, first name long since passed out
of everybody's memory save possibly that
of Dad himself. Perkins had charming
daughter, Phoebe, who lived with him
and kept the ranchhouse sweet and orderly.
Phoebe was pretty, and the boys of all the
country round knew it, if she didn't
y young man came out of the East and
took up quarters at Dad Perkins ranch
He was big and handsome, and when he
WASH t shooting in the mountains he was
talking to Phoebe Perkins of books and
poetry and all sort of things, which made
the girl believe he was of different mold
than the ranchmen.
The New Yorker gave up hunting after
a while and stayed about the ranch, and
the hours that he was not with Phoebe
were not many. The New Yorker talked
to the ranch girl of the delights of city life
and Of the pleasures that awaited her there
if she would but 90 with him. The New
Yorker WASH an honest man.
There was a sheep herder named George
Wilson on Dad Perkins ranch. The
herder had loved Phoebe in his own way
for year He knew that the girl was
not for him any more than the stars that
looked down at him when he kept his
sheepfold vigil George Wilson had eyes
in his head He had seen more than any
one else of the attentions that the New
Yorker was paying Phoebe.
Wilson alternated with another herde1
in the matter of his nights on duty with
the hocks When not on guard he stayed
at the ranchhouse. The New Yorker and
Phoebe sometimes sat under the wide
reaching roof of the porch after the noun
tains had shut out the sun and the shad-
ows filed the valley. One night they sat
there and spoke in low tones. The girl
said: ''I must not 90.
Then there followed some words Of
pleading.
There was movement back of them.
The New Yorker drew apart from the Cir
and turned. George Wilson was standing
Just back of him. He looked at the New
Yorker and said
''You asked me the other day while We
were hunting why this place is called Wolf
Ranch. | expect to leave here tomorrow
to take place on another ranch many
miles away, and tonight | will tell you
why this is called Wolf Ranch.
at has been so known only for two
years. There were not many wolves in
this section; in fact, there had been none
for years, until one came-a big, gray,
hungry fellow, who fattened nightly on the
fold. Our dogs were of no service. The
wolf was too smart for them. He had a
hunger for lambs, and he was shrewd
enough to fiud way to get his meal We
tried poison and spring guns, but we coulG
do nothing with that wolf. He knew his
wolfsh business, and knew it well from tht
wolf s standpoint
Il said our dogs were no good. There
was something about that wolf that made
them fear. had a dog at the home o.
my father miles away. The men said
''This is no wolf; it's devil. Your dog
will be no better than the rest
''But I know my dog. 1 brought hin
to the fold. For five nights we lay an(
watched together, but saw no wolf, anC
yet during the time three lambs were lost
"On the sixth night lay on the grounc
looking down into corner of the fold
The moon was full, and it was almost al
light as day. In the corner of the folc
where [ was looking was motherles'
lamb. My dog-Jim, I called him-wa'
at my side.
81 watched until my eyes ached, but
finally saw a shadow over beyond. Their
the shadow took shape, for on a mound il
the moonlight [ saw a wolf the biggest SC
far as we know that this valley ever held.
| knew then why our dogs had gone back
on us, but | still believed in Jim.
''Jim saw the wolf when [ saw him,
and his hair went up like bristles. That
dog crawled away from me to the enemy.
He knew that this wolf was after that pool
little motherlesS lamb, and to save that
lamb he would try"
As Wilson went on with his story he
moved toward the New Yorker. Even in
the gloom of the night the Eastern man
could see the sheep herder's eyes gleam,
and there was something cold at his heart.
II just stayed and watched, " said Viii
son. s'Jim went on and on. The wolf
had his head up. He had located the
lamb What cared he for a dog 2 He
had seen our dogs turn tail and run.
"Jim kept on crawling. 1t was moth
ing but a crawl. The wolf was very neal
the lamb. -
AS Wilson said this he was standing as
though ready to spring. He was carried
away with his story.
''The wolf came nearer the lamb, and
Jim got nearer, too. The wolf made one
spring and Jim met him in midair. In a
second he had this wolf monster by the
throat and had killed him.
Jim saved that lamb, and he killed
the wolf That's why this is called Wolf
Ranch.
The next morning at daybreak the New
Yorker was striking back over the trail to
the nearest railroad station.