The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-04-26
A Tenderfoot on Wolf Ranch.


Out IN the country where the south
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 a
charming daughter. Phoebe, who lived
with him and kept the ranch house sweet
and orderly. Phoebe was pretty, and
the boys of all the country round knew
it, if she didn't.
Ayoung man came out of the East and
took up quarters at Dad Perkins ranch.
lie was big and handsome, and when he
wasn't shooting in the mountains he was
talking to Phoebe Perkins of books and
poetry and all sorts of things, which
made the girl believe he was of different
mold than the ranchmen.
The New Yorker gave up hunting after
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 it she would but go with him. The
New Yorker wasn't an honest man.
There was sheep herder named George
Wilson on Dad PEI kins' 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
sheep-fold 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 herder
in the matter of his nights on duty with
the focks. When not on guard he stay
ed at the ranch house. The New Yorker
and Phoebe sometimes sat under the
wide reaching roof of the porch after the
mountains had shut out the sun and he
shadows filled the valley. One night
they sat there and spoke In low tones.
The girl said: 81 must not co.
Then there followed some words of
pleading
There was movement back of them.
The New Yorker drew apart from the
girl 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 placed is called
Wolf Ranch. l expect to leave here to-
morrow to take a place on another
ranch many miles away, and tonight 1
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
hunger for lambs, and he was shrewd
enough to find way to get his meal.
We tried poison and spring guns, but we
could do nothing with that wolf. He
knew his wolfsh business, and knew it
well from the VOLTS standpoint.
Il said our dogs were no good. There
was something about that wolf that
made them fear. Ihad a dog at the home
of my father miles away. The men said:
This is no wolf; it's a devil. Your dog
will be no better than the rest
"But know my dog. brought him
to the fold. For five nights we lay and
watched together, but saw no wolf and
yet during the time three lambs were
lost
"On the sixth night l lay on the ground
looking down into corner of the fold.
The moon was full, and it was almost as
light as day. In the corner of the fold
where / was looking was motherless
lamb. My dog-Iim, 1 called him-was
at my side. -.....
Il watched until my eyes ached, but
finally l saw a shadow over beyond.
Then the shadow took shape, for on a
mound in the moonlight saw wolf,
the biggest so far as we know that this
valley ever held l knew then why our
dogs had gone back on US, but l still
believed in Jim.
'.Jim saw the wolf when l 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
poor 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 herders eyes CLEAN,
and there was something cold at his
heart.
81 Just stayed and watched" said Will
son. Sim went on and on. The wolf
had his head up. He had located the
AohAO' " hnI @dASd llC III Jug! nc
had seen our dogs turn tail and run.
'Jim kept on crawling. 1t was moth
ing but crawl. The wolf was very
near the lamb"
AS Wilson said this he was standing as
though ready to spring. He was carried
away with his story.
1.-The wolf came nearer the lamb, and
Jim got nearer, too. The wolf made one
spring and Jim met him in midair. In
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