The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-06-26
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Kentucky Ned.
tOriginal.l


When went out west to spend a
summer on my fathers ranch J. was
at an age to regret that should miss |
the attentions of the young men of the |
was told that | would meet no meu
except cowboys. whom | knew to he Il
wild. diSsipated. shooting and general
~ disreputable set. lu truth. did not
wish to go. but | was not IN good
health. and the doctor recommended
the open mir Of ranchAfe.
When | got on the ranch found the
surroundings pretty much M had ex-
pected. However. ! got exhilaration
from the life that | had not expect
ed Every morning after breakfast ]
mounted horse that had been proyid-
tendant. galloped over our broad acres
Till noon. Then | lunched and rested
till near dinner time. after which meal
was not long In seeking my couch.
The consequence VI this mode Of life
was remarkably beneficial. and | gain
ed strength every day.
The cowboys were not 40 uninterest-
ing after all. Nothing could be more
different from the ways Of the heauX.
TO whom had been accustomed. and
could not but feel. Notwithstanding the
c0urtliness OF the one compared with
The abashed manners Of the other when
In my presence. that there was some
thing wanting In the first that | found
in abundance i'm the second. For in
! stance. In presence of danger | would
; infinitely rather he under TIE pTotec-
ton OF the cowboys. But dill not feel
, any interest In them.
There was one exception. He was
called Kentucky Ned. Stray bits Of
gossip concerning him came to my ears.
He was a sort of black sheep IN gool
y Kentucky family. He had had an en-
counter with some one in that state
= and had left II between midnight aud
D morning. He had driven stage. served
as n private In the United States army
and herde6 sheep. Father had taken
q him into his employ without knowing
anything more Of his antecedents than
!, any nf his other cattle tenders and
Didn't know the Kentuckian was Il gen
: tleman born TIL apprised him Of the
q fact. Then father wanted TO know
@ how found II out.
There was more that father woult
n have liked TO know. Kentucky Eet
a had fallen heels over head in love Will
4 me- Not that he said so: he knew
was too far beyond his reach. Nor dit
I otfer him the least encouragement
. He simply saw and was conquered
without a word or a look from me
e How dbl know this? II was as plaiI
n to me as the sun In heaven.
The day came when | In turn wa
conquered. and by Kentucky Ned. no
by word. hut by an act. Nor was tn
l. act of especial benefit to the. nor diJ
n he know that he was influencing me
"a indeed. be did not know that ! saw th
=, act which won me.
Fnthcr AMI | were out Oh one OF OH
10 morning rides From an emlnence W
y were looking ut herd OF cattle. Som,
l. thing had frightened them. and the
:, were running with their tails in the al
:, toward bluff. Now. | had learne
~ enough about cattle "a know that whc
10 a herd gets going IL can't stop. Thos
i In the rear keep crowding those aheat
aud II doesn't matter II the advanC
:, ones come 10 Il preclplce high rs Maj
~ ara-they viii he forced over. Nor
C. cen stop unless II b. those In the Tra
ir We saw In1 or tan cattle going Ill
to maj for the bIufT. aud II did not see
O. that any Of them would bc left alive
~ Then We saw COWBOY recognize
,c hlil for Kentucky Ned. though fa;ht
=. dk,a't-spuF his mustang frOm le*i
: The herd. make deiUur aud rIGc ris'
between TIE leaders and the hlud. cu
ting their course nc right angles. The
he cantcrc,l lcisurcly al0u. TIE edge
!! the blutf. refined In aud l0okcNi nr"j'
al NJ tie itn,nellsr herd comin. right I
rr ward him. There seemed nJt a.:
a. chance In a Thousand for him 10 cscaj
m. Icing pushed III the edge aud buri'
Ia under tons Of flesh. And what did
nj do? Why. he rolled n cigarette "ii q
l., f.mmcl Of his saddle, lighted 1t "l
~ puiIcd as coolly as II he were IN u
=, feet safety.
IL Father and watched him so icrr
w. stricken that we couldn't either Of
speak. suddenly saw the cattle
az the lead try Ia stop. They were fore
nd on. however. hut when those direct
rr IN their rear came e. the place wh'
the first had reduced their pace ,ll
tried TO stop too. Pretty sOOn n''>t
the cattle had succtS!ed 10 stoppI
. aud were all licking the grass. Til
" those which had been pushed tn
ny advance stopped. turned aud We
back. The herd was saved.
rSt That night father sent for kcntnr
ir. Ned 10 thank him for saving thousan
80. Of dollars In cattle. Father asked II
or. how he did u. what made the he
,v. turn. "oh. that was simple" said
go, cowboy. ~ bag Of salt had been -
" out for the cattle. When ! saw th'
" heading for the blum I rode acr'
" their front with tho lag and scatter
'c' the salt before them. Every one