The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1910-01-28

move on. to other free grass. perhsn. th.x
looked him over bit more carefully then and
noticed the peculiarly of his nose and hi,
eyes and the handy and casual way be had Of
picking OF the heads of rattlesnakes and such
tnines with sfx-shooter while he talked In
neisnoorhood where cattle thieves we're be-
ginning, to be troublesome 4 man like that
would DO handy to have around. They were
TO nave an example presently of his willing
ness and ability to defend the rights of owner
ship-a small example. but convincing
was no easy matter to keep a herd intact
IN tnose days The outlaw pure and simple
was bad enough. but to the newcomer with a
small bunch of COWS" (cattle, REGARDLESS of
sender) the vast. roaming herd guarded by q
veritaole army OF punchers. whose respect for
any, law was small enough, was an even
sTter menace. Mcdonald knew of these
coalitions and when soon after bis arrival
some OF bis cattle strayed away he set out to
inspect Che surrounding herds. After riding
some distance he came upon \ large drove.
evidently on its way to market. It was about
noon and the men were "rounding-in" for din
ner. Mcdonald started to address q herder
when the man turned abruptly and started OF.
Mcdonald Immediately began looking through
the cattle when the herder wheeled and
roughly asked him what he wanted.
Il was looking for hobbed horses" was the
easy reply whereupon the puncher made some
surly comment and rode away.
Mcdonald, presently satisfied that his stray
cattle were not with that portion of the drove.
continued his search further along and came
up with the chuck wagon" where dinner was
being prepared. Cow-men are hospitable and
the foreman invited him to dismount and Join
them. He did and a little later the surly
puncher came In. giving the camp guest any
thing but a friendly look In the course Of
the meal the visitor was asked where he was
from
"Mineola." he said. Wood county"
The surly herder spoke up.
These id sand lappers least Texans)
are getting too thick out here
l Mcdonald set down his coffee.
THE id skunks and prairie dogs are al
, ready too thick" he said.
An instant later the puncher had out his
pistol. but the sand-lapper was still quicker.
The puncher was covered before he could
bring his weapon to bear. Mcdonald said:
urn W>.oose! Drop IT,"
Il he herder still cutched the weapon which
he was afraid to raise.
The sand lapper stepped nearer to him and
l with a sudden movement raped him smartly
on the head with the heavy barrel Of bis six
\ shooter. 1t was q thing that as 4 deputy he
Ahad done often and It was always effective.
The puncher dropped his gun One Of his
comrades sprang to his assistance. but was
lowered and disarmed with amazing sudden
u0eSS. Inc FOREMAN luteEleIeU uOW, auQ inc
Ibeginner of the disturbance was led away to
la brook to have his head bathed and ban
Idased whereupon the sand lapper quietly IN
lished his dinner thanked his host. continued
1.-The search for his missing stock and when he
Hound them set out for home. Meeting q
lxroup Of punchers among which was his suriy
Iiriend with a now bandased head. he expect
led further trouble. Nothing happened. The
tsand lapper and his missing cows had the
right Of way.
Commercial Venture and Adventure.
The inclination to commercial enterprise
It'll survived. At the end Of year Mcdonald
hold his cattle and invested in the lumber
business at Wichita Falls
| There was . merchant In Baylor county
kexas, to whom Lumberman Mcdonald sold
\ GOOD bill. on time. The account ran along
kntil one day the county Judge Of Baylor. one
Melvin. dropped in and stated that he had
kalled to settle the amount for bis neighbor
He eays his own check for 1t and Mcdonald
kupposed the matter had ended. few days
bater the bank returned Melvin's check -
korthless Evidently the quiet. unobtrusivs
he which Bill Jess had been living ~ . lum
~ eerchant had given the impression that
A4s an inofRensive person. who would
Socket loss rather than make trouble. espe
Sdally xith q county fudge. who added to his
SMcAl 7restigs the reputation Of being ~