New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-29
The Rider of the
Little Big Horn. )"
By Newton r. La eoiteaux, . Tribune
Junior Forum Reader.

Far down the canyon rode two men,
Their trusty steeds trotted from one sac
of the road to the other, in order TO aVoiu
the numerous stones on the level ana
dotted here and there by stubs of trees
The mountain eagle gave its shrll or!
far overhead. as f these men had tres-
passed far into their premises.
But they rode on. They probably had
something serious on their minds, that
they seemed to he discussing. for occa-
sionally out of that drcary silence there
would come loud oath from one III
We ever get them sncaking horse thieves
well string them up" and Yes and u,
me got my hands on them, ana they
he whirling yct in yondcr rapids
The first of these declarations was
given by Joe Seltz. a rancher's son, ana
whose father owned the Nc ranch
famous place OF the times. The second
was said by Tom Caldwoll-Tom had
come from New York years befoIe
and had Joined the thrifty western emf
grants in order to have more adventure
and prosperity At present he lived WIN
Joe's parents.
But as they rode on OUT % the canyon
they approached Bill Jones's ranch' inc
Little Big Horn" Upon reaching
they dismounted, and tying their horses
70 a small post they entered the ranch
house.
Inside were seated two men, Bill
Jones, the proprietor. and Philip Cr!n-
| der. the range rider VINO for years mas
been known as the Rider of the Lit'le
4 u q
| Big Horn" and had we'll deserved 'he
{ nickname He was a man OF some '"e'l
,y.eve vesrs. with a dark mustache, hair
| a. match u and a smile which greeted
every one he knew.
Bill was conversing with him Nnen
Joe and Tom entered. Hello BIZ!
Ia,,o Phil" cried the two, taxing
chs,rs have you heard the news
mo: why. what's the matter. asken
the two, thoroughly aroused. Wen
hogan ice. swallowing. Last night
some Of them sneaking horse thievee
made off with three Of Jim Dawson
] Young mares. We got the news th'S
morning. when Johnson. OF stony Cross
! Gulch, ran into my place and informed
me OF hoof tracks he had seen this side
D
out TO investigate. and. sure enough. we
! found the trail. SO we decided to come
and get your posse and get at them.
! Well" replied Bill. rising from his
chair. I'm ready 10 help Dawson any
! dav. so I'll call the fellows. ana then
4 hc on
! Can you give any psrticulspT' asked
! Phil. approaching joe Well replied
Joe. rubbing his chin. "as near az Dawson
can calculate by the hoot marks they
arc probably those Of that Roger bunch.
He said he followed them for three miles.
and then he lost them. II was near
! Gutchcon. this side OF the rapids.
"M-m-m-m-n." replied Phil. contcmplat-
ing. 80 that's the way the story runs.
hey? Wen. I'll go WITH the boys and DO
ny best. and II the government has any
reason To- complain. why III have TO
leave" and hr walked out TO his horse
/ uensiye and half-sorrowful.
/ IT. three minutes tho posse were In
readiness. and while Phil had the ad-
vance. Joe and Tom tagged the rear They
rode on stopping now and then when IN
! some thicket 10 catch the supposed SOUND
81 horse thieves.
They had gone FIVE miles. vher Phil,
turning half way In his saddle. remarks J:
Here's whore our hunt BEGINS. and m
thinking 1t will he tough one. too
They then rode on. each one carefullv
scanning the mountain road for the slight
est trace OF their prey. During this In
terval Of silence Ph'ls eyes were at
tractnd bv something living in the road.
Halt. Toys. one minute. believe I've
found something" At this he dsTo mt d
| from bis horse and walking over 10 the
object picked it up. "Ha! I've found H..
cried Phil, overjoyed. IT'S one Of them
horse thieves gloves"
But a. lie held n Up 70 all the boys
might see IT, Black Arrow. al Indian
among the pos,e. quickly recognized the
glove. lie rushed forward and said: Me
know who glove belong 10. Me see him
Yesterday in saloon. and me no like HIM
! They talk me suspicious, ME get near
heard they had camp In Sivery Gulch
two miles from here. They see me. give
me kick. knock me down. Nc revenge
and Black Arrow stood like a post.
Tie mcr all stood aghast Could IL be
true that these !awlcss fugltlyes had
camped IN such a conspicuous place? Bu,
Phil was the first to break tho silence
| Come on. boys. Good old Arrow has
told M something after all. But ] sup