Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-04-18

VII the Distinguished Service
U order, and now an assist
ant game warden in Brit
ish East Africa.
/ first saw the major in South AZ
rica, and I got to know him, as few
other men know him, while we were
both serving the British East African
government. This friendship between
years can not lessen. Il
What a history the man has back
of his forty-odd years! What a name
he has won' for himself on the field
of battle and in police duties! 1t
seems almost impossible to tell all he
has seen, accomplished and endured.
Perhaps one day some one will ven
ture to record in book form the many
deeds of daring this frail-looking Aus
tralian has to his credit. 1t would be
a mighty task, but the result should
be worthy of the effort, for / know of
no. man who has more material to
draw upon, vivid true-to-life happen
ings in a varied career of excite
ment.
Ross, was born in Australia way
- ~ LIN oSVSAS1SS VI hoy bS-Sho
sixties. E~migrating to America when
still a boy, he held first one post
and then another, until finally he drift
ed to Canada and enlisted In the
world famous Canadian mounted po-
lice.
Sometimes, If you can get him into
q laxative mood, he will tell you OF
riding many miles to capture danger
GUS criminals single-handed. Ross tells
with a smile that he was never known
to fail on n Of these hazardous IN
d%ertakings. II you look at his face,
o car understand why this is SO.
1t is not easy to get him to talk. but
fortunately his record is SO well
known that it is not a diff cult matter
to gather material on his life.
I remember one day when we went
In amp together in East Africa
keeping law and order in a new dia-
mond field rush, which turned out a
ner of some of his adventures with
the gunner and illicit liquor men in
the northwest of Canada.
He told us of one day capturing a
band of four bandits, who were noto-
rious for the number Of men they
had killed. Ross was sent out with
a trooper to capture them alive If pos
sible. Ye godsl think of it! Two
men to capture the four worst men
in Canada! The two men rode across
the plains for several days until
they finally came upon the camp of
the bandits.
w got EN-" ended Ross. Be-
ing pressed for further particulars, he
reluctantly told US a few details of
the capture.
Our arrival was a SURPRISE" he
continued. II walked into their camp
accompanied by my trooper. Neither
: of us had drawn a gun. Bandits or
no bandits, they all know they can't
fool the N. w. NJ. Police. One darn
ed fool drew a gun, but I'm mighty
quick with my pea-shooter and winged
him. The others submitted, and we
brought 'em back to the chief. 1t
vas sure some soft snap, that. The
poor fellow I had shot was buried
where he fell by his comrades. They
didn't like doing it, but a s~ix-shooter
covering you makes a man do what
he's ordered. Leastwise, it always
has in my experiences"
1t is only by looking into his eyes
and catching the lines of his mouth,
hidden partially by ga 2heavy mus
tache, that n can read that behind
this hardened exterior turks a heart
full Of kindness for a comrade in dis
tress. Strange to relate he is a pow
Ell with women. All women like him.
and he himself loves the society Of
the gentler sex. In the summer of
1910 Ross was happily married in Lon
don and has taken his wife back to
East Africa with him. Many q fair
lady's heart will be jealous Of the
woman who has become Mrs. Ross.
One day, when riding together
across the Athi Plains, Ross told me
that he had spent some years in
Utah. I asked him If he was a
Mormon.
Sure thing, young Teller. Tn a bish-
op in the church" he laughed. and the
merry twinkle in his eye warned me
that a little coaxing might bring out
a good story. And presently he
City.
II gotten run out of there. I mis-
remember what for. The Mormon re-
ligion is sure some fine thing. All
your wives say up all the yeller-leg-
ged chickens to try and coax you to
favor them. l don't believe in no suf-
~fragette; Mormon, ladies for mine.
Say, / guess you better join that out
fit. All you gotta do is to stand up
n day in the Tabernacle and an
nounce that you've had a revelation
for Sister Jane, and she becomes a
number five or whatever number is
next vacant in your catalogue. sure
had some mighty fine revelations in
Salt Lake City. Say, young Teller,