The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-07-05
THE OUTLAW

fleet,
And nailed iron shoes upon his feet
And on his shoulder burned theil
brand.
They bridled him with reckless hand
The saddle girth. drew close ant
tight.
Hes bad they said. he'll make
a fight"
Then cried Now who will ride the
; brute?
Come on, you sports, make ready
shoot!'
From out the crowd there stepped
alone
A man whom never horse had
thrown;
With beaded chaps and gay silk shirt,
Sombrero wide and braided quirt.
The range horse heard his jingling
spur
And felt deep fear within him stir.
He trembled then in every limb,
No friend he had, none cared for
him.
What's this strange weight flung on
his back?
A shout goes up, Hang to him,
Macl"
He snorted wildly, tossed his head,
A plunge-and now his TANKS run
And then he fought, gone mad with
pain,
Against the quirt, the spur and
rein.
A shout-a thud--the rider lies
With dead face turned up to the
skies.
Men cursed the wild horse standing
there
With bloody mouth and foam fecked
hair.
They led him to a strong corral,
Wen break you yet," they said,
Mark we'll
The days to come, you bold outlaw"
With pain crazed eyes and trembling
He paved the ground, for still he
The wounds the quirt and spur had
dealt.
And so his name went all about I
And many riders tried him out.
Each Frontier Day. he won new
\ fame,
More skill brought to the cruel game. !
He fought as never horse before,
Full oft his sides ran red with gore.
Men hated him, he hated men,
They held him in prison pen.
Came one day to the cattle ranch
Jim Gray, from up Lost River
Branch.
A quiet man with kindly eyes,
OF unassuming, sober guise.
And after supper, late that night,
When cards were done and pipes
alight,
He made a deal that all could hear,
Above the noise his voice rang clear:
With quirt and spur both laid aside,
For full an hour the horse I'll ride
And not be thrown. When this I've
done
rhe Outlaws mine, and fairly won"
rhe boss and all the bunk house ,
gang
him, and loudly sang: +
we sure are glad you came our r
way! /
food luck to you-here's how, Jim
Gray" 7
Jext morning ere the sun was high,
/ strange man passed the outlaw by.
lie turned-repassed- paused
to press a
gentle hand in firm careSS I
.gainst the outlaws velvet nose. d
he startled horse on hind feet rose,
hen trembling, crouched as from I
blow.
TRANCE words were spoken, sooth- \
ing, low:
Be still, old chap, I'll not hurt you, c,
II be a friend that's staunch and
true" n
he gentle voice-the kindly hand :,
Unknown before in his grim land n
e ceased to tremble, stood at rest,
nd Jim Gray said: "I've made the &c
test! a
we will ride away, ~,
cure mine, love you, clean limbed w
bay" h.
o.
hey gathered in a crowd again
0 watch the outlaw, all the men g.
hat he had conquered by his skill. 81
lbmissive, now, to this mans will,
one cruel spur, quirt's savage hit, tn
e took the. saddle, bride Bit III
18th wistful eye that seemed to say: p1
we trusted you, be true, Jim Gray" II
le master spoke, single word, he
sep silence fell, no voice was heard.
? mounted slowly, then rode past
lie group of men, and ringing fast
leir cheers arose: "Gray did the
deed! a
wv strange = he looks a noble In
steed!' IN
I'd long they stood and watched NJ
the two. 1r
It'll they vanished in the blue. ~
BY Irene WEIGH Grissom OF
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