harmless mischief was rampant in him, alternating with uncontrollable flashes of anger.  Though he was usually as innocent as a kitten, it was a deadly insult to refuse drinking with him, and one day he shot a circle of holes around a stranger’s feet for declining an invitation.  A complaint was lodged against him, and the sheriff, not knowing the man, thoughtlessly sent a Mexican deputy to make the arrest.  Even then, had ordinary courtesy been extended, the unfortunate occurrence might have been avoided.  But an undue officiousness on the part of the officer angered the old trail boss, who flashed into a rage, defying the deputy, and an exchange of shots ensued.  The Mexican was killed at the first fire, and my man mounted his horse unmolested, and returned to the ranch.  I was absent at the time, but my wife advised him to go in and surrender to the proper authorities, and he obeyed her like a child.

We all looked upon him as one of the family, and I employed the best of counsel.  The circumstances were against him, however, and in spite of an able defense he received a sentence of ten years.  No one questioned the justice of the verdict, the law must be upheld, and the poor fellow was taken to the penitentiary to serve out the sentence.  My wife and I concealed the facts from the younger children, who were constantly inquiring after his return, especially my younger girls, with whom he was a great favorite.  The incident was worse than a funeral; it would not die out, as never a day passed but inquiry was made after the missing man; the children dreamed about him, and awoke from their sleep to ask if he had come and if he had brought them anything.  The matter finally affected my wife’s nerves, the older boys knew the truth, and the younger children were becoming suspicious of the veracity of their parents.  The truth was gradually leaking out, and after he had served a year in prison, I began a movement with the view of securing his pardon.  My influence in state politics was always more or less courted, and appealing to my friends, I drew up a petition, which was signed by every prominent politician in that section, asking that executive clemency be extended in behalf of my old foreman.  The governor was a good friend of mine, anxious to render me a service, and through his influence we managed to have the sentence so reduced that after serving two years the prisoner was freed and returned to the ranch.  He was the same lovable character, tolerated by my wife and fondled by the children, and he refused to leave home for over a year.  Ever cautious to remove temptation from him, both my wife and I hoped that the lesson would last him through life, but in an unguarded hour he took to drink, and shot to death his dearest friend.