A RANCHMAN'S RECOLLECTIONS 



the one outstanding spot. I believe It is the best 

 ranch property in America." 



We talked of the "Leavenworth man," and the 

 bunch that scattered when the railroads came, and 

 moved on, with frontier restlessness, and then he 

 told me a remarkable thing: that while his wild west 

 show was in Paris during the exposition he made 

 it a habit to try to locate a "Leavenworth man," and 

 have him ride in the stage during the fight between 

 the cowboys and Indians. He said that it was re- 

 markable how often he found the man. When at 

 last he let me go he said, "Well, this has been a won- 

 derful hour through you, living again with my friends 

 in those happy times. God, but they were happy, 

 happy times ! Look me up any time you can. I am 

 hungry for more of the long ago." 



I recall one striking thing that he said when, inad- 

 vertently, in speaking of the value of a buffalo's hide 

 at the time of our chat, and of the slaughter for their 

 hides, he said: "People have the idea that I was a 

 crack shot, and used that talent to kill for the hide. 

 I never killed except for food, when the hide fol- 

 lowed as an auxiliary perquisite. I never have had 

 any patience with the vandals of the plains." 



"Buffalo Bill" was not a "bad man," but in the 

 early days he was sometimes confused with "Wild 

 Bill," who was on that order. He was just a hunter, 

 scout and guide, who in after life was clever enough 

 to turn his remarkably picturesque figure, personality 



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