THE NORTHERN MYSTERY 255 



excite the envy and malice of the rough 

 cattlemen. In short, his success and himself 

 were displeasing to them. 



Just about this time an incident occurred 

 in one of the cities of the Territory, which, 

 slight as it appeared, was nevertheless des- 

 tined to affect very materially the lives of 

 several hundred human beings. A young 

 dish-washer, ill-used by a big and burly man- 

 cook, drew his pistol and wounded his assail- 

 ant. The boy then took refuge in flight, 

 and days after turned up, weary and half 

 starved, at the ranch occupied by Morton. 

 The wanderer was none other than he who 

 was soon to become notorious under the 

 pseudonym of Billy the Kid. Sheltered and 

 cared for by the Englishman, the boy repaid 

 his protector with a passionate devotion rarely 

 equalled. The wiseacres assure us that good 

 cannot spring out of evil ; nevertheless, we 

 all know how discouragingly often evil springs 

 out of good. 



For while these small matters were taking 

 place on Morton's ranch the blossom and 

 then the fruit of gratitude and affection 

 developing in proper season the cattle-men 



