Part 25 (2/2)

”Shake 'e Medicine Creek ”Show us so crack with the whip, and they juht and their pace increased with every second

Soon they were fairly flying over the ground, and I had all I could do to maintain any control over them At last we reached a steep hill, or divide, the further side of which sloped down to the creek There was no brake on the wagon, and the four horses were not in the least inclined to hold back, appearing to be wholly unconcerned as to what ht happen

It was impossible to restrain the them on the track So I let theon bounded and rebounded froers had to keep very busy holding their seats

However, when they saw that the horses were being kept in the road they assu themselves I was unable to slacken the pace of the horses until they dashed into the camp where ere to obtain a relay There I succeeded in checking them

[Illustration: STAGE-COACH DRIVING WAS FULL OF HAIR-RAISING ADVENTURES]

The Grand Duke and the general said they had got a lot of enjoyment out of the ride, but I noticed that thereafter they were perfectly willing to travel at an easier pace

When we arrived at North Platte, the Grand Duke invited ne, ent over all the details of the hunt He said the trip was one which he would never forget and professed himself as wholly unable to thankthe car one of his suite approached ed ht token of the Grand Duke's appreciation offor what I had done He then handed me a small jewel box, which I slipped into , and asked if I would not also accept the nificent fur overcoat which Alexis had worn on the hunt

I had frequently admired this coat, which was lad to receive it as a reuided on a hunting expedition

After leaving us Alexis telegraphed to the most famous of New York jewelers and had made for me a wonderful set of sleeve-links and a scarf-pin, studded with diamonds and rubies, each piece in the fore as a silver half-dollar

Reporters who accoraphed the story of this order to their New York newspapers When later I arrived in New York, after this present had been given me, some of the papers said that Buffalo Bill had come to New York to buy a shi+rt on which to wear the jewelry given him by the Grand Duke Alexis

Shortly after this, General Ord, who had acco party, rode over with me to Fort McPherson On the way he asked ular arht to have a coed if I desired it

I thanked the general, and asked hih a co prize, I preferred to re He said that if at any time I felt that I wanted a coiven to me

All I looked forward to was the life of the Plains It was enough foreach day to find soreat deal of routine, and routine was so up forever any hope of wearing an officer's shoulder-straps, I was about to turn back to the prairies to see what new opportunities for excitee new call came to me

General JJ Reynolds, who had just arrived at Fort McPherson with the Third Cavalry, called me into the office one day and told me that he had a letter, railroad tickets, and five hundred dollars for me

Furthermore he inforof the ”Millionaires' Hunting Party,” headed by Jauided the year before

I was, in short, invited to visit es in New York, and provided by thee, and leisure for the trip

CHAPTER IX

Of course going to New York was a very serious business, and not to be undertaken lightly The first thing I needed was clothes, and at ht was the handsomest suit in the world Then I proceeded to buy a necktie, so that I could wear the present which had come in the little box from the Grand Duke--a handsome scarf-pin The Grand Ducal overcoat and a new Stetson, added to the wardrobe I already possessed, co I had was on my back, but just the same I borrowed a little trunk of my sister, so as to impress New York with the fact that I had as many clothes as any visitor frotold ht want to know just how a scout looked in his business clothes Mrs Cody was much astonished because I did not ask for my brace of pistols, which had accoone up to that tireat confidence in these weapons, which more than once had saved my life She wanted to knohat in the world I would do without them if I met any bad men in New York I told her that I supposed there were policemen in New York whose business it was to take care of such people Anyway, I was going to chance it