CHAPTER I EARLIEST MEMORIES (1869 to 1878) CHAPTER II BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA (1878 to 1885) CHAPTER III I START TO PUNCH COWS CHAPTER V WITH THE TL OUTFIT IN THE BEAR PAWS CHAPTER VI LINE RIDING WITH THE MOUNTED POLICE CHAPTER VII IN THE JUDITH BASIN COUNTRY OF MONTANA CHAPTER VIII WITH THE DHS OUTFIT CHAPTER XV THE JOHNSON COUNTY WAR CHAPTER XIX MEMORIES OF CHARLIE RUSSELL By Con Price (Masachele Opa Barusha) THE HIGHLAND PRESS Highland at Hawthorne HOLLYWOOD 28, CALIFORNIA Copyright, 1945 By Con Price All Rights Reserved FIRST EDITION After Deluxe edition of 125 copies, numbered and signed by the author. DEDICATION To all the old-time cowboys and cowmen whose hearts were as big as the range they rode. CONTENTS I. Earliest Memories (1869 to 1878) PREFACE Some years ago, through my interest in the life and work of Charles M. Russell, I met Con Price. No one could go far into the subject of Montana’s Cowboy Artist without cutting Con Price’s trail. These two men were more than cowpuncher friends and associates in a ranch partnership. Charlie regarded Con as one of the greatest bronco riders of his time, and Con considers Charlie the finest kind of friend a man could have had. It was a long time before Con would talk much about his close friendship with Charlie Russell—a friendship that started on the range before either was married, and lasted until Charlie crossed the Big Divide in 1926. After some urging Con has, over a period of years, written something of his early days in Old Montana, with a few, too few, references to his friend Russell. My own knowledge of Russell has been immeasurably enriched through knowing Con Price, but more important is our own friendship, which I treasure even more. H. E. BRITZMAN July 23, 1945 Trail’s End, Michillinda, Pasadena, California. The Lazy KY The Lazy KY |