The more daring began to take unbranded calves from their range cow mothers.

One morning Harry Fitzsimmons rode over to the house and said someone had stolen a

heifer from his corral. The neighborhood turned out, and the trail was struck. It was easily followed to Wildcat mountain. In the black root sod on this eminence it was lost. Going down Helves canyon, Mrs. Helves declared that they had passed that way early in the dawn. She was mistaken.

Long years afterwards a letter came from Texas telling how close we were upon the real folks we were after. There was a cabin that looked deserted near which we passed in the canyon on the west side of Wildcat, and there was the heifer and the rustlers. They burned the rope before we came in view. These two men were good citizens as far as the people knew and remained as such. After years one of them was converted in Texas and he sent the price of the heifer to Fitzsimmons. I am glad we did not find them then, for Harry was mad enough to shoot.

Will Kelly's daughter was the first child born on Pumpkin creek that lived to maturity. Bess Kelly grew up in the present limits of Banner county but has since died. Ted Kelly resides on the old Kelly ranch on Pumpkin creek.

The Lone Pine District

South of the valley was the Lone Pine district. A. S. Alexander opened a store there when the land was young. Wild horses used to browse on the high tablelands and travellers could see them from afar.