New York: Indian Head Books, (1980.) dj. Hardcover - Facsimile editon of this classic account of life on the range - "taken from real life by an old stove up "Cow Puncher," who has spent nearly twenty years on the great Western cattle ranges" - originally published in 1885. The preface begins "My excuse for writing this book is money-and lots of it. I suppose the above would suffice, but as time is not very precious I will continue and tell how the idea of writing a book first got into my head: While ranching on the Indian Territory line, close to Caldwell, Kansas, in the winter of 82 and 83, we boys-there being nine of us-made an iron-clad rule that whoever was heard swearing or caught picking grey backs off and throwing them on the floor without first killing them, should pay a fine of ten cents for each and every offense. The proceeds to be used for buying choice literature-something that would have a tendency to raise us above the average cow-puncher. Just twenty-four hours after making this rule we had three dollars in the pot-or at least in my pocket, I having been appointed treasurer." After attempting a novel, he decided it might be better to tell the story of his short but rugged life. Illustrated with two reproduction full-color chromolithographs. xii, 316 pp. A title in the Classics of the Old West series. ISBN: 0-880296496.