In an Arizona town one day   Bill Venero heard them say   That a band of Apache Indians   Were on the trail that way   Heard them tell of murder done   Three men killed at Rocky Run   "They're in danger at the cow ranch"   Said Venero under his breath!      Nearly forty miles away   Was a little place that lay   In a deep and shady valley   In the mighty wilderness   Half a score of homes were there   And in one a maiden fair   Held the heart of Bill Venero   Bill Venero's Little Bess.   So no wonder he grew pale   When he heard the cowboy's tale   Of the men that he'd seen murdered   There at Rocky Run   Sure as there's a God above   I will save the girl I love   By that love I hold for Bessie   I will see that somethin's done!      Not one minute he delayed   When this brave resolve was made   "But, man," his comrades told him   When they hears his daring plan   "You are riding straight to death!"   But he answered, "Save your breath,   I may never reach the cow ranch   But I'll do the best I can."   As he crossed the alkali   All his thoughts flew on ahead   To the little band at Cow Ranch   Thinking not a danger near   With his quirt's unceasing whirl   And the jingle of his spurs   Little Chapo bore the cowboy   OÂ'er the far away frontier.      Sharp and dear a rifle shot   Woke the echoes of the spot   "I am wounded," cried Venero   As he swayed from side to side.   "While there's life there's always hope   Slowly onward I will lope   If we fail to reach the Cow Ranch   Bessie Lee will know I tried."      Then at dusk a horse of brown   Wet with sweat came panting down   The little lane at Cow Ranch   Stopped in front of Bessie's door.   But the cowboy was asleep   And his slumber was so deep   Little Bess could never wake him   Though she tried forever more.      You have heard this story told   By the young and by the old   How the Indians killed Venero   On his way to Rocky Run.   Many years have passed away   And the maiden's hair is gray   But still she places roses   On Bill Venero's grave.