In February, 1876, Wild Bill entered into an engagement with Ned
Buntline, (Judson,) the novelist who created Buffalo Bill and his
exploits, to appear as a leading character in a border play he had
written for the stage. The troupe was made up in New York, and the
principal actors were Wild Bill, Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack. The
business was a most disagreeable one for Wild Bill, who entered into
the engagement solely under the pressure of pecuniary needs. The
authorities of Kansas City had so vigorously prosecuted the gamblers
that the professionals were compelled to abandon their games, and
thus Bill became, to use his own expression, “severely money-bound.”
Buntline, with a vivid imagination running at all times through carnage
and lawlessness, employed his best ability in getting up the posters
heralding the appearance of his troupe. Wild Bill was posted in large,
blood-red letters as having killed thirty-six men, and the most
desperate man that ever set foot on the plains. His nature arose with
revolt at such a publicity of his character, and after playing the role
of a border bandit for two months, he peremptorily refused to appear on
the stage any longer.