Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-11-22
THE WILD HUNTER.

THE WILD HUNTER.
Il is ten yeais ago (said Mr.. Helden,)
aud at that time the country back from
the Missouri was not much settled. The
fame Of the Big Blue lands had spread
far and wide, and every week scores of
farmers from Iowa, Illinois and Missouri
came In and settled On the rich bottoms,
almost invariably writing back TO thar
friends In the States that the land Was
one flowing with milk and honey, and
ureing them to conc and take up farms.
Sc the settlement prospered amazingly,
and Beatrice, Neb., which had only been
a town "ou paper" became II thriving
village In reality.
Among the farmers who came to settle
In this new country was Mr.. Thompson
and his family. They had formerly lived
In Iowa, on the Big Sioux River, six
miles from Sioux City; but, not prosper
ing there, they sought TO hetter their con-
dition by going to Nebraska, and selected
the Big Blue as the place of their future
home. MIR. Tkompson's family consisted
of his wife, his daughter Mary, sweet
girl of sixteen, and an old man who had
spent the best part OF his life In the SER
vice of the family, and, row that he was
old. was retained for the good he had
done, and that he might have home in
his declining years. At one time Mr.. r..
had been we'll of in the world, hut uuf0r-
tunate epeculatiOns In Western lands had
ruined him, and, at the time Of which |
speak, he had little left besides II few
horses, wagon or two, and dozen head
Of cattle.
Near to where Mr.. Thompson had set
tied on the Blue lived wild young man,
who had won for himself the name OF
ssThe Wild Trapper of the Blue" He
lived all alLne on the the headwaters Of q
little creek, and was rarely seen except
when he came, once IN every two or three
months, to the traders tU exchange his
furs and skins for ilOur, tobacco, matches,
coffee, and such other articles as he need
ed. On these occasions, after having
made his purchases, De- would Lounge
about the traders tor several days, drink
ing bad whisky. ami qudncling Will
every one he could get 10 quarrel with
him. When under the Influence O
whisky, he would mount his horse, and
with two large navy reyolvtrs 10 his belt
ride up and down the village, dely inl
every one 60 come out and fight him
For the slightest offence either real o
Imagined, be would fire at man, anc, j.
he had a grudge against anyone, that per
sons cattle or hOrecs we're sure sOor
aiterward TO be missing, II WIS NOR
thar hinted that he was the principal Of
accomplice In many OF the thefts
and II he we're 80 minded, could tell wher
most ofthe valuable horses stolen irou
time 10 time on the Salt Lake stage rual
had gone. Yet such was the reputation
ofthis Young desperate for courage ant
Wlckedness, that no one cared to meddli
with him, and wherever he went hi
society vas tolerated rather than prefer
red. No ten men could have been induce
TO 90 10 his rauche to search for stole
stock, and so tine matter was allowed (
rest-eveiy one blaming him with a
sorts of crimes, but no one being able {
swear the suspicious were correct.
one evening, just rs Mr.. Thompso
and his family were sitting down In thci
humble cabin to a supper Of corn.brea
and venisou a tall young man, mdunie
on a wiry pony, rode up. He wa
scarcely nineteen years Of age. and VOL
the inevitable leggiugs and long irock q
the Weitern hunters, irlugcd with buel
akin. HIS face wos brown as nut, aut
when he raised the broad hrim Of h
SLOUGH hat. his countenarce betrayed N
mistakable signs OF diss patton.
Mr. Thompson politely Invited Il
stranger TO disinounl aud partake OF the
frugal meal and, springing from d
horse. he made haste to enter; but whe
he saw Mary be drew back, blushed, al
would have mounted again, had not NJ
Thompson Insisted upon his stopping loI
euough to eat something. II was n
long before MIR. Thompson discover
from the conversation that his guest vi
none other than the lannon's young dcspe
ado of the Blue, and the discovery "
attended with considerable anxiety al
alarm. The quick eye OF the hunter d
teeted IN an instant the alarm his pl
sepee had created. and rising from I
table before he had finished his supp'
he said, with a dignlled air
~ am indeed the wild Tapper of I
Nine. and, like every one else, you tai
me had; but ain not so bad rs tuey 50
Oh =" he added, after moments paui
isif some one in the world would ouly
lieve me good, might become like otl
men,"
Then, fixing his piercing eyes
Mary, he gazed at her ipll minute, a
turning on his heel, he lett the cal
without, saying another word ]
family. through the open doorway, 81
and gnllop swiftly away over the prai
towards his cabin.
From this visit Mr.. Thompson augul
bad luck; but, us dag after day q
week after week passed aud they saw
more Of him, they began tO think Il
had done the young man pn injusti
True. they had often heard OF him In
village, where he continued his drink
and fighting; but although the neal
way would nave LED him by Mr. Whor
son's house, both In going and conf
he always crossed the prairie some N
above and never came near the place.
Mr. Thompson, who had once bee
kind husband, an lnduleent father, an
man Of good habits, disappointed by
peated failures In business and yexed
POVERTY, had, Of late years, taken
drink, and now was little better than
common drur kard. Ills Wife
daughter had persuaded him 10 III
from Iowa, hoping, when his old ASST
tlons were broken up, he would do be
in Nebraska aud make their new hou
happy one. For a time their most {
guine wishes seemed about 90 be- realii
The farm they had taken up was "A s
one, the crops were abundant, and
seemed TO promise happy future.
Thompson had left oil drinking entir
and was again The kind and affection
husband and father Of former years.
happiness OF this little family was
bounded, when In an evil hour, cl
darkened the sunshine Of their rude
tage, and iually burst in destroy
stern. man named Cook Opene
travellers ranch, or holel, near
Thompson's; and between this man
the farmer there soon subsis,ed tue va
est friendship. Night after night
Thompson would 20 10 Cocks, aud s
the society Of bad men until the 81
hours Of the morning. The wife
eughteI, alarmed for his safety.