The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-12-14
THE NIrS STORY.

Yes, it was rather curious start that |
had in business. The first..thing did, af-
ter having saved little pile of money, was
to set up shanty in Sioux City. / had all
sorts of traps TO allure Indians, and |
wanted to buy any kind of peltries scalps
excepted. But l was a new arrival and
the noble red man couldn't believe in me
without help, and / found trade rather
dull. Late one night, however, as 1 was
sleeping among my stock, there came
tremendous banging at my door, and when
/ u0 barred it, there was tall fellow who
seemed to be a little drunk ; and said he
81 want a butcher-knife." 'All right.
Come in," said I. 81 want a reliable one,'
says he. 81 want it to kill man with.
Give me good strong handle. 1 want
a knife that l can put in and turn it
around" Says |, 81 think / can.suit you.
Walk in and take a look" KNEW him by
that time. He was Virginian, a splendid
looking fellow, and belonged to a good fam
lily, as l understood. but lie had gone wild
on the frontier and had done n great many
illegal things, and been forced to herd with
the Indians. The consequence was that he
spoke their language and was person of
influence among them. Well, | felt little
doubtful about his intentions not knowing
but what | was the man he was after but
all the same | got out my stock of tools and
showed them.
There was one, nearly two feet long,
which | had bought for cheese knife
Says |, Il think that would answer your
| purpose" ''Ies, | should think it mig hit"
says he. GLOW much is it % l told him
the price-about four shillings, l think
| ''I'll take it says he. 'But haven't any
! money" Under the circumstances, seeing
! he had the knife in his hand and was ready
to turn it around, thought | had better
offer to trust him. YOU'D better not,
says he. "You don't know me from any
! other gentleman ''But I've got to trust
| you," says 1. You've got the butcher
knife by tie handle, and I'm n: the sharp
end of it. Besides, | believe | can trust
| YOU, Off he went, and | heard no more
| of him for a time, not even whether he had
! killed a man. But some weeks later he
put in an appearance and paid for the
| knife. And now, youngster," says he, u
| like the way you treated me when reused
you out for that trade. You didn't show
the white feather. Some men, hustled ur
at that time of night, would have been
| scared. But you behaved every way like a
| gentleman, and now ! want to behave tC
| you as one. There are some Indians com.
| ing in today, and I'll bring them to your
shanty to trade. Have you got any rum p
| hadn't any rum | didn't keep it
''Wel," says he, 1--WE must have some rum
| No rum, no Injun. Give me couple oi
dcllaIs.'' / gave him the moEey, and he
| went off. When he came back he had a
demijohn full of drink and some tumblers
| An hour or so later The Indians appeared,
| some two hundred of them.
| First came the warriors, with their rifles,
bows and tomahawks; then followed the
suuaws, STOPPING almost to the ground un.
der their loads. My man halted them, but
they didn't want to trade with me; they
| didn't know me. There was a long pala
yer, and at last he threatened to kill some
of them if they didn't follow his friendly
advice and the end OF 1t was that they
gave in, to save quarrel They crowded
into my little shop, and drank my demUoht
empty, and bought my stock clean out, and
filled me full of peltries. | made 81, 5OC
that season, and went OFF in high spirits tC
lose it some where else. and then to pick il
up again. AS for the Virginian, lost sigh
of him. and never learned how he ended
| didn't even inquire whether be put hi'
| butcher knife in and turued it around. II
seemed to me too delicate subject.-At
| Lanttc Monthly.