Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-11

/
Of Col. Bill Muley.
We'll, it wasn't very encouraging
when left there"
When do sou expect to returnr'
l don't think / shall go back
Did you cell out your stock?''
We'll, I'll tell you how the whole
thing Was. You see, was told that
the Indian Territory was the best plase
IN the world to start a country store,
A prominent man told mo that IL ]
would only 20 mp there with a lot OF
red calico and q few pecks Of brass
| ear rlngs and q general assortment of
trinkets, that could soon get rich. /
took his advice, oonfound him, and
invested all the money possessed al
ne directed. built log cabin in the
woods near . read and opened M nv
stock. had secured permit to carry
| on business, and / felt assured that /
would have a thriving trade. NV sd.
wiser lived a short distance away, and
would occasionally come over and give
me advice. / remained two weeks and
not single Indian did see.
Where Is my trade to come from ?''
asked of my friend.
oh, 1t will come along after awhile.
You see. the busy season hasn't opened
yet"
] changed my goods around to keep
myself opened. Two more weeks passed
and not q single customer. Invent again
to my friend and expressed SEINE little
dissatisfaction.
You are the most impatient fellow I
ever saw" he said. Didn't tell YOU
that the busy season had not opened
yst2''
"Yes, You told me that. -
Aud it hasn't opened"
II believe nst"
Then. You see. have told you the
truth. When man tells you the truth,
stick to him."
l went away and changed my goods
around. Two more weeks passed. Not
a single customer.
Look here" said to my friend one
day, :" don't believe there are any In
dams in this blasted neighborhood."
81 see that You are still impatient; but
the busy season will soon be here. Then
you will be glad that you took my advice.
The Indians are peculiar people. You
must gain their confidence before you
oan secure their trade"
But how the deuce am to gain their
confidence when haven't seen any of
them?'
"Haven't you got q drummer out?'
:" No. You never said anything 70 me
abeut drummer
II hope you don't expect to rely solely
on me. thought you were business
man. My con 10 an excellent drummer
and you'd better send him among the
Tribes. II won't do for you to 90 your
self. for the Indians are peculiar people.
An active time 10 in store for you when
the busy season opens"
employed my friends son and sent
him out. After an absence of about
two weeks he returned with the iu-
formation that Long Horn, the chief,
would visit me and do the trading for
his tribe.
"The business season il opening, :" said
my friend. When the chief comes he
will offer you deer hides for your stock.
/ will pay you handsomely for every deer
hide you bring me. and by that means
business will boom. Don't be anyway
backward in demanding large number
Of hides, for a. vou have gained the old
chiefs confidence You can work him With
great freedom. He will not bring the
hides with him, but trust to his honesty
and everything will be all right. The
business season, We may now conclude,
has fairly opened
The opening of the business season
was to me very much like the opening
of a century plant, but could not re-
frain from conQratulating myself ON
my sucCe IS. At last the old chief came.
attended by Ave young Indians with
ponies. He looked at my stock and
asked the price. was not modest. /
told him that ! would take two thou
sand deer hides. He agreed, and told
me that he would give me the hides,
and that l must come to his camp the
next day. My entire stock was thus
disposed Of, and my friend had said
he would give me two dollars apiece
for the hides. Two thousand dollars
ON an investment Of one thousand was
not bad, and again ! congratulated
myself.
Next day mounted horse and rode
to the old chiefs camp. He welcomed
me warmly. and, after few moments
conversation, said be would bring me
the hides. We mounted our horses and
I followed the old fellow for several
miles in the direction Of what took 70
be the storehouse. Neither Of N spoke
a. We rode along. Finally.we reached .
knoll overlooking level plain.
"Therem exclaimed the ohiG1, point
inc to Q lot Of deer grazing In the dis
tance. "These are the white mans
hides. Indian Get goods; white man
must get hides"
He turned away and left me. Hooked
after him . moment and then the truth
dawned upon me.
rode rapidly 70 my friends house.
He was not at home. Then went 70
| the store and found the following note
pinned ON the door:
The business season has opened and
| am called away to zee about the open
| ing trade. hope you will deliver the
hides when | return. but, In the mean
time, you'd better take care OF your ovn
hide. Your permit to sell goods in the
Territory was bogus, and the govern
ment officers are after you.
Yours LoNa HON."
He was the rascal who had worked the
whole business. aud IL ever | see him
again he'll think business has opened up
| in deviIish lively manner.
q