Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-02-15

. WIN iiSi w uCll JAIN iol'
Mary the good soul found thousand
reasons why he should stay, and hur-
ried to make him a bed in the attic
The Celestial did not say much, but
when Jack called him John he smil-
ed sad smile.
Mclean man callee John. Humph.
lik Kee
SO with due consideration for his
feelings we addressed him as Iik kee
He was of great use. He helped to
care of the children, did the washing
Mary did not fancy his method OF
sprinkling clothes, and helped Jack
on the farm. We made him one of
the family. He was always pleasant
and smiling, but was a man of few
words.
Cousin Jack added much to his in
come by::trading in hides. Ranchmen
living at distance sold their hid's to
him, and Jack sold them to traders.
who came around at certain times in
the year. Harry White was partner
in the business. He used to 90 on a
sort of round up and visit the ranches
all over the country. The cattle OF
the ranchmen roamed in vast herds
over the plains, protected only by the
brand of the owner. Cattle stealing
was frequently practiced. Offenders
in this respect were shown no mercy.
They were convicted, tried and execut-
ed only in the court of Judge Lynch
| never blamed the ranchmen for this
1t was impossible to guard the herds
in the vast area over which they
traversed, and the cattle must be pro
tectsd in some way. Gil Mead Was q
wealthy ranchmsn, who lived about
10 miles from us. Ieowned the lsrg
est herd Of cattle on the plains. They
were branded with the vowels Of his
name. f. A., which could be r-cogniz-
ed anywhere. He always shipped his
cattle East to his brother in Chic, go.
| feared the man. He was tall and
gaunt, with deep set black eyes and
low forehead. His home Was unhap-
py, his wife cross and ugly, and his
children wild and unruly. This made
him more than commonly disagreesble.
think it was in the fall OF - that
Harry White brought the big load Of
hides to Jack. Both were much plea, ed
at the bargain they made. Harry
gave glowing accounts Of new custo-
mer-a ranchman from Chicago who
had taken up an abandoned homestead.
lie had purchased many cattle from
his cousin, Gil Mead. and hoped TO
rival him in the number and quality
OF his herd Jack packed the hr,ies
away to keep till December, when he
expected the dealer
One afternoon, not leng after this.
Gil Mead ride up 10 the house looking
very agreeable and pleasant A couple
Of strangers, also ranchmen, were with
him. They wanted 10 look ., the
hides, one Of them being trader. Gil
said. Jack was in Denver, SO 1ik Nee
and went the barn with them. They
/ looked the hides over carefully, and
conversed in low tones. Gil with sup,
pressed oath. Finally they thanked
us courteously, and took their leave,
/ 'Humph: no goodse.' said iik kee,
but he ~ouidn't Say more.
! About ) that evening, when We were
at supper crowd Of * or 80 men
rode up on horseback. Jack came out
and met them. inviting them in to
take supper. IN his generous hosplta
bic way. They wanted him to go to
Denver with them: there Was to be a
meeting there of importance to ranch
men. The Ueetlng would be so'clock.
They had brought with them an extra
horse for Jack. Mary looked around
for Yik kee to help her. but he had
mysterously disappeared. | family
remembered seeing his white. horri,
fed face peering around the barn al
the horses. | noted the visitors ate
little he food SCI med to choke them
Some OF them watched Mary and the
baby in = queer sort Of way. Wher
Jack, as was his custom, kissed his wife
and babies good by, one Of the visitors
and oldish man, coughed huskily and
said. .Blest if kin stan this. The,
all rode off: Jack the merriest of al
waving his hat till he was out of sight
When We were clearing up the un
usual quantity of dishes Iik kee ap
peared at the end window and beckon
ed me. | followed him out. Ted wal
with him. Behind the barn were tn,
three horses saddled. Shep was with
them, released from confinement
where he had been secured from fol
lowing his master.
'Foller EN- said Ted, in an excitel
whisper. 'Yik's afraid they're up t.
something
What is it, Yik:' | SAID sternly
No fooling, now
) For answer he twisted his long pis
tail around his neck, tying it unde
his left ear in q significant manner.
'Humph, he hangee; stealee cow
'Oh, Mary sobbed, remembering
. Gil Mead's visit and his strange 40
tons, and dimly seeing what Yik ke
meant, L must tell Mary said wild
: ly.
; 'Humph, no. said Yik Kee. 'Yel
> lee sick, and he closed his eyes in
dieaway sort of manner. Go now
| too late
we mounted.
, 'Mother'll think we're gone to ride,
l said Ted, as we galloped over tn
plains. He was deathly pale, poo
P little fellow, but he sat erect and fra
: | saw his fathers big Colts revolve
sticking out of his pocket He was
determined boy. Even in my despai
: in my Wild hope that could saw
+ Jack by begging on my knees, that
! could cling to him, and that the
d would have to kill me first, | coul
J. not help smile at the comical fgur
Yik Kee presented on horseback. Hi
/, | l<>coa 70 pn~nal -, tho ~,,rr