The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-03-27

GOOD soul fousd . iAousssd rssssss Wy
hs should sssy. and hurried 70 make him
: bed 10 the attic. The Celestial did not
ssy much. but whom Jack calisd him
.'Johp, he smiled sad smils.
"Msliesn mss callss Jshu. Humph'
Yik Keel
SO. viii due ceusidsrstisn for bis fssl.
inss. 10 addressed him ~ Yik Kss. He
~ss Of great uss. He helped tsks care d
sAs wsshisg MARY did not isasy Ahmsth.
od Il sprinklisg the clothes sad helped
Jsst On The farm. We made him one Of
the fsnily. He vss always pleasant and
smiling. bot vas mss u fsv wcrds.
Cousin Jack sddsd suoh 10 his income
sy trading il hides. RAnohnsa living 81
> distance sold their hides to hin. and
Jack ssld them 10 traders, Who came
around at ssrtsis times In The ysar.
Harry White Vas partsss y tAs basi-
asss. He used 70 g o. : pen d . rsand.
mp, and visit The ranches oil c~~ the
country. The cattle OF tho rasshnsa
roamsd in vast herds over The plsins. pss :
tsstsl sniy BY the brand Of the owner N
Catels stealing Vas frequently prssticsd.
Offenders il this respect we're givsn no
|usrcy. They we're convicted only 10 the
ssurt Of Judge Lynch. ] never blamed
the ranchmsn fer this; it Vas impossible
to guard the herds in the vast srsa ever
which they traverssd. and the cattle must
be protected in ssns way.
Gil Mead was . wealthy ranshnas, Who
lived about 10 miles from us. He ownsd
the largest herd Of cattle on the plains.
They we're branded with the vswsls OF his
n me, az. A." which could be recognized
any whore. He always shiPpsd his cattle
East 10 his brother in Chicago. Iawsys
feared the man. He was tall and gaunt,
with deep set black eyes. and lev fore.
hssd.
HE hsens was unhappy. his wife cross
and ugly, aad his children wild asd mn.
ruly. This aAds him more than common
ly dissgrsssbie.
l tlsink it WIS in the fall Of "a that
Harry White ibrsuCbt the big load o!
hides to Jack. Both .wers very much
pleased at tho hargair,the made. Harry
gave glowing accounts Of nay customer
= ranc ,msn from Chicago, .whe Md taken
up an abandoned bomsstasti.
He had purchased many cattle froD his
cousin. Gil Mead, asd hoped to rival ham
in the number asd quality Of his bssdi
Jack packed the hides away totksep till
December, when he expected hs dsalsr.
One afternoon, not lsng after this, OIL
Mead rs ds up TO the house, looking vs.T
pleasant and agreeable. A coupls ef
strangers. also rsashmep. wars with him.
They wanted to look 81 the hides, one Of
the men being trader, Gil sGid.
Jack was in Denver. so yik Kss aud ]
went to tbs harm visL thon. They looked
the bidss ever carefully. and coDvsssed 10
low tones. Gil with suppr.w wssd oath.
Finally they thanked rs court. ously aud
took their leave.
"Humph! "a" .Doodea, said Yik Kee,
but he wouldn't say any more
AT D that evening. when We wsrv ut
supper crowd Of 20 or 30 men rode. up
on horseback Jack came cut and met
them, inviting them in to take supp sr, in
his generous, way.
They wanted him to go to Denver with
them: there was to be . meeting th ere Of
Importance to ranchmsn. The 10 se4iag
would be at 8. They had brought vith
them an extra horse for Jack. Mary
looked arouad for Yik Kss to bel D hsr,
but he had mystsriously lisappsa raa ]
fraintly rsmsm bersd seeing bis VII lite hor
rifsd face pesring around the bar; / at the
horses l noted that tho visitors q to littl,
the food seemed tv choke them. Some
OF them watched Mary and the ! shy in
queer sort Of way. When Jack, ss VA,
his custom, kissed his wife and. bsbiss
good-by, one Of the visitors. an. ~ldisil
man. coughea luskiIy and said:
"Blest II | can stand this They III
rode of, Jack the merriest Of II, waving
bis hat until he Was out Of sigh L
When We were sIeanlng up Il ,c unusual
quantity of dishes, Yik Kse y ppeared 1t
the enl window anl beck onsd me. fol-
loved hin out. Ted was witlr him. Be-
bind the barn was the three horses ssd-
died. Shep was with them ;eleasea from
confinement where hs had been sccurcd
from following his master.
Follow EN-. said Tcs., in a. excited
whisper "Yik is sfraid they're 10 20
something"
What it, Yik?" / ,nid sternly. "uo
fooling now"
For answer he twisted his long pis.tarl
around his neck, tryisg it under his left
ear ia magnificent manner.
"Humphl hs haages, stsslss cow"
"Oh. Mary" l sobbsd, rernem ber,ur
Gil Mead's visit, and his strange actions.
dimly seeing what Yik Kes neast.
II mnst tell Mary. | said wildly.
"Humph, no. said Yik Kss. "Yellss
sick. and he closed his eyes In I die avsv
sort OF manner. go TOO lstee."
We mounted.
"Mothsril think we've gone 10 ride, 81
std Ted, As We galloped evsr the plsius.
We was deathly pale. poor little fellow
but be sat erect and frm. / saw his II.
Tiers big Colts revolver sticking out Of
bis pocket lie was . determined boy.
Even il my despair, in my wild hope tha.
] could save Jack by bssgisg on my kssss.
that ! coaid cling 10 him, and that they
~nuf1 lswa a.. MI -. Ga -.