The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-03-18

cred him up an told him be could live
with me What do you s'pose
marm'll sayf
Oh cousin Jack, said, of course
she will not care. Your home 10 a
refuge for all the wretched and un-
fortunate.
Now, don't Nell, he said, turning a.
red as rose, and busving himse f
about the harness. Tie cele.tial
looking at us solemnly. Name toddl-d
I'D t. him. he looked at her curiously,
but did not move.
Get out. John, said Jack, you need
not he scared any more. we're at home
now
He got out stiftiy, and to nv sur
prise, turned and lifted the baby
down. Sine took his pig tail and
pulled it liz wild delight. He seemed
grieved when | took her away. When
Jack told Mary the good soul found a
thousaud reasons why he should stay,
and hurried To- make him q bed in the
attic. The celestial did not saw much.
bat when Jack chilled him John, he
smiled lad smile.
MIIican man cailee John. Humph,
Yik Kee
So with due consideration for his
feelings We addressed him as Yik kee
He WAS If great u>e He helped take
care OF The children, did the washing.
but Mary did not fancy his mode of
sprin king the clothes, and helped
Jack on the farm. We made him
one of tbs 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. Ranch
men living at distance sold their
hides 10 him and Jack sold them to
traders, who come around at certain
times ia the year. Harry White was
partner in the business. He used
to 90 on a sort OF roundup and visit
The ranches al over the country. The
cattle of The coachmen roamed in vast
herds over the plains, protected only
! by the brand of the owner. Cattle
ealing was frequently practiced.
Offenders In this respect were shown
40 mercy. They were convicted, tried
and executed only in the court Of
Judge Lunch | never blamed the
iaEchmen for this 1t was impossible
to guard the herds in she vast area
over winch they travcrsed, and the
cattle must be protected in some
way. Gil Mead was wealth amen
men vino lived ten miles from us. He
owned the largest herd of cattle ON
the plains. They were branded with
the vowels of his name, L A.. which
cruld be recognized anywhere He
ALWAYS shipped his cattle TO his broth !
er ia Chicago. | feared the man. He
was tall and gaunt, with deep set
black ewes add low forehead. His |
home was unhappy. his wife cross
and ugly, and his children wild and |
unruiy. This made him mere taan
commonly disagreeable.
[ think it was in the fall Of IA that !
Harry White brought the big load of
hides to Jack. Both were much
pleased at the b'rg in they made.
Harry gave glowing accounts of a
new custOmer-a Tauchman from
Chicago who had taken up an aban-
doned homestead He had pur
chased many cattle from his cousin.
Gil Mead, and hoped to rival al IN
the number and quality Of his herd.
Jack packed the hides away to keep
till December. when he expected the
dealer.
One afternoon. not long after this.
Gil Mead rode up to the house look
ing very agreeable and pleasant. A
couple OF strangers, also ranchmen,
were with him. They wanted to look
at the hides. one of them being q
trader. Gil said. Jack was IN Den
yer, SO Yik Kee and / went to the
barn with them. They Looked the
hides over carefully and conversed in
low tones, Gil with suppressed oath.
Finally they thanked us courteOusly
and took their leave
Humph; no gOodee, said Yik Kee,
but he wouldn't say more.
About FIVE that evening, when We
were at supper, a crowd of twenty
five or thirty men rode up on horse
back. Jack came out and met them.
inviting them to take supper in his
generous, hospitable way. They
wanted him to go TO Denver with
them; there was to be a meeting
there of Importance to ranchmen.
The meeting would be at eight. They
had brought with them sn extra
horse for Jack. Mary looked around
for Yik Kee to help her, but he had