The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-03-19

What do you s'pose your marm1 I
say?"
"Oh, cousin Jack" | said, 20
course she will not dare. You
home is a refuge for all the wretch
ed and unfortunate.
Now, don't Nell, he said. turn.
ing as red as a rose, and busyine
himself about the harness. The Ce
lestial looked at US solemnly; Name
toddled up to him. He looked a
her curiously, but did not move.
Get out, John" said Jack, "you
needen't be scared any more were
at home"
He got out stiffiy. and, to my sur
prise. turned and lifted the baby
down. She took his big tail and
pulled it with delight. He seemed
grieved when took her away
When Jack told Mary, the good sou
found a thousand reasons why he
should stay, and hurried to make
him bed in the attic. The Celes-
tial did not say much, but when
Jack called him John, he smiled q
sad smile.
"Melican man callee John
Humphl Yik Kee"
So with due consideration for his
feelings we addressed him as Yik
| Kee. He was Of great use. He
helped to take care of the children,
did the washing Mary did not fan
CIV his method of sprinkling clothes
and helped Jack on the farm. He
was always pleasant and smiling,
but was a man of few words.
Cousin Jack added much to his
income by trading in hides Ranch
men living at distance sold their
hides to him and Jack sold them to
traders. who came around at certain
times in the year. Harry White was
a 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, pro-
tected enly by the brand of the
owner.
Cattle stealing was frequently
practiced. Offenders in this respect
were shown no mercy. They were
tried. convicted and executed only
in the court of Judge Lynch. | ney-
er blamed the ranchmen for this, it
was impossible to guard the herds
/ in the vast area over which they
traversed, and the cattle must be
protected in some wav. Gill Mead
wigs a wealthy ranchman, who lived
about ten miles from Us. He owned
the largest herd of cattle on the
plains. They We're branded with the
vowels of his name, E. A., which
could be recognized anywhere. He
always shipped his cattle east to his
brother in Chicago. / feared the
man. He was tall and gaunt, with
deep set black.eyes and low fore
head. His home was unhappy, his
wife cross and ugly, and bis children
wild and unruly. This made him
more than commonly disagreeable
think it was in the fall of 1874
that Harry White brought the big
load of hides to Jack. Both were
much pleased at the bargain they
made. Harry gave glowing accounts
of a new customer, a ranchman from
Chicago, who had taken up an aban-
doned homestead. He had purchas-
ed many cattle from his cousin, Gill
Mead, and hoped to rival him 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
Gill Mead rode up to the house
looking very agreeable and pleas
ant A couple of strangers, also
ranchmen, were with him. They
wanted to look at the hides, one of
them being q trader, Gill said. Jack
was in Denver, SO Yik Kee and |
went to the barn with them. They
looked the hides over carefully and
conversed in low tones, Gill with
suppressed oath. Finally they
thanked us courteously and took
their leave.
"Humph, no goodee," said Yik
kee. but wouldn t say more.
About five that evening, when we
were at supper, 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
kind hospitable way. They wanted |
him to go to Denver with them
there was to be a meeting there of
importance to ranchmen. The meet
ing would be s. They had brought !
with them all extra horse for Jack. |
Mary looked around for Yik kee to |
help her, but he had mysteriously |
disappeared. | family remember
seeing his white, Mortified face peer |
ing around the barn at the horses
! noticed the visitors ate little-the
food seemed to choke them. Some
of them watched Mary and the baby
in queer sort of way. When Jack, |
as was his custom, kissed his wife
and babies good bye, one of the vis-
itors, an ofdish man, coughed huski- /
ly, and said:
"Blest if | kin stan this
They all rode off, Jack the merri-
est OF them all, waying his hat till
he was out of sight.
When we were clearing up the |
unusual quantity of dishes, Yik Kee |
at the end window and |
beckoned nae. | followed him out. |
Ted was with him. Behind the
barn were the three horses saddled.
Shep was with them, released from
confinement, whore he had been Sc
cured from following his master.
"Foller 'em, said Ted, in an ex-
cited whisper. "Yik's afraid they're
up to something
What is it, Yik ?" | said, sternly. |
No fooling. now"
For an answer he twisted his long
pigtail around his neck, tying it un-
der ais left ear in a significant man.
ner.
"Humph, he hangee, stealee
cow"
"Oh, Mary" l sobbed, remember