Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-01-04

Yik Kee."
SO with due consideration for his feel
ings we addressed him as Yik Kee. He
was of great use. He helped take care oil
the CHI ldren, did the washing MARY did
not fancy his method of sprinklina
clothes) and helped Jack on the farm.
We made him one of the family. He
was always pleasant and smiling, but
was n man of few words.
Cousin Jack added much to his in.
come by trading in hides. Ranchmeu
living ut a distance sold their hides ia
him, and Jack sold them TO traders who
came around ut certain times in the
year. Harry White was n partner in
the business. He used to 90 on a sort
of roundup and visit the ranches al
over the country. The cattle of tn
ranchmen rOamed in vast herds over
the plains, protected only by the brand
Of the owner. Cattle stealing was fire.
quently prac:iced. Offenders in this re
spect were shown no mercy. They were
convicted. tired and executed only in
the court of Jud e Lynch. / never
blamed the ranchmen for this; il was
impossible to guard the herds in the
vast area over which they trIversed.
and the cattle must be- protected in some
way. Gil Mead was n wealthy ranch
man, who lived about ten miles from us.
He owned the largest herd of cattle on
the plains. They were branded with
the vOwcls of his name, +. 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
Nus. Il a. a
was unhappy; his wife cross and ugly.
and his children wild and unruly. This
made him more than commonly dis
Agreeable.
think il was in the fall 81 IA that
Harry White brought the big load of
hides to Jack. Both were much pleased
nj the bargain they made Harry gave
glowing accounts of new customer-a
ranchman from Chicago who had taken
up an abandoned homestead. He 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 hides away TO keep till De-
ceTAoer, whel we expected the dealer.
One afternoon. not long after this,
Gil Mead rode up to the house, looking
very agreeable and pleasant. A couple
of strangers, also ranchmen. were with
him. They wanted to look at the
hides, one of the men being n trader,
Gil said. Jack was in Denver, so Yik
bee and | went TO the barn with them.
They looked the hides over carefully.
and conversed in low tones, Gil with a
suppressed oath. Finally they THANKED
us courteously and took their leave.
'liump; no go1Iee." said Yik Kee.
but he wouldn't say any more.
At five that evening. when we were
at supper. crowd OF twenty-five or
thirty men rode up ON horseback. Jack
came out and met them. inviting them
In to take supper in his generous, hos.
pitable way. They wanted him to 90
TO Denver with them; there was to he a
meeting there OF importance to ranch
men. The meeting would be at eight.
They had brought with them an extra
horse for Jack. Mary looked around
for Iik Kee to help her. but he had
mystcriously disappeared. I family
remembered seeing his white, horriiie
face peering around In, Larn at the
horses. i noted the visitors ate little
the food seem al T. choke them. Some
OF them watched Mary and the baby in
a queer sort Of way. When Jack. as
was his custom. kissed his wife and ba-
bie' goodbye. one Of the visitors. an
old sh man, coughrd huskily, and said:
"Ble,t if I kin stan this" They all
rode OIL, Jack the merriest of all. way-
ing his hat till he was out of sight.
When we were clearing up the unu-
sunl quantity of dishes Yik Kee ap-
pearcd ut the end window and beck
oned me. | followed him out Ted was
with him. Behind the barn were
the three horses. saddled. Shep
was with them, released from coniine-
mcht. where he had been secured from
following his master.
"Foller 'em," said Ted, in an excited
whisper "Yiks afraid they're are mp
10 something"
What is il. Yik?" sal |. st.rnly.
"No fooling now"
For answer he twisted his long pig.
tail around his neck. tying il under his
let ear n n significant manner.
Hump he hangcc; stealee cow"
"Oh, Mary / sobbed. rem mber no
Gil Meal visit. and his strange actions.
and dimly seeing what Yik Kee meant,
81 must tell Mary" | said, wildly.
"Hump, no. said Yik Kee. "Yellee
81 X, y and he closed his eyes in die.
away sort OF. manner. $50 'now-too
latec.'
We mounted.
Mother II think we're gone TO ride, -
said Ted. as we galloped over the plains.
lie was deaihly pale, poor little ietiow.
but he sat erect and firm saw his
fathers big Colts revolver sticking out
of his pocket. He was n Diet ,rm;ned boy.
Even in my despair, in my wild hope
that could save Jack by begging on
my knees, that / could cling 10 him.
and that they would have to kill me
first, | could not help n smile mt the
comical fgur, Yik Zee presented ON
horseback. His loose garm ints tapped
in the wind. his long pigtail flew out be
hind, and he bobbcd up and down like a
kernel OF corn in n corn-hopper.
IL was soft, warm night. lighted
only by the pale young moon and the
twinkling stars. We rode as fast as or
horses could gallop. Shep was close
nj our heels. Way ahead. when we
reached the top ~ little hill, we saw
the crowd Of hors,men. Tney were
riding toward Denver. We galloped
on with renewed zeal. They turned into
\ cross rOa1 leading To Mead's ranch.
On tn road was a bridge over Dry
Gulch, watch was in the spring a roar
ing torrent. Beyond the bridge, across
the fields, was the hay-stack Of Mead.
Where was stored sufficient to feed his
domestic cattle through the winter. We
az last reached the turn in the road.
They were three miles in advance, riding
rapidly. Iik Kee stopped at the turn.
Hump! Can't catchee. Hangee ut
bridge. You goeer' He turned his
horse and sped across the field, desert.
ing us basely.
Nc rode on. Ted aud l. He was pale
O. still; my cheeks were burning. We
neared the bridge. The high mound
OF earth before us hid us from sight.
We stOpDcd Our horses and Gsf