McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-02-14
neened wife, Jack used to say, wink


supplies. He went alone, and coming
home later than usual, Ted and and
baby Name went out to meet him.
Jack looked sober and guilty, and
seemed i'll at ease. If he ever drank, /
should have thought him intoxicated.
In the wagon was queer shaped heap
under horse blanket. l was sure it
moved. When we got behind the barn
Jack said, sheepishly, avoiding my eye !:
"Well, Ted, calkerlate I've got
su'thing in that there Vaughn that'ul
astonish yer marm."
Little Name pulled the blanket off
the heap; she had been peeping under
it all the while she was in the back of
the wagon. There lay a human being.
Such an object short and squat,
dressed in a queer blue blouse with
flowing sleeves, wide trousers, and
queer wooden shoes. He had small
black eyes, a shaven poll, from which
depended a long, thin qu"ue. His
countenance was battered and bruised,
his clothes torn and bloody.
ssThere was a row down to Denver"
said Jack; ssthe Christian folks stove in
these 'ere heathens' winders, tore their
houses down, and killed half on 'em. l
cleared out as soon as / could. When
got half way home I heard noise
back of me, and out crawled this thing.
I was so dumbfoundedI couldn't speak.
He thought was going ter send him
back, an he fell ter cryin' and jabber-
in in that zap of his, and clingin' onto
nv hand an kissin' of it. 1t sorter
turned my stomach. I told him ter set
down, give him some crackers ter eat,
covered him up an told him he could
live with me. What do you s'pose
marm'l say?"
"Oh, Cousin jack" said, s'of course
she will not care. Your house is ref
ige for all the wretched and unfortu-
nate"
s'Now, don't, Nell," he said, turning
as red as a rose, and busying himself
about the harness. The Celestial looked
at us solemnly; Name toddled up to
him. He looked at her curiously but
did not move.
ssGet out, John," said Jack, s'you
needn't be scared any more; we're at
home"
He got out stiffiy, and to my surprise,
turned and lifted the baby down. She
took his pig tail and pulled it in wild
delight. He seemed grieved when l
took her away. When Jack told Mary,
the good soul found a thousand reasons
why he should stay, and hurried to
make him bed in the attic. The
Celestial did not say much, but when
Tool, ool1od hin, skTob,., Io e,,;1o,d a
sad smile.
"MeIican man callee John. Hump.
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
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 man of few words.
Cousin Jack added much to his in
come by trading in hides. Ranchmen
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 roundup 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 fire.
quently practiced. Offenders in this
respect were shown no mercy. They
were convicted, tried and executed only
in the court of Judge Lynch. 1 never
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 way. Gil Meadt was a wealthy
ranchman, who lived about ten
miles from us. He owned the
largest herd of cattle on the plains.
They were branded with the vowels of
of his hame, E. A., which could be rec
ognized anywhere. He always shipped
his cattle east to his brother in Chicago.
L feared the man. He was tall and
gaunt, with deep-set black eyes
and low forehead. His home was I'M
happy, his wife cross and ugly, and his
children wild and unruly. This made
him more than commonly disagreeable.
I 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 bargain they made. Harry gave
glowing accounts of a new customer
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 December when he expected
the dealer.
One afternoon, not long after this, Gil
Mead rode up to the house looking very
agreeable and pleasant. A couple of
also ranchmen, were with
him. They wanted to look at the hides,
one of them being trader, Gil said.
Lack was in DenNer so Yik Kpa and