The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-01-04

looked at us solemnly; Name toddled
up to him. He looked at her curiously,
but did not move.
Get out, john" said Jack; syou
needn't be scared no more; we're to
home.
He got out stiffiy. and, to my sur
prise, turned and lifted the baby down.
She caught his pig-tail and pulled it in
wild delight. He seemed grieved when
j took her away. When Jack told Mary,
the good soul found thousand reasons
why he should stay, and hurried to
make him bed in the attic. The Ce-
lestial did not say much, but when Jack
called him John" he smiled sad
smile.
'.Melican 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 oh ldren, 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 a 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 partner in
the business. He used to 90 on a sort
of roundup and visit the rancxes 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 tre-
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. l never
blamed the ranchmen for this; il was
impossible to guard the herds in the
vast area over which they traverSed.
and the catt'c must be protected in some
way. G Mead was a wealthy ranch
man. who lived about ten miles from us
He owned the largest herd of cattle on
the plains. They We're branded VITA
the vowelS of his name, f.. 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 forehead. His home
was unhappy: his wife cross and ugly,
and his children wild and IN uly. This
made him more than commonly dis
agreeable.
| think ii was in the fall OF "A that
Harry White brought the bic load of
hides TO Jack. Both were much pleased
at 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 torival him in the
number and quality of his herd. Jack
packed the hides away to keep till De-
cember, when 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 trader, |
Gil 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, Gil with a
oath. Finally they THANKED
us cOurteouSly and took their leave.
Hump; no goodee." 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
pitaDle way. They wanted him to 90
to Denver with them: there was to be a
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
disappeared. l family
remembered seeing his white, Mortified
face peering around the barn at the
horses. l noted the visitors ate little
the food seemed t. choke them Some
of them watched Mary and the baby in
was his custom, kissed his wife and ba-
bieS goodbye. one of the visitors, an
o}d;sh man, coughed husklv. and said:
''BleSt if | kin stan this They all
rode OF, Jack the merIiest of all. way
Ing his hat I'LL he was out Of sight.
When we were clearing up the unu-
sual quantity of dishes Yik Kee APP
pea-ed at 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 confine-
ment, where he had been secured from
his master.
"Foller en- said Ted, in an excited |
I, i
70 something
What is it, Yik?" / said. sternly.
"No fooling now"
For answer he twisted his long pig
tail around his neck. tying it under his
let ear in a significant manner.
Hump he hangee: stealee cow"
"Oh. Mary" | sobbed. remembering
Gil Mead visit, and his strange actions,
and dimly seeing what Yik Kee meant,
Il must tell Mary" ! said. wildly.
Hump, no." said Yik Kee. "Yellee
sick, and he closed his eyes in die
away sort of manner. $50 now-too
latee."
We mounted
"MOtherll think we're gone to ride"
said Ted. las we galloped over the plains.
He was deathly pale, poor little fellow.
but he sat erect and firm | saw his
big Colts revolver sticking out
Of his pocket. He was determined boy.
Even in my despair, in my wild hope
that could save Jack by begging on
my knees, that | could cling to him,
and that they would have to kill me
first, | could not help smile at the
comical figur. Yik Kee presented on
horseback. His loose garments tapped
in the wind his lOnp Diptail flew out he