The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-04

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 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 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 go 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 FREE
quently practiced. Offenders in this re-
spect were shown no mercy. They were
convicted, tried and executed only in
the court of Judge Lynch. / 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 Mead was a 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 vowels of his lame, 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 forehead. His home
was unhappy; his wife cross and ugly,
and his children wild and unruly This
made him more than commonly dis
agreeable.
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 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-
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
suppressed 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, a 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 be a
meeting there of Importance to ranch
men. Tho meeting would be at eight.
They had brought with them an extra
horse for Jack. Mary looked around
for Yik Kee to help her, but he had
mysteriously disappeared. family
remembered seeing his white, Mortified
face peering around the barn at the
horses. noted the visitors ate little
the food seemed to 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-
bies goodbye, one of the visitors, an
oldish man, coughed huskily, and said:
''Blest if | kin stan this" They all
rode off, Jack the merriest of all, way
ing his hat till he was out of sight.
When we were clearing up the unu-
sual quantity of dishes Yik Kee APP
peared 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
following his master.
"Foller en-" said Ted, in an excited
whisper. "Yiks afraid they're are up
TO something"
"What is it, Yik?" l said, sternly.
"No fooling now"
For answer he twisted his long pig
tail around his neck, tying it under his
left ear in a significant manner.
"Hump he hangee; stealee cow
sob, Mary" sobbed, remembering
Gil Mead S visit, and his strange actions,
and dimly seeing what Yik Kee meant.
II must tell Mary" said, wildly.
Hump, no, said Yik Kee. "Yellee
sick, y and he closed his eyes in die
away sort of manner. $50 now-too
| latee.n
We mounted.
Mother'll 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 I saw his
fathers 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 a smile at the
comical figure Yik Kee presented on
horseback. His loose garments tapped
in the wind, his long pigtail flew out be-
hind, and he bobbed up and down like a
kernel of corn in corn-hopper.
1t was a SOFT warm night, lighted
only by the pale young mon and the
twinkling stars. We rode as fast as our
horses could gallop. Shep was close
at our heels. Way ahead, when we
reached the top Of little hill, we saw
the crowd of horsemen. They were
riding toward Denver. We galloped
on with renewed zeal They turned into
. cross road leading to Mead's ranch.
On this road was bridge over Dry
Gulch, which was in the spring 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
at last reached the turn in the road.
They were three miles in advance, riding
rapidly. Yik Kee stopped at the turn
ttHump! Can't catchee. Haroee at