, 1884-03-01

CeiVS'lu lOOkeu at us SOleinnly I;
Name toddled up to him. He looked
at her curiOusly but did not move.
"Get out, john" said Jack, "you
needn't be scared any more We're
at horne"
He got out stiffiy, and to my sur
prise, turned and lifted the baby
down, She took his pig tail and
pulled it in wild delight. He seemed
grieved when / took her away.
When Jack told Mary, the good
soul found a thousand reasons why
he should stay, and hurried to make
him Led in the attic. The Celes-
tiGi sd tnot say much, but whom
Jack called him "John" he smiled II
sad smile.
Melican man callee John. Hump,
Yik Kee."
So with due consideration for his
feelings 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. 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 a partner in the business. He
used to 60 on sort Of round up and
visit the ranches all over the cOun-
try. The cattle Of the raHchmen
roamed in vast herds over the plains,
protected only by the brand of the
owner. Cattle-stealing was frequent
ly 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 wealthy ranchman,
who lived about ten miles from us.
lie owned the largest herd Of cattle
on the plains. They were branded
with the vOwels Of his name, L. A.,
which could be recognized anywhere.
He always shipped his cattle east to
his brother in Chicago. feared the
man. lie was tall and gdunt, with
deepFet black eyes and low fore
head. His home was unhappy, his
wife cross and ugly, and his children
wild and unruly. This made him
more than commonly disagreeable.
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 ranchman from
Chicago, who had taken up an
abandoned homestead. He had pur-
rhased 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 ex-
pected the dealer.
One afternoon, not long after this
Gil Mead rode up to the house look
ing very agreeable and pleasant. A
couple of strangers, also ranchmcn,
were with him. They vented to
look at the hides, one Of them being
a trader, Gil said. Jack was in Den
yer, so Yik Kee and l 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
and took their leave.
"Hump; no goOdee," said Xix
Kee, but he wouldn't say more.
About 5 that evening, when we
were at supper, crow'l of twenty
Ave or thirty men rode up on horse
Jack. Jack came out and met them,
inviting them in to take sApper, in
his generous, hOspitable way. They
him to go to Denver with
hem there was to be meeting
here Of importance to ranchmen.
The meeting would be at 8. They
lad brought with them an extra
horse for Jack. Mary looked around
'or Yik Kee to help her, but he had
nysteriOusly disappeared. | family
seeing his white, hor-
'ihed face peering around the barn
It the horses. l noted the visitors
tie little-the food seemed to choke
hem. Some Of them watched Mary
md the baby in a queer sort Of way.
When Jack, as was his custom,
iissed his wife and babies goodbye,
me Of the visitors, an oldish man,
'Oughed huskily, and said: "Blest
{ l can stand this" They all rode
,ff, Jack the merriest of all, waving
his hat till he was out of sight.
When we were cleaning up the
unusual quantity of dishes Yik Kee
Ippeared at the end window and
,eckOned me. l followed him out.
Fed was with him. Behind the
,arn were the three horses saddled.
,hep was with them, released from
confinement, where he had been ses
ured from following his master.
"FOller 'em," said Ted, in an ex-
ited whisper. "Yik's afraid they
re up to something"
GfXVbaf L. n vii o31 goid starv1xr