Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-04-11

" OAAs xSNS SnsA0sA0tO ~ ~ -
thing In that there waggin that'ul aston
ish yer marm."
Little Name pulled the blanket off tn.
heap; she had been peeping under it oil
the while she was in the back OF ths
Wagon. There lay human being. Sucf
an object; short and squat, dressed in
queer blue blouse with flowing sleeves
wide trousers, and queer wooden shoes
He had small black eyes, q shoYen poll
from which depended long, thin cue
His countenance wAs battered and
bruised, his clothes torn and bloody.
"There was q row ,lown to Denver,
said Jack; 'the Christian folk stove II
these ERE heathen's winders, tore theil
houses down, an killed half on 'em.
cleared out as soon as I could. When
got half way home heard noise back
O. me, and out crawled this thing. twas
so dumbfounded couldn't speak. He
thought was going ter send him back
an he fell ter cryin' and jabberin' in
that zap of his, an clingin' onter my
ham an kissin' of it. It sorter turned
my stomach. told him ter set down
give him some crackers ter eat, covered
him up an told him he could live with
me. What 10 you s'pose marm'l say?'
ooh! Cousin Jack" said, "of course
she will not care. Your home is a refuge
for all the wretched and unfortunate"
"Now, don't, Nell," he said. turning az
red as rose, and busying himself about
the harness. The Celestial looked at Ut
solemnly; Name toddled up to him. BE
looked at her curiously but did not move
sect out, john" said Jack, "you need
not be scared any more; we're at home .
He got out stiffly, and, to my surprise
turned and lifted the baby down. She
took his pig-tail and pulled it in wild de
light. He seemed grieved when took
her away. When Jack told Mary, the
good soul found thousand reasons why
he should stay, and hurried to make him
a bed in the attic. The CELESTIAL 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 to 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 income
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 bust
ness. He used to 90 around on sort of
roundup and visit the ranches all over
the country. The cattle of the ranchmen
roamed in vast herds over the plains pro-
tected only by the brand Of the owner.
Cattle stealing was frequently practiced.
Offenders in this respect were shown no
mercy. They were .onvicted, 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 protect
ed in some way. Gil Meadt was veal
thy ranchmen, 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 name, E. A., which
could be recognized anywhere. He al
ways shipped his cattle East to his broth
er in Chicago. I 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 disagree
able.
] 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 q new customer
ranchman from Chicago who had taken
up an abandoned homestead. He had
purchased many cattle from bis 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 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. Jack was
in Denver. so Yik Kee and went to the
barn with them. They looked the hides
over carefully, and conyersed in low
tones, Gil with a suppressed oath.
FINAL they thanked us courteously, and
took their leave.
"Humph; no goodee," said Yik Kee,
but he would say no more.
About o'clock 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,
hospitable way. They wantedhim to go
to Denver with them; there was to be
meeting there of importance to ranch
men. The meeting would be at o'clock.
They had brought with them an extra
horse for Jack. Mary looked around for
Yik Kee to help her, but he had disap-
peared. Ifaintly remembered seeing his
white, Mortified face peering around the
the corner of the barn at the horses. l
noted the visitors ate ittle-the food
seemed to choke them. Some of them
Mary and the baby in a queer
sort of way. When Jack, as was his
custom, kissed his wife and babies good
bye, one of the visitors, an oldish man,
hnskily, and said: "Blest if I
kin STAN this" They all rode of, Jack
the mErriest of all, waving his hat till he
was out of sight.
When We were clearing the unusual
quantity of dishes Yik Kee appeared at
tho ond uind0u and hockOnod mo RI