Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-04-09

got nail way nome ucdlO uOlSc Ut1Cl
O me, and out crawled this thing. Iva
so dumbfounded 1 couldn't speak. 81
thought l was going ter send him back
an be fell ter cryin' and jabberin' il
that zap of his, an clingin' Onter m,
ham an kissin' of it. 1t sorter turned
my stomach. told him ter set down
give him some crackers ter eat, covered
him up an told him he could live will
me. What do you s'pose marmH cay?
"Oh Cousin Jack" said, ''of course
she will not care. Your home is refug'
for all the wretched and unfortunate"
"Now, don't, Nsll," he said, turning q
red as rose, and busying himself abou
the harness. The Celestial looked at III
solemnly; Name toddled up to him. HI
looked at her curiously but did not move
sect out, john" said Jack, "you neet
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 I tool
her away. When Jack told Mary, the
good soul found thousand reasons why
he should stay, and hurried to make hin
a bed in the attic. The CELESTIAL did not
say much, but when Jack called hin
"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 sprinkline
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 60 around on sort OF
roundup and visit the ranches all over
the country. The cattle ofthe 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 Convicted, tried, and
executed only in the Court of Judge
Lynch. l 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. l 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 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
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
strangers also ranchmen, were with him.
They wanted to look at the hides, One of
them being a trader, Gil said. Jack was
in Denver. so Yik Kee and went to the
barn with them. They looked the hides
over carefully, and converted in low
zones, Gil with suppressed oath.
FINAL they thanked us courteously, and
.ook their leave.
"Humph; no goodee," said Yik Kee,
but he would say no more.
About 5 o'clock that evening, when we
we're at supper, a crowd of twenty-five
Or thirty men rode up on horseback.
Jack came out and met them, inviting
hem in to take supper, in his generous,
way. They wantedhim to 60
10 Denver with them; there was to be a
there of importance to ranch
men. The meeting would be at s o'clock.
They had brought with them an extra
horse for Jack. Mary looked around for
Iik kee to help her, but he had disap-
peared. l family remembered seeing his
white, Mortified face peering around the
he corner of the barn at the horses.
noted the visitors ate little-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
DYE, one of the visitors, an oldish man,
,oughed hnskily, and said: "Blest if l
Kin STAN this" They all rode of, Jack
he 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
he end window and beckoned me.
him out. Ted was with him.
Behind the barn were the three horses
added. Shep was with them, released
rom confinement, where he had been
secured from following his master.
"Foller 'em," said Ted, in an excited
whisper. "Yik's afraid they're up to
"Whatis it Yik?" said sternly. "No
boiling, now"
For answer he twisted his long pig
all around his neck, tying it under his
EFT ear in significant manner.
"Humph, he hangee; stealee cow"
"Oh, Mary" 1 sobbed, remembering
ill Mead's visit and his strange actions,
md dimly seeing what Yik Kee meant,
4 must tell Mary" l said wildly.
"Hump, no." said Yik Kee. "Yellee
'ick," and he closed his eyes in diea-
way sort of manner. go now-too late"
We mounted.
"Mother'll think we're gone to ride"
aid Ted, as we galloped over the plains.
he was desthly pale, poor little fellow,
,ut he sat erect and firm. l saw his
ather's big Colts revolver sticking out
If his pocket. He was a determined
,oy. Even in my despair, in my wild
nope that l could save Jack by begging
IN my knees, that could cling to him,