The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-01-14

were both married to good men
and would not want to see such al
uncouth old creature as himsel
even if he did want to see them
He had given all his money ant
property to his brother for then
and that ended it. He knew the,
were all right and he was glad Of it
He preferred to be alone, for he hae
nothing now to live for.
He cooked us some supper, ane
it was plain enough but good. Al
ash cake, some fried deer meat anc
baked potatoes was all he had tt
offer, with a draught of sweet water
from the beautiful spring.
After supper he took US into the
adjoining cabin, and there I saw q
sight not soon to be forgotten. The
walls we're completely covered with
heads beautifully done and won
derfully life-like. There were elk
and deer with great antlers, wolves,
foxes, swifts, antelopes, bears and
Rocky mountain lions. / expressed
my astonishment at the perfection
of his work, and he said, slime and
care does it. The winter evenings
are long and l spend much time at
my work." / asked him where he
got his skins, and he said he shot
the animals. Formerly he killed a
great many for sport, but now he
killed only a few for food and occa-
sionally one for pelt. l asked him
how he tanned them and he said
an old Mexican named Pete, who
lived over the mountain in another
valley, tanned them for him.
Yes, once in a while he sold heads
to get -four, ammunition and to-
bacco, and once in a while hunters
stumbled on his place and carried
away some of the heads. An Eng
lish lord-Captain Driscell or some
thing of that kind-had come last
year and taken away most of the
heads and carried them to England.
Wouldn't we stay all night? 1t
was late in the day and the paths
of the mountains were uncertain.
He could give us a fur bed ana
a pretty good breakfast of fat VEN
ison. If we would stay he would
make Jacko dance for u.s."
1t needed not much urgirg, for
the clouds looked heavy in the
west, and evidently storm was
coming up. 1t was nearly dark,
too, and thanking the old hermit
for his hospitality, We gladly ac-
cepted the friendly shelter Of his
roof for the night. Then he brought
in some pine logs, made up a good
fire, fried some more potatoes and
deer meat and baked some batter
in a pan. After eating all we could
hold he called up Jacko and made
him dance, turn somersaults, tum-
BILE, open and shut the door, go for
water, bring in wood and perform
a number of tricks. Jacko was
given his supper Of cooked meat
and put to bed in the corner.
"You don't know what comfort
Jacko is to me-" said the old man.
He's just like human being,
only he is good deal better than
some that / have known. Jacko is
honest, and we often talk together
that is, talk to him, and some
times l think he understands me-"
The old man had some tobacco
and corn-cob pipes, and he offered
US each one. 81 smoke a good
DEAL" he said, "and find my pipe
company. There is lots of COM
pany in pipe when I'm lonesome.
Jacko smokes, or he thinks he
does" He then called up Jacko,
made him sit up, nut a pipe in his
mouth and placed his hat on the
bears head. The bear made a funny
picture. Come and give me hug
and go to bed, Jacko," said the old
man, and the bear came and gave
him a hug and then went to his
corner.
We sat quite late into the night
talking of the war. The old man
loved to talk about the battles he
had been in. / had noticed he was
slightly lame, and he showed me
where he had been shot in the leg
At Antietam. / told him he was
to pension, and should
get it for his children if not for
himself. He shook his head sadly
and said: have all / need. l
nave done with the world. Jacko
md / will stay here and not bother
about anything"
I was q little afraid of that bear,
out the old man assured me he
would not move out of his corner
until morning, and he did not.
Next morning, after a hearty
we left him at the door
If his lonely cabin, and Jacko
:urned several somersaults of de-
light, as if he was glad We were
yoing, and no doubt he was.
JAMES s. BRIsBIN.
Admission bv Vo1etable.