Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-08-02

keutry, an then we stopped right in
our tracks an said we wouldn't be
took on British territory.
up here with the South Crus an
Blackfeet | KEEP on tradin' les' the
same way rs had with the Assinl-
BONES, Crows. South Rigans an the
rest of 'em down in Montana, and it
riled those other cusses because they
want doin' SO well.
"Arter n while they mostly gave up
tradin' an took to VIOLIN A lot OF
'em was along on what was called the
'Spitzie' then, that's the lnjunna me.
They got along pretty we'll fur
while, an then they thought they'd
jest run this kentry AN kinder legislate
fur it. So they passed law that no
trader should sell ammunition to the
Injuns.
Il heerd OF it an laid awake nights
thinkin' of ii. | was doin' well an
maxim money hand over fist, an some
how it made me desprit like to think
that | should have my Twin an every
thing had in the world taken away
from me by lot of no-account critters
that had got the name of bein' reckless
by swarm loud an bullyin' any 1niun
that they'd ketch by hisself | knew
there want much fight in 'em except
they had a long way the best on it but
~ it was jest then they had the best on
it, OWN 10 most everybody bein'
afeared of 'em. They was other
traders in the kentry as knowed 'em as
we'll as | did, but we was so scattered
about that we couldn't stand by ch
other very well.
I'VE traders kicked agin this regula-
ton, Says we, The Ipiuns is peacea-
bic an friendly, an if they wanted TO
be ugly thar ain't no settlers to massa-
ere for hundreds o miles. Nobody's
here but big able-bodied men with
knives an shootin' irons, men as kin
take keer o themselves But they
wouldn't have IL that way, an so they
formed themselves into gang an call
ed it the 'Spitzie' Cavalry. an started
TO clean out every traders camp rs
wouldn't stop selling ammunition TO
the lnjuns.
" mad little tradin' fort right
whar this fort stands now. 1t want
much OF cabin to look at, but it
covered lot o ground
Il heerd one evenin' that they was
comm to see me some time the next
day. an so | got ready fur them.
Says 10 my half-breed boy as was
working fur me. When them fellers
come you jest watch me, an while |
raise my hand 10 my head you jist git
outside an lock the front door Of the
shop arter ye, an then run down an
git the ponies and herd them along
couple o miles down the bottoms and
there wait fur me, but ef We hear any
shootln OF any account We may as we'll
skin out with the ponies an d. the
best We kin with them, fur they'll be
no use TO me arter the second or third
shot. -
Il didn't sleep mite that night. an
was UP early in the mornin' gittin'
ready fur the company was eXpectin'.
About 10 o'clock in the forenoon they
KEN gallopin up 10 the door. armed TO
the teeth an lookin' as though they'd
eaten up two or three traders afore
breakfast.
They jumped off their bosses
an leavin' one of their gang ontside
to look after 'em, KEN walkin' into my
shop
Good mornin' gentlemen. says
pleasant like, jest as eff ! thought
they'd come TO trade, but all the same
| was layin' fur them all the while. 1t
was "a warm day in October an | had
nuthin' on but my flannel shirt,
trousers, boots an hat, but had "A big
navy siX-shooter loaded an cooked.
stuck in my waistband right in front,
whar | could grab it in a second.
Z" 'Gool mornin'. Mr.. Al1ers, seq
Joshua fletcher, speakin' up for the lot
pf' "a do
business, an we may as well get at it
fust as last
AT this put up my hand slowly
an commenced scratchin' my head. |
never looked at the boy. but he under
stood the signal, an steppin outside
softly locked the door on them. sneaxed
down the bottoms, takin' the ponies
with him.
Wal says :, what's the business
yer KEN about9n
Z" We hear you're sellin' ammunition
to the lnjuns, seq he.
" What If ami? seq |.
4" It's agin the law seq he.
"'Who made that lawo' seq |.
&" We did, SEE he, and We know'd
that as well as anybody, We sneakin'
old varmint, afore | told ye.
What If | told We | didn't 90 much
on yer right to make laws fur meP seq
/.
" We'd jest chuck yer stuff in the
river and give We ten minutes TO saddle
n cayuse an start fur the States, seq
he.
4" What if / wouldn't scare worth
sour applesP sez |.
- jest hang we up to dry in the cot
tonwoods down thar on the bottoms
seq he quite calm like.
Wall. now. gentlemen, we kinder
understand each other. So; |, IAN we
may as well git right down to business.
If | stop Sellin' ammunition to the In
iuns, may as well quit tradin' If |
won't stop We mean to set me afo)t
right here. an il resist ye'll hang me
in the cottonwoOds. Now, gentlemen,
a man a has worked hard the best
years OF his lie tryin' TO git suthin' to-
gcther fur his old days might about "a
well be hanged as set afoot
..,Ai1 rinht soy ba slaunio, IL l.