The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-04
"A New Member from tho Missouri
River Relates a Strange and
Wonderful Tale.
Account Of a Peculiar Old Man
Who Made Friendship
With Birds.
Rubies and Emeralds by the Quart-Ex
perience with q Balloon-Last
Seen OF . Curious Friend.

Meagher county, new man had to be sci
ected. An invariable rule of the club i,
that story must be told by some ono Al
every meeting. On Saturday a new member
was initiated. It was Mr.. Lon SHAGGY, o,
the Missouri river. Ions reputation To-
veracity is we'll established over on the river
The vice president occupied the chair o.
state, surrounded by the members of tn.
club seated in the most luxurious of easy
chairs. On the walls hung rare and costly
Michal Angelo, Murillo, Rembrandt, Cor
regio, Albert Durer, Rosa Bonheur. Turner
and some rare, antique gems from the hands
of the old Flemish masters were there. be-
meath light whose mellow softness lent
q charm and sweetness to the place
that could be found nowhere else,
From distant alcove the most charming
music issued. The floors We're covered with
sound issued from the steps Of one who
walked over it. In this luxurious apart
ment the liars sat and smoked and tasted
the vintage Of costly wines and told stories.
At last the time came for the story of the
evening. The vice president called upon
the name to which colonel was the handle
nine men rose to their feet and bowed in
| pleasant recognition. Their politeness was
excessive. It was punctiliousness persona
| fled. Each insisted on the other taking
precedence, and as the matter seemed like
" never to be adjusted the president cut
the gordian knot, as it were, BY appointing
Mr.. Lon SHAGGY as the narrator for the
evening.
Lon would fain have declined, but this
was not permitted. Lon is fine specimen
of western manhood, tall, olean-limbed and
active as panther, with broad shoulders.
rvo0 q rr,1 hnnNuovNon
light brown hair, and deep-set blue eyes.
His features are clear-cut as a cameo. and
the intelligent smile that lit up his COUNTS
nance when he Strengthened up to begin his
tale won the hearts Of all present. When
he spoke his voice reminded one of forests
He said: I'm my ramblinzs about the
world l have seen many strange sights
and met with many curious adventures.
but in my opinion the most wonder
full thing ever witnessed occurred on the
Missouri river, about fifteen miles from
prospected we'll in gold, and was bringing
in ditch to hydraulic the gravel. One
evening, while seated in my cabin. gazing
in sort of reverie on the broad e1panse Of
waters, which shone like rippling silver
beneath the rays OF the deolin
IN s sSa wss suddenly startled .
the doorway. I felt ill at ease at the nm
expected apparition. I had not heard his
footsteps and was at loss to account for
his.presence. He appeared to be man
about AZ % years OF age, with spare form and
beard: His clothes, though shabby, had
once been of the finest broadcloth. He
carried q small bundle in his hand tied up
in handkerchief. The most notice.
able feature about him was
his eyes, which were coal black and bril-
liant as stars. invited him into the cabin
and set before him such provisions as I
had prepared for the table. He rested him
self and partoOk sparingly of the repast,
Having finished his meal, he said he was
broke and in poor health and asked permits
sion to remain few days. told him he
was entirely welcome to stay as long as he
pleased.
The next morning went about my work
as usual and left my strange visitor in the
cabin. On returning at noon found ev-
erything nicely cleaned up and good din
ner prepared. was rather pleased at this
cheney in the art Of Housekeeping. He
thanked me and said that he had had some
experience in that line before. He volun-
teered NO information about his past life
and experience and said little about any
thing. / began to wonder what sort of man
h he was. He was continually h along the river
cept at meal time. and supposed he was
prospecting. But as he said nothing INV
curiosity finally became 80 great that I re-
solved to watch him.
About this time q flock of eight or tan
looms, or divers, II in the river. and made
cries. found my rest disturbed and was
becoming greatly irritated, and told my
friend intended to take my gun and shoot
the whole flock if | could. At this, he be.
came greatly excited and paced up and
down the floor in great distress. He beg
to try an experiment, and il disturbed the
divers it would ruin him forever. could
not for the life of me see what counection 4
loon could have with any experiment he
might wish to make, but reluctantly &C
ceded to his wishes.
took therefrom small bull's-eye lantern
and piece of stiff wire about ten feet in
length, which he proceeded to fashion into
a moose. Taking these in his hand he
forth down the river.
Good God, what's up now, thought I; the
old man must be getting a little rickety |
him and quickly followed my friend, the |
doctor. I could hear the looms making the
welkin ring with their cries further down,
the cayotes giving forth dismal yells from
the surrounding bills. It was "a curious
PicOc "a D0SAAoh6 6A Okotu0rs arriving at
place opposite where the loons were diving
and splashing the doctor stopped and
burned his lantern out toward the huge
birds. Instantly all was still on the water,
The doctor crouched down and waited,
Presently saw by the light of the lantern
that the birds were making directly toward
q. The old man was evidently up to some
thing new to me. He reached forth his
hand and there was splitter and kind
II suppressed squawk. All! thought, he
s snaring them. And SO Improved. He caught
nix and tied them securely with wire
before the balance took the alarm and flew
way. then resolved to make my presence
known. Walking down to where the doctor
vas. l asked him what he proposed TO do
.eing too strong and fishy, and thought
hem loose again. ooh. no; not for the
world. This is only the beginning Of my
experiment." said he.
ver saw. measuring fully three feet from
mt the stupidest things ever Jaw. had
mt would not have believed any bird would Z
nth open eyes. But their curiosity is as
reat as that of some people. The old man I
" this time had his birds securely 9
ethered. He buckled small strap around /
ne leg of each bird, to which Q
ras tied q very small, but strong U
teel wire, and this he attached v
. stake in the ground already prepared. u
Law ing finished the work, in which / had
vuall I rCv1l1 xva kc<t, ~,rllxnI