The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-02-15
4 REMARKABLE TOWN.
Manganetus and It's Wonderfol
Newspaper.

per I have ever had any knowledge
of was paper published up in the
Sierra range about fifteen years ago,
the Manganetus Index. The pub
lication alluded to had mysteriously
fallen into my mail box in San
Francisco for over year, and it was
always welcome arrival. 1t was
neatly printed, carried several col
umns of live advertisements and
had bright, bustling air about it
that always gave me very favor
able impression of Manganetus, as
we'll as of the man who edited the
paper. He took a decided stand on
all the current topics of the day, and
in everything happening in the town
where his paper was published he
carried candor to the verge of be-
wildering rashness. / never saw a
paper edited with such absolute
fearlessness, and l often wondered
why it was that the editor was not
some time mobbed or murdered.
At last my business took me in
the vicinity of Manganetus, and |
decided to make the editor a call.
1t was fast coming on nightfall as /
neared the spot where the town was
located, and I spurred my horse up
the steep mountain, thinking of the
warm bed and excellent supper /
should soon be enjoying. My mind
was full of the Slavin House, hotel
of very superior accommodations
which advertised literally in the
Index, and whose royal proyender
and home comforts the little paper
was never weary of describing.
"Only mile more" said to my
self, as I thumped my weary beast
with good-sized stick, and after
another mile I repeated my observa-
ton, and so the poor horse went on
checking off miles and miles, while
l persuaded myself that each mile
was the last. Strange, / thought,
that l could see no lights ahead. /
strained my eyes for the welcome
twinkle from cottage windows that
in the darkness tell the traveller of
the town, but the night crept on,
little faster than the horse, and
still I was alone.
Presently l came to log cabin,
and my heart rose as l saw the
light cleaning through the chinks:
Dismounting, l walked, stiff and
lame, to the cabin and hammered
on the door. A little, bent-up man,
with wrinkled, leathery face, came
to answer, and as he opened the
door cautiously l noticed that he
had cooked pistol in his hand.
Seeing it said: "Here is civili-
zation."
After the little man with the big
pistol had surveyed my famished
face and tired horse he opened the
door little wider, and then, swing
ing it back with a smile somewhat
apologetic in it's character, invited
me in.
"How far to Manganetus?" / asked.
He looked at me in rather queer
way and bit his lip, as if nipping a
smile in the bud.
"Is it far from here? Can / reach
it tonight"
Hardly think you can make it
tonight" he replied with a tone that
puzzled me somewhat; "can't you
stay all night?" he added. "Better
stay you can'tpossibly make Man
ganetus tonight"
l accepted the invitation with alac-
rity. My horse being provided for |
was soon absorbing the heat of a
CHEEKY fire and listening to be con-
versation of my new acquaintance.
He was man of very fluent express
sion, and possessed wonderful fund
of information on scores of topics
not ordinarily discussed by men
who occupied log cabins in the
mountains. While wondering who
this old character could be | heard
a monotonous noise in the next
room, and l certainly thought l
heard the familiar sound of some
one rapidly folding newspapers.
My ear did not deceive me, for in a
few moments pleasant-faced little
girl appeared and handed my COM
painion a paper which he at once
passed oyer to me. It was damp
from the press, and read the title
"The Manganetus Index. BY IN
dustry we thrive. Devoted to the
material interests of Manganetus.
Subscription SIS per annpm, payable
in advance"
My host smiled as he handed me
the paper. :,
"Then the town is here!" said
"Let me go to the hotel the Slavin
House, I believe. do not desire to
trespass upon the hospitality of a
stranger"
"You will remain here, sir" be
replied. II blush to confess 1t, but
this is the town of Manganetus, and
this cabin is the only habitatlon fo'
twenty miles"
| stared at him in astonishment
"You may well be puzzled" ht
| nt;rro1 mhnt will explain