The free press., 1894-01-25
The Generals Canary-Bird.
BY CLARENCE PULLENs

AnNtl4JND
uo-se Creek Valley as the February
/, drew to an end. A frosty chill
=. ereoping into the air that had been
oonisllv warmed all the afternoon
!, 4be sun now sinking behind the
distant Rocky Mountain peaks.
On the rolling, drab-tinted prairie
.uore to he seen two upright figures
betxeen two patches of gray. They
wore shepherds, going homeward with
,bair llocks. Two cowboys, Looping
tbeir horses along a ridge, moved as
slbopettes against the wintry sky.
Three men who had been building a
wire fence about the hay meadow were
WALKING up the Creek Valley; half u
mile behind them rode Il hunter, lead
inc two packhorses with loads of ante
lOpe skins.
Fmlto the north n teamster urged
bis mules. as if fearful of being be-
hted
The point toward which all these
| figures were moving was an unpalnted,
sather-beaten building, about which
aOod sable, haystacks and corrals.
Il faced pleasantly to the south, and
emmanded long valley view.
Trough its open door came a hearty
ritone voice singing Of "My Sweet
shland Mary" with varying accom-
lniment of rafting dishes and stove
IONS and the grinding of coffee.
The song ceased. There was II
aoment's silence. Then q Gagged can
ny within the room chirped, twit-
aed and trilled into melody, full
Dund and sustained, that subsided TO
Iwarble and died away in mellihu-
GUS quaver.
The first who had sung was the
'eteran plainsman, Jim Sheridan,
ommonly known as ''the General. J"
he was short, wiry, forid man with
large head, thick, yellowish hair,
iqulme features, and gray, soldier
Emoustache. The General was NOV
ls actively about large cooking
hnSe, preparing an abundant supper.
Oasy though he was, he stopped his
work moment to clap his hands and
aOut:
Bravo, Dickl You're the primer
a0nher OF the cattle country!"
Alter visit to Colorado Springs,
'ue ueaeral had astonished the ranch
nea by bringing home with him the
axe and songster, bag of canary
geo. and "fsh bone" for the bird
peck at He hung the cage from a
'i'ef Of the unceiled room, and there
ere no bounds to the care he be-
owed on the small male bird, which
'Nved, throye, and sang most
Feetly.
'ne lamps had been lighted when
fahchmen, having gathered in
W" SAT down at the long table and
!" hungrily. After the rattle of
'eS and forks had subsided, the
"y struck up his song again. In
MIDST rough talk, tobacco smoke,
cnhk OF spurs and the show of
'p0ns on every hand, he was rs
py as If his cage swung in a fine
Us boudoir.
,'we one stepped out upon the ver-
-, leaving the door open. From
afKness without came the long
Jung ~ chorus of gray wolves.
y 'assy' amt they?" said Ed Dyer.
"'n " nave to get up hunt for 'em. :"
~, ~ ueneral was examining the
'a magazine rife of the antelope
Il
' when the bird-cage door,
'n had in some way become un-
swung open. The men saw
~ nash OF yellow as the canary
''ioss the room and out through
\ open doorway.
'uerai jim, still holding the maga-
flhe, darted after his pet with a
! uiSlaay- Yfhe others rushed to
'efanda iust\ in time to see the
n A. =. check flanna I shirt, blue trousers
20 ppers disapA Aear in the darkness.
,,m pave us loel{ of your hair, Gen
f0ared Ed Dyer; but the Cen
made no reply.
49,