The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-11

lie Wnlcn were unnumo ered. Yet he was
always more or less embarrassed fnan-
cially.
Just 20 show you how things went
with him. let me tell you a little story. IS
continued Col Bergman At the time ]
was operating the mine 1 speak Of in part
nership with him he had another mine
running. which wasn't paying expenses.
He told me how much the other mine was
losing. and ! asked him one day:
Mack, why don't you close down that
mine?
o. I can't he said.
Why? / asked.
of the men
How much are you behindF
About S30O0.'
Il told him that 1 could probably raise
him the amount, and in few days laid
out before him six packages OF $50 each.
He took UP one package, put IL in his in
side coat pocket. carried the others TO
the mine paid on the men. and stopped
work. A few days afterward 1 was down
TO the ranch when Mack's daughter came
in and said:
Father. I want some money
Money. said he in his quick way. I
haven't got any
90 I must have some, said she.
3" i don't know where yOu'H get II, I'M
less Bergman viii let you have it, he
said.
I asked the young lady how much she
wanted. She said 500 would do, and
gave it 10 her. Mack sat there in silence
for few moments and then asked sud
denly:
Didn't I get 500 from you the other
day.!
20 You got 5000 said 7.
" I don't mean the Ss.5UO paid to shut
down the mine. What did 1 do with the
other s5OO?'
." You put it in your coat pocket
Mack ran his hands into his coat peck
cts and looked puzzled.
That amt the coat you had on the
other day. I suggested.
He jumped up like a flash and went
into another room. Pretty soon he came
out holding a coat. There was a broad
smile on his face. In his hand was the
package Of $500. The money had worked
through a hole in the pocket and down
between the lining ana the cloth of the
coat
Isn't it lucky the woman didn't find
that first?' he said with a laugh.
This hall Of the castle was the gather
ing point Of the dukes numerous retain
ers. He had cowboys to look after his
herds. He had trainers and jockeys about
his stables of thorougnDreds. tor racing
was his chief sport. In the valleys of his
grain, which gave business to his grist
min. But strangest of all his vassals
were the Ute Indians. AS a companion
of Kit Carson, Maxwell mad spent years
among the Indians, especially this saw
age tribe. When he set up his establish
ment at Cimarron his dusky friends re
turned the call" There was seldom a
time that band of Utes was not loafng
about the ranch, LIVING on the bounty Of
the duke. The head men of the tribe
would come down and stop for days
They would gather in the hall at night
the wood fires lighting up the strange
scene. Fer hours not a word would be
spoken. but Kit Carson and Maxwell
would sit there carrying on continuous
communication in the sign language An
occasional "Ugh!' from some chief was
the only sound, save the swapping of the
pine bOughs. And when the soiree was
over Indians and whftea men would lie
down to their blankets on the floor SO
thick 1t was almost impossible to turn
and sleep.
The influence of the duke over the Utes
was wonderful. 1t was recognized by the
government, and the agency for this tribe
was located at the ranch a long time.
In recognition of hts good services as
mediator the duke received indirect but
munilicent compensation. He was paid
hundreds of thousands of dollars by the
United States for supplies for the army
and fer the Indian agency. The time came
when this close relationship with the In
dams proved of great value TO Maxwell.
In return for the food and the drink the
duke had given them the Utes became pro-
tectors of the rights of property he claim
ed. The white man prospectOr or settler.
who came upon the Maxwell grant without
the consent of the duke was in danger OF
losing his scalp. Yet Maxwell was not
10
here. Very few. indeed. are the reminis-
cences of bloodshed about the feudal hall
on the CimarrOn, at least SO long as its
palmy days lasted. Later on there were
conflicts between the purchasers and the
wOuld-be settlers on the Maxwell grant
1t is said that 500 men lost their lives be-
fore the title was quoted. But the duke
reign was singularly free from homicides
In Maxwells retinue of servants there
were white cowboys, Mex3cans. Indians
and half-breeds. In some way he main
tanned harmony among them. Perhaps il
was by the other excitement he furnished
Something was always going on. If there
was nothing else the duke would plan a
trip, and away he would go with his
coaches and buckboards and cavalcade
making dashes of hundreds of miles, and
for no apparent purpose other than the
entertainment of motion.
He had a code of morals of his own
this duke. IL ne liked man he could for
give much.
Il remember" said Col. Bergman, lone
who came out into New Mexico as an In.
dian agent His name was Jack, and he
formed the acquaintance of Mack who
took a liking to him. Jack spent much Of
his time at the ranch and was engaged
in some mining enterprises with Mack
One day he asked for a horse, saying he
wanted to so down to Santa Fe on some
business. Mack gave him a horse As
Jack was starting off Mack went TO the
bureau, drew out some vouchers, and said
Here, Mack, take these vouchers
along with you and get them cashed fol
me-
Jack took the papers and rode off II
the course of a couple of weeks he re.
| turned and handed Mack a roll of bills
saying:
Here's the money on those vouchers.
"'All right said Mack. He didn't stoI
to count the bills, but just crumpled then
up in a bunch and threw them into the
lower drawer Of the bureau.
"Some days after that visitor came Il
the ranch He was sitting under the Dor,
tai talking to Mack, when Jack passed
by.
WHO is that?' asked the visitor.