The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-07-25

sun shone out almost at setting. they
discovered that they We're on the wrong
side of that luminary, as II were. and
decided that the line of timber then heav-
ing into sight was none other than the
banks of the Columbia, and that they
We're not less than so miles from home.
A ranch-blessed sight-was visible, the
first one seen during the day, and they
cast themselves upon the hospitality of
the owner, a kindly soul who had mated
with one of the daughters of the native
race, and rejoiced in family of half
a dozen half-breed children.
The host made them welcome to the
best he had and. as his wife was alb
sent, he prepared the evening meal him
self, with the skill of long apprentice
ship. pigs head was boiling over the
fireplace, and to this was added a mix
ture of flour and water which served
for bread. and a thinner compound of
the same ingredients vas served in the
form of gravy These viands, with a cup
of tea, completed the menu, to which
they sat down with the whole family,
the hostess having returned.
The one room. with it's fireplace and
earthern floor. served all purposes for
the family and guests. and all hands
passed the night upon buffalo robes
around the walls.
The feelings of the travellers can be
imagined. perhaps, but certainly never
portrayed, when morning revealed the
escape of their team from the ill-fenced
pasture, with small probability of recov-
ering the horses nearer than Spokane
The alternative of an S0-mile walk with
young baby and other impediments
was only degree less formidable to Mrs.
Browne than a forced sojourn al that
place alone until the horses could be re-
covered. Fortunately the ranch afford
ed saddle horse, upon which the eldest
son of the farmer soon set out by short
cuts of the road to Spokane. hoping 10
head off the fugitves, while Mr. Browne
took their trail to overtake them, if pos
sible, and Mrs. Browne abandoned her
self to waiting, she knew not how long
BY special Intervention of Providence
however, the boy sighted the runaways
after a two hours ride and Mr. Browne
heard with joy his significant war wnoop
from the hill tops in communication of
the fact. The two soon surrounded"
turned and corraled the animals, and a
two days drive to Spokane was soon be-
gun.
attorneys fees in the cases mentioned,
Mr. Browne says that of Mr.. Cavanaugn
was presently paid, but the other, a hap
py-go-lucky, or unlucky, Irishman, let
the payment lapse once and again, prom
Using to pay in stock hay, eggs, etc,
but never fulfilling, until years rolled
away. and Mr.. Browne, but for an occa-
sional reminder from Conover himself,
would h. .1,.t
as it covered former transactions also,
its amount was considerable. Finally
there came, some five years after the
date of the note, a letter from Mr. Con-
over couched in the following language:
Mr.. Browne.-Dear Sir: l ana very
sorry ] have been unable to pay your
note but circumstances have made ii
impossible l have no doubt you saved
me from the penitentiary. l fully APP
preciate your efforts in my behalf, and !
am not ungrateful l have been more
anxious in the matter than you have,
and my failure to pay has worried me al
most beyond endurance. l cannot sleep
and am almost mad with despair. l will
call in a few days, but thought best to
| write" etc.
The letter enclosed a clipping from the
Irish World, with the request to read
| carefully and return" The clipping, be-
| ing the cutlery of the laboring man al
| $l.0O per day against the professional
man at So was taken by Mr.. Browne in
connection with the narrowing letter as
a piece of righteousness on the part OF
his queer client. But some two DAYS
later the Irish gentleman appeared in
! person at Mr.. Brownies office and re-
iterated the pathetic statements made in
his letter. We'll l am glad you have
had the grace to worry about it, al
least" said Mr.. Browne
The other went on TO tell how he haC
worked on the railroad at Pasco unit
sickness had laid him up and dissipateo
all his hard earnings but SIS, which he
wanted Mr.. Browne to take and relin-
quish the note. Mr.. Browne thought
this hardly fair, as the note and interest
by that time amounted to some $75.
At the mention of interest Mr. Conovei
jumped up-a full-fledged populist orator
and delivered a carefully prepared
speech, one and one-half hours Il
length, upon financial and social topics
quite in the infiammatory style of hi:
cherished clipping from the Irish World
He quoted every line Shakespeare evel
wrote upon avarice, greed and hearts O.
stone, and, as it was not busy day
Mr.. Browne abandoned himself to tn,
entertainment thus afforded, and fell
that he was realizing something on tn,
old debt at last.
When the TRADE was ended Mr.. Con
over voluntarily offered to add a gooC
Winchester rifle to the SIS in payment o
the debt if Mr. Browne would give up thu
note then and there. The money wa
paid down, the gun promised in a few
days, and the note handed over, witt