The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-09-16
YOUTHFUL BOUNTY CLAIMANTS.

"A MONG the hrst applicants for wolf
n bounties in South Dakota, under
the new bounty act which became a
law in that state in the winter of 1895
50, were two mere tots of children,
Rose and Custer F%oulkrod, who made
their appearance at the house of the
county treasurer one morning only
Three weeks after the law went into
infect.
Rose, the elder, is but II years of age.
and Custer only nine Or ten and they
looked even younger. The children are
not brother and sister. Rose appears
to be wholly, Oh in part, of Indian de-
scent, and is a waif adopted in the
Foulkrod family SEVERAL years ago.
Custer, on the other hand. is Il bright.
sandy-haired little fellow, who gave
direct answers to all questions put to
him. His father, he said, had gone
for a soldier" and his mother was at
her early home in Indiana; but Grand
pa and Grandma Hogan" were at their
sod house on the North Fork, II miles
distant. The children had come from
there that morning.
When first seen, at about seven
o'clock, they were sitting in front OF
the t~reasurer's home on a rude sled.
harnessed to a very subdued, piebald
cayuse or Indian pony. How long they
had been there was not clear: they APP
peared to be waiting to be seen. not
heard. 1t was a cold morning. while
yet six inches of frozen o lay on the
ground, and their clothing was far
from warm or abundant. They had
wrapped themselves in three worn old
blankets. and had a large. rickety goods
box at their backs. Rose was sitting
straight as Il stick. her black eyes fixed
on the house windows; she scarcely
spoke at all. and declined to go into the
house. after the treasurer bad invited
them TO enter, but watched his face
closely. 1t was the boy who did the
talking. lie said that they had come
to get the bounty" SO that they could
go to the store and buy grub stuff
"Rounty on what?!" the treasurer
asked them.
hOliStS. Sdli III IVY. u
and a lion and Il kiyote."
But gave You the proofs-the hides.
or scaIps with the tails?" the treasurer
asked.
Yep" replied the boy. in 4 business
tone. Jumping nimbly owe the goods
box, he hauled out from it five wolf
pelts, a coyote hide and Il small, noun
tain lion skin-all fresh.
The wolf-skins were those of the
large. gray timber wolf, a formidable
and destructive brute which inflicts de-
plorable losses on the stockmen of the
counties west of the Missouri, border
ing the Black hills. The new bounty
law provides that three dollars shall be
paid by county treasurers for each gray
wolf scalp or hide, a like sum for a
mountain lion, and one dollar for a
coyote.
But satisfactory evidence must be
presented that the animals were killed
within the county or state, and it is the
treasurer's duty. on payment. to punch
n hole not less than half an incl in
diameter in each ear of every skin, to
prevent repeating" The skin, thus
marked. is returned to the person pre-
senting it. who can sell it if he wishes.
1t is expected also that the owners of
and sheep ranches will pay a
bounty to those who destroy wolves and
ranthcrs. in addition to that paid by
the state.
To prevent fraud. the county officers
are obliged to use vigilance. and in this
the t~reasurer's suspicion was
that the children had neen sent to him
by some one who had brought the skins
into the state from Nebraska or Wyom-
ing.
Where did you get these hides?" he
"Of'n wolfses," replied the lad.
YES. but who killed them?"
The boys eyes searched the treas
GRANDPA Hogan made pills
'er EN-" he replied, as if conceding
something u~nwillingly. but her and
me ketched en-" he added. ~stoutly. in
licating his companion with a ned.
"Hosv old a man is your grand
rather??" the treasurer asked, incredu-
Hes most so. grandpa is. and it took
i'm most all the forenoon every time
D get to skin EN-"
Look here, you must tell me the
ruth about this!" said the treasurer,
severely.
I'm telling you the truth" replied
he boy. with clear-eyed honesty.
Her and me ketched 'em and grandpa
made pills fer EN- fer u.s."
But tell me- how you caught these
.volves!" exclaimed the treasurer, still
lIconvinced-