The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-10-29

~ kota, under the new bounty
act which became n law in
that State in the winter OF 1S9S-99.
were two mere tots OF children. Rose
and Custer Foulkrod, who made their
appearance AT the house OF the county
treasurer one morning only three
weeks after the law went into effect.
Rose, the elder, is but eleven 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 or in part
of Indian descent and is n waif adopt
ed in the Foulkrod family several
years ago. Custer, OH the other hand,
is bright, sandy-haired little fellow,
who gave direct answers to all qucs-
lions put to him. His father. he said,
had gone for soldier" and his moth
er was at her early home in Indiana.
but Grandpa and Grandma Hogan"
were at their sod house on the North
Fork. eleven miles distant The chill
dren had come from there that morn.
ing.
When first seen, al about o'clock.
they were sitting in front of the treas
urer's home on rude sled. harnessed
to very subdued. piebald cayusc or
Indian pony. How long they had been
there was not clear; they appeared to
ne waiting to be seen, not heard. 1t
was cold morning. while yet six
inches of frozen snow lay on the
ground, and their clothing was far
from warm or abundant. They had
wrapped themselves in three worn old
blankets. and had large. ricliety
box at their backs Rose was sitting
straight as stick. her black eyes
fixed on the house windows; she
scarcely spoke at all. and declined to
go into the house after the treasurer
had invited them to enter, but watched
his face closely. 1t was the boy who
did the talking. He said that they
had come to get the bounty" so that
they could go to the store and buy
grub stuff"
Bounty on what?" the treasurer
asked them.
fWolfses" said the BOY give
wo,fses and lion and kiyote."
But have you the proofs-the hides.
or scalDs with the tails?" the treas
urer asked
yep" replied the boy, in business
tone. Jumping nimbly over the goods
box he hauled out from it five wolf
pelts, II coyote hide, and small,
mountain-lion sEin--all fresh.
The wolrskips were those Of the
large, gray tinber-wolf. Il formidable
and destructive brute which inflicts
deplorable losses on the stockmen OF
the counties west of the Missouri,
bordering the Black Hills. The new
bounty law provides that three dol
lars shall be paid by county treasurers
for each gray wolf scalp or hide.
like sum fol 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 trcasurer's duty, on payment, to
punch hole not less than half an inch
in diameter in each ear Of every skin.
to prevent repeating" The skin.
thus marked, is returned to the per
son presenting it, who can sell It II
he dishes. 1t is expected also that
til wners of cattle and sheep ranches
" pay bounty to those who de-
So ? wolves and panthers, in addition
e hat paid by the state.
prevent fraud. the county officers
az obliged TO use vigilance. and I'm
tb instance. the treasurer's suspicion
Wa that the children had been sent
10 aim by some one who had brought
IA al Ua inf q ..
ka or Wyoming
where did you get these hides?"
he asked
"On'n wolfses.' replied the lad.
yes. but who killed themg"
The boys eyes searched the treas
urer's. Grandpa Hogan made pills
fer EN- he replied. as n concedlng
something unwllllngly. "but her and
me ketcbed 'em," he added, stoutly. in
dicating his companion with n nod.
How old a man is your grand
fatherV the treasurer asked. incredu-
lousy.
Hes most eighty grandpa is. and
II took him most all the forenoon every
time TO get TO skin 'em"
Look here. you must tell me The
truth about tblsw said the treasurer.
severely.
'I'm tellin' you the TRUTH" replied
the boy. with clear-eycd honesty. "Hcr
and me Reached 'cm and grandpa
made pills Ter EN- fer us"
But tell me how you caught these
wolves" exclaimed the treasurer still
uncOnvinced
we kctched en- in the shack"
What shack? WhercW
"Grandpo's old shack. where hc used
TO live. ON tother side of the crick."
Yes. but how did you catch wolves
in This shack questioned the treas
urer How came thc wolves In the
ehack|
'They went in to- get tho hoss head
and The steer bones"
'Bones chat you put there for bate