The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-01-29

! dlehOrn, looked behind him and shout
ed also.
"Mebbyso, yo' rope-heap quick!"
VIII unfastened his rope, gallopine
closer the while. The moose circlet
overhead, and Mohawk backed from
its threatening swirl Now he was or
the brink. Twenty feet straight down
-Peppajee leaned forward, panic
stricken.
Swish-sh. Wills faithful Gypsy
braced herself for the strain. Mohawk
dodged--too late. The moose settled
relentlessly over his shoulders.
Darn it ALL look at that blamed
Injun! He might have had sense
enough to dodge that rope!'
Peppajee lay prone upon the neck
of Mohawk, held fast by the pitiless
rope which gripped horse and rider
alike. Will turned Gypsy's head and
drew the maddened blacl-and his
thrice-maddened burden-back to CON-
parative safety.
Throw your rope, Dick" erie Il Will.
Catch him by foot and throw him.
I'm breaking that blamed Injun's
neck
Dick obeyed. Another loop circled
overhead; another rope swished
through the sultry air. Mohawk strug-
gled fiercely; then fell heavily fin the
loose sand.
Peppajee, freed from bondage, rose
stiftiy to his feet, assisted by Will.
HUH" he snorted, in a tone of
deepest disgust, gathering his blanket
about his outraged person. Will sat
suddenly down in the hot sand, and
covered his face with his gloved
fingers. His whole body shook with
what may have been sobs, but which
bore suspicious resemblance to violent,
uncomfortable mirth. Peppajee evil
IDENTIFY so interpreted the emotion. He
stood up, straight and tall, one trem-
bling, sinewy arm outstretched accus-
ingly, and regarded him wrathfully.
"Huh. Yo' heap laugh now. Bime-
by yo' no laugh-mebbyso yo' heap
cry. Yo' tink for keel me. Yo' do
dat for mean! Me go for town; me
tell sheriff-man yo' try for keel me.
Him come, take yo'. Me go cot, me
tell yo' try for keel me- Me putum in
Jail, one-two-t'ree year! Yo' bet yo'
life! Mebbyso yo' quit laugh Me no
trade. Me no want cayuse, Huh"
majestically upon his heel, he
scowled yindictively at the black and
stalked haughtily-albeit with a limp
through the sage-brush and up the
hill, not once turning his head to look
back.
He's so mad he forgot his pony and
saddle!' said WILL when he recovered,
and stood up. I'll go after him and
tell him I'm sorry. Poor old heather,
ne did have hard deal that time. I'll
offer him my new boots that he had
his eye on; that'll ease his temper,
maybe"
Peppajee made no sign as Will clat-
cred up behind him.
Hold on, Jim. Come on back"
There was no answer, though the face
II the Indian lost an atom of its stern
less. 1t was balm to his soul to be
allied Jim. Will went on, conciliat-
ngly: Come on back l heap sorry.
debbyso you trade; give you boots"
Huh" Peppajee relaxed sufficient
y to grunt sarcastically "Mebbyso
loles come heap quick"
mo, no; heap wano boots. You
rade; l give you boots"
Peppajee stood still and considered.
When he spoke it was as an emperor
ommanding his vassal.
"Yo' gimme boots, yo' gimme ten
ollah, me trade. Yo' no trade, me go
ell sheriff-man. Me ride cayuse, me
o spur. Him buck, mebbyso me break
O back" Thus the ultimatum was1
ronounced, and Will consented, re-
lctantly, to the terms.
A week later travel-worn old In
ian, who disclaimed any knowledge
the white mans language, skulked
ITO the shadow of the catalpa-tree,
nd was Immediately set upon by
emo, who would have done serious
amage to the dirty gray blanket had
OF Will appeared opportunity and
allied him back. The Indian, after
canning the young mans counte-
ance sharply, handed him a soiled
I'D of cheap letter-paper, and skulked
ack into the sage-brush whence he
ad come. Some eX-student of one of
lie mission schools had evidently act
| as amanuensis for Peppajee Jim,
no dictated the letter Will read,
nd his soul was filled with bitterness.
Yo', Will Bolter, yo' heap big fool.
ong time ago, yo' gimme big bottle,
} say heap wano whisky. Me take
Risky home me drink drink, whisky
gone. Heap ka wano! Me heap sick
me tink all time mebbyso me die. Me
ad, all same lax for keel yo'. Me no
eel. Me wait one, two year; me bring
my; me say wano pony. Yo' glad for
ade. Pony him not my pony; him John
title Rabbit pony. Yo' gimme boots, 70
NINE zen dollah; yo' gimme black pony.
'ano. Me sellum boots, sellum pony,
zap dollah. John Little Rabbit. meb-
$50 him come take him pony. Yo' try
r keep, yo' go for Jail. Me go heap
ng way-yo' no can find. Me got heap
'llah, yo' got noting. Wano.
His
Peppajee X Jim
Mark.