The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-01-28

Mohawk. nearer ana nearer to q deem
wash-out where placer claim had
once been located. win, comprehend
Ing the danger, heated, warningly,
Peppajee, clinging tightly to the sad
dlehorn, looked behind him and Shout
ed also
"Mebbyso, yo rope-heap quick!"
Will unfastened his rope, galloping
closer the while. The moose circled
overhead, and Mohawk backed from
Its threatening swirl. Now he was on
the brink. Twenty feet straight down
|-Peppajee leaned forward, panic
stricken. "'"
Swish-sh! Willis faithful Gypsy
braced herself for the strain. Mohawk
dodged-too late. The moose settled
relentlessly over his shoulders.
Darn 1T all, look at that blamed
Injun! He might have had sense
enough to dodge that rope!''
1 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 black-and his
aforementioned burden-back to COM
parative safety.
Throw your rope. DicE!" cried Will.
"Catch him by foot and throw him.
I'm breaking that blamed Iniun's
neck"
Dick obeyed. Another loop circled
overhead; another rope swished
through the sultry air. Mohawk strug-
gled fiercely; then fell heavily in the
loose sand.
Peppajee, freed from bondage, rose
stiffiy to his feet, assisted by Will.
"Huh!" he snorted, in 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 mo
trade. Me no want cayuse! Huh"
Turning majestically upon his heel, he
scowled vindictively at the black and
stalked haughtily-albeit with limp
through the sage-brush and up the
hill, not once turning his head to look
back.
Hes 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,
he 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
Feppajee made no sign as Will clat-
tered up behind him.
"Hold on, Jim. Come on back %
There was no answer, though the face
of the Indian lost an atom of its stern
ness. 1t was balm to his soul to be
called Jim. Will went on, conciliat-
fngly: "Come on back. heap sorry.
Mebbyso you trade; give you boots. I"
Huh" Peppajee relaxed sufficient
ly to grunt sarcastically. 'Mebbyso
holes come heap quick"
mo, no; heap wano boots. You
trade; give you boots.''
Peppajee stood still and considered.
When he spoke it was as an emperor
commanding his vassal.
"Yo' gimme boots, yo' gimme ten
dollah, me trade. Yo' no trade, me go
tell sheriff-man. Me ride cayuse, me
no spur. Him buck, naebbyso me break
yo' back!" Thus the ultimatum was
pronounced. and Will consented, re-
luctantly, to the terms.
A week later travel-worn old In
dian, who disclaimed any knowledge
of the white mans language, skulked
into the shadow of the catalpa-tree,
and was Immediately set upon by
Keno, who would have done serious
damage to the dirty gray blanket had
not Will appeared OPPORTUNITY and
called him back The Indian, after
scanning the young mans counte-
nance sharply, handed him soiled
fold of cheap letter-paper, and skulked
back into the sage-brush whence he
had come. Some ex-student of one of
the mission schools had. evidently act
ed as amanuensis for Peppajee Jim,
who dictated the letter. Will read,
and his soul was filled with bitterness.
Yo'. Will Bolter. yo' heap big fool.
Long time ago, yo gimme big bottle.
yo' say heap wano whisky. Me take
whisky home, me drink. drink. whisky
ali gone. Heap ka wano! Me heap sick
me tink all time mebbyso me die. Me
mad. all same LAX for keel yo'. Me no
keel. Me wait one. two year: me bring
pony: me say wano pony. Yo' glad for
trade. Pony him not my pony; him John
Little Rabbit pony. Yo' gimme boots. 70
gimme ten dollah; yo' gimme black pony.
Wano. Me sellum boots, sellum pony.
heap dollah. John Little Rabbit. meb-
byso him come take him pony. Yo' try