The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-01-28
GUILEFUL & 8 &
PEPPAJEE jim.
- ~ r.,
How the Indian Won the Red Top
Boots. J
BY BERTHA MUZZY BOWER.
BY BERTHA mUzzY BOWER.

HI CE1 AJE4 JIM drew MS gay, scar
u let and yellow blanket closer
about his athletic person and stepped
from the glare of yellow sunlight into
the cool shade of the catalpa tree by
the gate. His black eyes roved rest
lessly over the silent yard. Keno rose
stretched himself lazily and wagged q
languid greeting. Generally speaking
Keno hated Indians even worse than
he did the gaunt, gray coyotes which
sneaked through the sage-brush back
OF the chicken yard; but he and Pep
pajee were old friends.
Peppajee stopped and rested a grimy
hand upon the sleek. black head OF
the dog.
"Yo' Keno, wano dog. Heap wano!"
1t was the highest praise known to his
tribe. Their scale of appreciation is
simple 1t is this: wano, good; heap
wano. very good, indeed. On the other
hand. ka wano is bad, while heap ka
wano is the worst possible. A more
elaborate classification of ones good
or bad qualities they consider super
fluous. 50.
Peppajee assembled and stood upon
the porch. Finding the door open
for the day was hottie advanced. and
stood in the doorway, darkening the
room with his six-foot stature.
Huh. Where yo' ketchum, Will?"
Will looked up from the new boots
he was admiring. Their high, slender
heels and shiny, red tops seemed to
him the acme of perfection.
"Hello, Peppajee. Come on in. You
like. 'em boots? Wano?"
-Peppajee' came closer, eying the
boots generously the while. He ran q
long forefinger critically over the red
tops. The leather was soft and pleas
ing to the touch istracting to the
eye. His blanket slipped UNDECIDED
from one shoulder and trailed upon the
carpet go. -. i,
"Huh. NIebbyso wano, mebbyso ka
wano,' he replied. guardedly. '..Meb-
byso holes come heap quick. Mebbyso
hurt feet-ouch!" His bronzed fea-
lures mimicked the agony of uncom-
Portable foot-gear, while his gaze lin
gered upon the red tops. "Red," he
admitted. reluctantly, him heap wano
Where yo' ketchum?"
"Oh. ketchum heap long way off
San Francisco. pay 50, So" Will
held up a corresponding number OF
fingers. mo hurt feet-wano. Nc
holes come, mebbyso one year." Will
when conversing with the Indians who
came often to the ranch, adopted, as
far as possible, their mode Of speech.
Peppajee seated himself gingerly
upon the edge of a chair, his blanket
wrapped jealousy around him. He
would have preferred to squat COM
fortably upon the floor but for the fact
that he prided himself upon his white
man ways. His beady eyes returned
hungrily to the boots.
> Huh. Holes come. bimeby, 70
gimme red?"
eyes, Ill give you red when holes
come. It'll be a long time, though
mebbyso one year."
Peppajee grunted and relapsed into
stolid silence. Secretly, Will wondered
what had brought the fellow to thu
ranch. Two years ago he had been I
frequent visitor, until Will, who wal
more facetious and less discreet, hat
concocted horrible mixture of COLI
tea. red pepper, salts, vinegar ant
ipecac and presented Peppajee with {
generous flask. 1t was April Fool,
day. but Peppajee knew nothing O
the significance of the season. Al
days were alike to- him. He carried
the flask joyfully home to his wickiup
and If he found the "wano whisk' /" be
low the standard, he made no com
plaint: The only sign of displeasur
had been sudden break in his visits
Until to-day he had not deigned s.
much as q glance in Willis direction
SO thatshi friendliness now was rattle
puzzling.
"Yo' eat dinner plenty quick, meh
byso?" asked Peppajee, insinuatingl,
as certain savory odors foated out t
his aostrils from the kitchen.