The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-02-05


l 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 a
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
PAIGE were cid 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.
Pcppajee assembled and stood upon
the porch. Finding the door open
for the day was h9t-he 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 covetously the while. He ran a
long forefnger critically over the red
tops. The leather was soft and pleas
ing to the Notwithstanding to the
eye. His blanket slipped UNDECIDED
from one shoulder and trailed upon the
carpet.
''Huh. Mebbyso 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?"
ooh, ketchum heap long way Off
San Francisco. 1 pay So, So" Will
held up a corresponding number of
fingers. mo hurt feet-wano. No
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 y nite-
man ways. His beady eyes returned
hungrily to the boots.
'FHuh. Holes come, bimeby, yo'
gimme red?''
Eyes, I'll 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 the
ranch. Two years ago he had been a
frequent visitor, until Will, who was
more facetious and less discreet, had
concocted a horrible mixture of cold
tea, red pepper, salts, vinegar and
1pecac ard presented Peppajee with
generous flask. 1t was April FOOLS
day, but Feppajee knew nothing of
the significance of the season. All
days were alike to him. He carried
the flask jcyfully home to his wickiup,
and if he found the 'wano whisk' - be-
low the standard, he made no COM
d plant. The only sign of displeasure
+ BAD been sudden break in his visits.
Until to-day. he had not, deigned so
much as glance in Wills direction,
\ so that his friendliness now was rather
{ puzzling.
"1o' eat dinner plenty quick, meb-
\ byso?" asked Peppajee; insinuatingly.
/ as certain savory odors foated out to
\ his oostrils from: the kitchen. j: ). -, :,