The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-24

If they should happen to drop in
you will be expected to offer them
/ something to eat. An Indian always
expects this. 1t will do no harm to
keep on friendly terms with them"
But despite Franks admonition, l
think should have shut the door on
the visitors when they came-for they
did come some three days later-had
it not been for the sympathy had for
the litt,e copper-colored papooses
strapped on boards, and the fact that
some of Franks friends on the range
had brought US nearly whole quarter
of beef, which equipped me to meet
the demands of the occasion.
l was preparing dinner and Frank
was sitting by the window cleaning
his rifle when, happening to step to
| the door, was surprised to see three
kiowa squaws standing before me.
They were very wretched and dirty,
but perfectly healthy specimens of hu.
mainly. Each was wrapped in blan.
| ket and carried on her back some.
thing that resembled a snowshoe, to
thongs little brown papoose.
The visitors greeted me in broken
English and insisted on shaking hands
with me. Then, without more ado,
they entered the shanty and began in.
specting the furniture and draperies
with child-lile simplicity.
The instinct of barter is strong in
the Indian, and they began to banter
me to trade One offered me her
blanket for the drapery in the corner.
and another pair of moccasins for
the covering on the couch. They
We're all three talking at once, gestic.
ulating at this and that article of
furniture, each trying as we'll as her
limited vocabulary would permit to
strike bargain with me, so that in
my bewilderment l felt as if ] had
suddenly been called to preside over
bargain counter.
Frank looked On the scene with
and knew not what to say or do. All
the time was planning in my mind
how to get rid of the disagreeable Wis.,
itors. think Frank OWNED what
was in my mind, for presently he sug-
gested that the quickest and surest
solution was to serve the visitors with
refreshments, and was glad enough
to act on the suggestion.
When the meal was finished they
sat down in the middle of the floor
and began to jabber to one another
in their own language. Presently
they spied the piano which was open,
and it was evident that the sight Of it
aroused their curiosity to the highest
pitch. They gathered about the in.
strument, talking volubly and touching
it with their hands as If it had been
some sort of an animal which they ex.
pected to move at their touch.
Heap teeth" cried one, waving her
hand in the direction of the keyboard.
"Oh! Mah-chee-loo-thee!"
l was quite sure they had never
seen piano before, for when one of
them happened to touch one of the
keys, the sound produced caused her
to jerk her hand away and step back
| in momentary terror.
| At this juncture Frank suggested
that play for my visitors, and moved
by sudden impulse, sat down on
the stool and struck the keys. The
effect on the visitors was startling.
They retreated quickly to the far end
of the room, jabbering necessarily and
pointing to the instrument. Turning
my gaze from them went on playing.
selecting piece from Wagner-sut
posing that it would likely prove as
pleasing to the uncultivated ear of the
three Kiowas as anything else.
I must have presented strange
even terrifying aspect-for as the
notes died away, turned to find that
the visitors had disappeared and
Frank was laughing.
l went to the door to see the three
squaws beating retreat from the
house. At sight of me in the door
way they uttered excited calculations,
muttering: Heap crazy"
I never saw the three Mrs. Lame
Dog again, nor was bothered, by any
more visitors from the, tribe, but
learned afterwards that 1 was known
as the Mad White Squaw, who made
the big box howl like the hungry
coyotes which Frank declared was
very fitting tribute to my art as
musician. But for all his badinage,
am sure that he was glad brought my
piano to the claim, for he remarked
that it not only served to make me
more contented. but opened up for
the instrument q wider field Of use.
fulness, not the least. Of which was
Its use as an extinguisher Of unwel-
come visitors. IA.
BApdbox. M,
Pearl-Let, me see. ! wonder what