Evening star., 1909-05-16
Getting Even with Klein


WHILE encamped here was one day rounding up
" some loose stock, which had strayed too far
away for safety Quiet though they were the Indians
were prone to appropriate any stock that strayed
beyond the reach of rifles Riding slowly along,
! was much interested in watching some small harm
less snakes catching grasshoppers, and thought saw
my opportunity to get square with Klein, who had an
unusually strong aversion for anything in the shape
Of snake and always the lookout for rat
tiers in most unlikely places
Removing large kerchlef from my neck and
catching several of these little snakes, securely tied
them in it, and my return to camp carefully hid
them away till evening.
The night was bright but rather COOL and the men
sat longer than usual round the fire 1t was quite
late before found an opportunity to carry out the
plan / had formed of placing them between the
blankets of kein's shakedown.
At this time he possessed good roll of blankets,
and prided himself on going to bed white" instead
Of rolling up with his .lothes most of us did
succeeded in placing the snakes, quite torpid
from the cold between his Blankets and then lay
down to await developments with my two Irish
friends in whom had confded, They had let some
of the others into the secret practically the
whole camp the watch.
have often wished had been enough of an artist
to portray the picture of Klein tanning himself
the corral at breakneck speed, yelling Snakes
snakes, at the top of his voice haltng till he
had climbed to the very top of of those od-ash
ioned towering grain separators we had transit for
Brigham Young. There he sat shriekng. Everyone
aroused by his curses loud and high for
to bring him his pants and boots, which he
donned while still on his perch.
My Irish friends were cOnvulsed with laughter, and
Mofat anxously inquired what kind of whisky he
had been drinking. Flynn advised him to drink
Irish whisky in the future, there is shnake
in barrel of thot IT, then added, Have We wings
me darlint or however did ye git up there? Sure
yere higher now than the gossoon whin he rode
the mule. This of course revealed the perpetrator
of the joke, which was now apparent even to Klein
l was enjoying my laugh, completely oblivous to
all else, when to my dismay Moffat shouted, Hike
out, kid till he gifts it, he'll shoot ye sure
/ did not wait for further notice, but II hlked out
into the darkness where spent the night alone and
without shelter. Before morning realized that
venge not sweet as had anticipated. l be-
lieve my friends gave Klein to understand that
it would be wise for him to call it square, and that it
would not be quite safe for him to harm me- In the
morning when l returned to camp l was severely
reprimanded by Mr. Dickson and told that had
best consider my wrongs avenged and also ad-
vised to desst from further pranks But all the
while his face slightly slipping and could see by
the twinkle in his eyes that should get off easily
far as he concerned.
However was still under klens jurisdiction and
still sub ject to his orders. To my great chagrin
dead head mule for the days riding, with the
castle remark that he perfectly gentle and quite
safe to ride
Surrounded by Indians
THIS was an animal whose slowness equaled
only by his obstinacy; but that he possessed
powers of speed hitherto unsuspected was proved
before the day over
We were working way through part of the
country where grass choice and water abundant
Consequently, buffalo were numerous that
killed our meat needed it using only the choice
parts and leaving the of the carcass to the coy
otes. On the day speak Of Klein killed buffalo
IN the afternoon, and was ordered 60 and
the humps and loins and bring them into camp for
supper
was a green hand at the work and before had
finished my task the outfit had gone into camp some
distance ahead the trail, but still within sight.