White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1925-04-24

American Falls dedication an import
ant event in the history of Idaho.
Steam shovel excavation work has
them. He knew that the scientific
plea would not touch them. He knew
that there could be no appeal to their
state pride. Their record precluded
the possibility of their having any.
He believed that there was small
chance of what Mrs. Morgan had
called his personality beguiling them.
And he sat forward in the chair they
had given him at the table, and
opened his mouth to speak without
any real idea of what he would say.
And he began, to his own astonish-
ment, to talk Of his Uncle Book1e.
Every man at the table had known
the former owner Of The Lariat. Old
Charley Whitson, the chairman, had
ridden herd for Bookie before the old
ranch had been turned over to dudes.
John Houghton had purloined a brood
mare, three COWS and bull from
Bookie thirty years before and had
thus gotten a start in life. Fred had
told this to Hugh in the month just
passed. And there was not man
among them who had not visited the
wise old man who had dreamed
dreams in The Lariat.
Hugh told them about his discovery
of the cave and of Booklets trip to his
Christmas camp. With the accuracy
of memory that was partly born in
him and was partly the result of his
scientific training he repeated the
long conversation between himself
and Bookie, appalled, as he did 80 by
the sudden revelation to himself OF
his own egoism. When he told Of his
findings in the cave and of Jimmie
Duncan's skeleton there was a sud
den movement and murmur from his
hearers. Hugh paused. He was not
sure how far to go.
what did you do with him?" de-
manded Whitson. II knew that fel
low"
With. sudden inspiration, Hugh de
cided to have no reticences. What
say will be treated as entirely conf
Dental and not even be inscribed or
the minutes?" he asked.
Old Whitson turned to the young
woman who was busily inscribing poi
hooks in a notebook.
"Miss Dick, skeedaddle!" he said
shortly.
Miss Dick left the room with the
nonchalant air of doing exactly what
she had intended to do anyhow.
"Now, Stewart, shoot and Shoot
straight" said the chairman. well
have some straight mans talk at this
session. If any of you old timers
want to get out, get out now, because
don't opine want to be interrupted
while I'm digging up these three
several kinds of old bones!"
A grin went around the table but nc
body moved except to relight cigars.
"Ill tell you what did with Jim
mie Duncan's bones,"~ said Hugh slow
ly. But first, I'll explain what Uncle
Bookie said to me when l told hin
that the old cattle runner was below
He said, 'Hughie, left Jimmie Duncan
down there twenty-three years age
this Christmas
"Hah!" calculated old Whitson
splitting into the brass cuspidor be
side his chair. go on, Stewart"
81 asked, Did you put notch or
your gun, Uncle Booker"
You can bet did, Hughie, deer
one!'
"'Why, Uncle Booker
Because he was a skunk "a
"'Will you tell me about it, Uncle
Booker / asked.
He nodded. I'll try. Hughie,
he said, 1 loved your mother from
the time she came out here with your
poor, one-lunged dad"
Hugh went on in his gentle way tc
tell Of Booklets tragic love story MOI
an eye moved from his face as he
continued "And so, when returned
to the cave the next day, knew what
Jimmie Duncan had done. built 6
big fire in the remains of the old fire
place and kicked his bones into the
flames. And threw the ashes out
into the Roaring Chief"
There was silence.
II am telling you all this" Hugh
finally went on, because want you
to feel that the Old Sioux Tract and
Uncle Bookie are inseparably con
nected in my mind"
"And yet" said John Houghton
| "vou want IN kaan that trart IN Sfo