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Show FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. 295 had come and the hour being noon, it was natural to suppose that he would make camp. We invited him to stop and share our shade tree with us. Politeness and hospitality can be, and often is, extended in the camp of the traveler as well as in the abode of a dweller. As the stranger unsaddled we noticed his move-ments were graceful. His mules were perfectly gentle and seemed to understand their master's kindness to them. This captured me individually, for if there are more unpardonable sins allowed than are on the list, and it was my duty to furnish another, I believe I would hand in " cruelty to dumb brutes." I have seen men who are considered both good and great by some people themselves included who would get angry with their animals and beat them in a cruel, senseless manner, even showing a murderous spirit. I have always believed that such persons would serve human beings the same way when in anger, only they are too cowardly to take the immediate consequences. Our visitor accepted our invitation to dinner. We soon found that he was an " old- timer," having been in California and the west for many years. We insisted on his resting over Sunday with us and, finally, he con-sented. Our conversation led on from one thing to another until our new acquaintance became quite communicative. His conversation was very interesting, as he had trav-eled a great deal in the west. He had visited Salt Lake City and knew many places and people that were famil-iar to us. Finally, he gave us his name and related the following story, as near as I can remember it: He was a native of one of the Middle States. Was left an orphan with a / small fortune, some thirty thousand dollars. His disposition was to make the best use pos- |
