Kelley

“ All agree that Kelley was a man with a distorted perspective, who was singularly out of touch with his fellows. To such men as Foster and Lovett, he was an easy victim; and to the sailors on the Dryade as well as the boys in Three Rivers he must have appeared as one who invited annoying attacks. ”

“ She was quick to perceive his hesitation. "From what?" she asked. And as he did not at once reply she went on, firmly: "You might just as well tell me, Mr. Kelley. Fred's been up to some mischief. He's afraid, and you're afraid, we'll find out something to his disadvantage. Now tell me. Is it—is it—a woman?"
"No," said Kelley as decisively as he could. "So far as I know Fred's not tangled up that way."
Quick as a flash she took him up on his emphasized word. "In what way is he tangled up?"
Kelley, more and more amazed at her shrewdness and directness, decided to meet it with blunt candor. ”

“ At the door of the calaboose the gambler braced himself. "I won't go in there!" he declared. "I won't be jugged—I'll die right here—"
Kelley's answer was a jerk, a twist, and a sudden thrust, which landed the redoubtable boaster in the middle of his cell. "You can die inside if you want to," he said, and turned the key on him. "My responsibility ends right here." ”

“ She had been away in Albuquerque during the first week of Kelley's hostlership, and though he had heard something of her from the men about the corral, he had no great interest in her till she came one afternoon to the door of the stable, where she paused like a snow-white, timid antelope and softly said:
"Are you the new hostler?"
"I am, miss."
She smiled at his mistake. "I am Mrs. Harford. Please let me have the single buggy and bay Nellie."
Kelley concealed his surprise. "Sure thing, mom. Want her right now?" ”

“ Something very plain and simple and boyish came out in the young gambler as he walked and talked with his mother and sister, and Kelley regarded him with some amazement and much humor. It only proved that every man, no matter how warlike he pretends to be in public, is in private a weak, sorry soul, dependent on some one; and this youth, so far from being a desperado, was by nature an affectionate son and a loyal brother. ”

“ Kelley saw a small, plain little woman in black and a keen-eyed, laughing girl who waved her hand to Fred. "Why, she's a queen!" thought Kelley.
Mrs. Morse embraced her son with a few murmured words of endearment, but the girl held her brother off and looked at him. "Well, you do look the part," she said. "What a glorious sunburn—and the boots—and the hat, and all! Why, Fred, you resemble a man."
"I may resemble one," he said, "but here's the real thing. Here's my partner, Tall Ed Kelley." He pulled Kelley by the arm. ”

“ Kelley supplied the answer, which to his mind at least was convincing. "Its interest conflicted with those of certain fur companies, British and American, and of persons concerned in the commerce of the N. Pacific."*' Then there was "the hire- ling press."
"It was represented in the leading newspapers and periodi- cals that Kelley was deceiving the people — ^his plans were chimerical — was an idle schemer — a mad man; that hardship and privations would attend at every step the expedition; and that perpetual suffering would be the lot of young and old through the first generation. ”

“ Few men meet even the one who looks like the ideal, but he had seen the reality—coming out of a tree. He kept on wondering how long she had been there. He himself had been dreaming in front of the tree an hour before he saw her. Had she seen him before she came out? She had given no sign; but if she had seen him, she had trusted him with a secret. Mark looked at the tree. It was half embedded in the wall. Then he understood. The tree masked a secret entrance to Killimaga.
He was still smiling over his discovery when he heard the voices of the agent and constable. ”

“ It was Josh Kelley, and he was up to something, for he raised his right hand, and a flash of light sprang out.
"It was a signal all right," he thought, as he shrank back, fearful lest the man see him.
What should he do? He knew now that his suspicions, as well as those of his uncle, were confirmed. The second mate was in league with someone, and was signaling to him, or to them. But what was the object? Did he know of their quest? These and many more questions flashed through his mind as he stood there, watching that twinkling light, which came and went in answer to the mate's signal. ”

“ No less important was the question of title to the territory itself. Besides, there was the immediate, personal matter of a livelihood. As we have seen, Kelley became a master in the Boston public schools in 1818 and continued in that employment until 1823, when he left it not at his own desire. The prudent man when he finds himself out of one position, looks for another; not so Kelley, who now took up the matter of Oregon to the practical exclu- sion of lesser interests. ”

“ In crossing the streams he helped her find the shallowest fording, and in other ways was singularly considerate. Kelley couldn't have done this, but he saw the value of it.
"It's a hard trip and we've got to make it as easy for the old bird as we can."
"She's human," retorted Wetherell, "and this ride is probably painful for her, mentally as well as physically."
"I s'pose it does stir her up some," responded Kelley. "She may balk any minute and refuse to go. We'd better camp early."
A little later Eugene called out, "She says set tepee here." And Kelley consented. ”

“ The little lady stopped her horse at the door of the stable and with a cool and distant nod alighted and walked away.
"I'm the hostler now—sure thing," grinned Kelley. "No raise of pay fer Tall Ed this week."
He was in reality quite depressed by the change in [Pg 105] her attitude toward him. "Reckon I didn't get just the right slaunch on that warning of mine—and yet at the same time she ought to have seen I meant it kindly.—Oh well, hell! it's none o' my funeral, anyway. Harford is no green squash, he's a seasoned old warrior who ought to know when men are stealing his wife." ”

“ To Kelley the absence of active sympathy in Young was the result of the misrepresentations of slanderous tongues, but Young may have had in mind the difference between the real Oregon and the place so glowingly pictured to him by Kelley at Pueblo and Monterey. [24] That the man was not taken at his own rating is undoubtedly true, for who could understand him, least of all those who were his adversaries? ”

“ Where are you living?"
"Mostly up at my mine—but I have a room down here at the Boston House. I pick up my meals anywhere."
The young man's voice grew hesitant. "Would you consider taking me in as a side partner? I'm lonesome where I am."
Kelley was touched by the gambler's tone. "No harm trying," he said, with a smile. "We couldn't do more than kill each other. But I warn you I'm likely any day to buy an old cayuse and pull out. I'm subject to fits like that."
[Pg 131] "All right—I'll take the chance. I'm used to taking chances." ”

“ Kelley was willing to sacrifice everything. The head- quarters of the society was in Boston, and Kelley made fre- quent trips from Three Rivers to attend to its affairs. His duties were those of a publicity agent. When his domestic concerns admitted of his absence, he "traveled New England, everywhere lecturing on Or^on," but according to his own statement he was an indifferent public speaker, due to his extreme diffidence.^ His lectiu-e tours could not have been very extensive, for his expenses on this account were but $200.'
I Kelley, Memorial, 18481 6-9. ”

“ No one slew them. They went hurriedly, leaving all their tools.
"She knows," exulted Wetherell. "She knows, and she's the one living Indian who can direct us." To Eugene he exclaimed: "Say to her pretty soon she's going to be rich—mebbe go home to Cheyenne River. If she shows us the trail we will take her to her own people."
[Pg 157] Like a decrepit eagle the crone pondered. Suddenly she spoke, and her speech was a hoarse chant. "You are good to me. The bones of my children lie up there. I will go once more before I die."
Kelley was quick to take advantage of sunset emotion. ”

“ The boy who put pepper on the stove after offer- ing to help Kelley about his housework could hardly have known of the Hudson's Bay company, yet he was classed as one of its "troops."
There are also men in Three Rivers who can testify that Kelley's interests were cared for by his neighbors, and that food was regularly reserved from their tables for the old man, who came daily to their door, pail in hand. ”

“ Kelley says nothing further about his son. ↑ Settlement of Oregon, 113. ↑ Letter to Secretary Livingston, February 23, 1833. In this letter Kelley said: "The prevailing motive I have for settling on the Columbia river is to aid in carrying the principles of civilization into that uncultivated part of the earth. For this object, I have shipped many enterprising persons, and my own effects—I have sent before me my own son of inexperienced and tender years. For this object I have left to the care of friends an affectionate wife and three small children. ”

“ But what can I do?"
[Pg 151] "I'll tell you my plan," said Kelley, with decision. "You've got to buy my interest in the mine."
Morse laughed. "But I haven't any money. I haven't three hundred dollars in the world."
"I'll take your note, provided your sister will indorse it, and she will."
The young fellow looked up at his tall friend in amazement which turned at last into amusement. He began to chuckle. "Good Lord! I knew you'd made a mash on Flo, but I didn't know it was mutual. I heard her say, 'be sure and write.'" He slapped Kelley on the back. ”

“ Kelley's face hardened. "Well, I'll disappoint 'em. I'm going to stay with it." However, he went to the mayor and voiced his resentment of the court's action.
His Honor pretended to be greatly concerned. "Now, don't quit on us, Ed. Hornaby expects you to stay put. [Pg 121] You're the only man who can clean up the town. You've done great work already, and we appreciate it. In fact, we're going to raise your pay."
"Pay to a corpse don't count," retorted Kelley. "It's a question of backing. You fellows have got to stand behind me." ”

“ Don't throw yourself away on any man. Good-by and God bless ye."
She walked away with bent head and tear-blinded eyes, her heart filled with weakness and pain. She was like a child justly punished, yet resenting it, and mingled with her resentment was a growing love and admiration for the man whose blunt words had bruised her soul in the hope of her redemption.
Kelley went back to his little office, gathered his small belongings together, and called up Harford on the 'phone. "I'll take that blue cayuse and that Denver-brand saddle, and call it square to date.... Yes, I'm leaving. ”

“ Isn't she enduring the agonies for us? I'm going to see that she is properly paid for it."
"A hunk of beef and plenty of blankets and flannel is all she can use; but first let's find the mine. We can quarrel over its division afterward."
"I doubt if we get her ahorse to-day. She's pretty thoroughly battered up."
"We must move, Andy. Somebody may trail us up. [Pg 161] I want to climb into the next basin before night. Let me talk to her."
She flatly refused to move for Kelley, and Eugene said: "She too sick. Legs sick, back sick, eyes sick. Go no further."
Kelley turned to Wetherell. ”

“ Kelley, as shrewd and unscrupulous a man [Pg 204] as any in the annals of imposture, readily consented, but on pretty hard terms. He was to be taken in as a member of Dr. Dee's family, retained on a contract, and paid an annual stipend of fifty pounds, quite a large sum in those times. On this understanding he went to work, and day after day, for years, regaled the credulous Dee with monologues purporting to be delivered by the spirits in the crystal. Everything Kelley told him, Dr. ”

“ The world keep holiday.
ANDREW W. KELLEY
Andrew W. Kelley ("Parmenas Mix") , poet preëminent of life on a country newspaper, was born in the state of New York about 1852. When twenty years of age he left Schenectady, New York, for Tennessee, but in 1873 he settled at Franklin, Kentucky, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was associate editor of Opie Read's paper, The Patriot, for some time, but when that sheet died, he drifted from pillar to post until a kindly death discovered him. ”

“ Eugene advised: "You wait. Bimeby she got done cryin'. To-morrow she got cold—want meat, coffee—plenty bad. Then we go get her."
They went into camp not far away in the edge of a thicket of scraggly wind-dwarfed pines, and put up their tents for the night.
"Wouldn't it put a cramp into you," began Kelley, as they stood beside their fire, "to think that this old relict has actually led us all the way up here in order to water the grave of a sweetheart who died forty years ago?"
"It shows how human she is."
"Human! She's superhuman. She's crazy, that's what she is." ”

“ The Man Who Lived
By RAYMOND F. O'KELLEY
He stepped from his Pimlico lodging house—into a London as dead as Babylon.
Hunger and the sight of plenty drove Edward Penderby from the streets at 9 o'clock the night of that September 10. London's heat, pulsing at wall and roof all afternoon and evening had made the Lupus Street attic oven hot. He opened the window, and the effort left him panting.
Penderby was tired in body and mind, tired as only the workless on his futile quest can be. His underwear clung. The soles of his feet seered burning. ”

“ Wetherell took another tack. He told her to rest. "By and by I'll come and rub your back again and fix your eyes. To-morrow you will feel strong and well." To this she made no reply.
All the day Kelley kept his eyes on the back trail, expecting each moment to see some dusky trailer break from the cover. As night began to fall it was Wetherell who brought a brand and built a little fire near the door to Pogosa's tent so that the flame might cheer her, and she uttered a sigh of comfort as its yellow glare lighted her dark tepee walls. ”