Irion once was in the mercantile business. Then up Whistle creek and Coyote canyon, crossing the Snake creek valley, a few miles west of the present site of Curley, then near Spottedtail springs and down the west Sportedtail to the Platte river, then up Horse creek to a point some distance above the old Y- cross ranch, then turning southward, keeping close to the foot-hills, they arrived at Santa Fe in due time and completed their mission.

De Margry says that they reached the Platte river on June 2. 1739, and that they called it "Flatwater." This is the first time in all record, that I have seen the Platte river designated by a name, and it is the second story of white people in western Nebraska.

Since taking up this work the old story came back to me, and I have sought for its confirmation in contempory history. A story of startling interest has been uncovered.

One would hardly think that, during the reign of Louis XV, the Crown of France would take much interest in the development of foreign empire ; but some years before, an adventurer named John Law had wrecked the finances of the French government in a Mississippi speculation, and the succeeding prime minister. Cardinal Fleury. was engaged in the desperate task of reconstruction. There was only one way by which this could be accomplished, and that was by keeping the youthful king busy with frivolous pastime, while the master-hand performed the labor. And in this matter, the careless act of a nurse materially assisted. She was an attendant of Louis XV, when he was a child, and permitted him to play with the daughter of a blacksmith, for whom he formed a childish attachment.