The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-03-03

ers ter help yer in yer evil doin's Pap 'ud
do right we'll an stick ter his religion II it
wasn't fur you-uns. But he's that easy to
gin in ter some body else's mind, that when
you-uns comes Ground our cabin with yer
smooth tongue, he allus gins in" Lenita
bad risen to her feet and stood with flushed
face and flashing eyes confronting the hand
some outlaw, who only smiled in his habit
tual fashion as she went on speaking. When
she had finished he made her courtesy, and,
putting his hat on his head, he said:
II am much obliged to you, Miss Lenita,
for the Grafton just delivered and although
should like to hear more, am pressed for
time and must leave you. However, l will
think over what You demand, but not to-day"
and he hurried off in the direction of the
cabin, up the creek.
For short time Lenita remained standing
where Bert Coles had left her. After
while, she pulled out the fishing line and re-
moving the half devoured bait, she wrapped
the line round and round the long cane stalk
which served as fshing-pole AS she was
thus engaged, the sound of u pOny's hoofs
striking the rocky path caught her ear. A
moment later, a f1eet-footed pony came into
view on the opposite side of the Roaring
Fork. The girls dusl1y cheeks turned Grim
son as she recognized both pony and rider.
rein by the streams side and allowed his
pony to drink Of the cool, limpid waters.
He was young man of twenty-one or two,
perhaps, and sat his pony like a prince. The
dark eyes, straight black hair and small jetty
mustache that lent considerable beauty to
his dusky face, all bespoke the Indian blood
in his veins He was dressed after the man.
ner of the best educated and most civilized
Of the citizens of the Indian Territory, and
not in the half fantastic style of costume
supported by certain class there. The
belt, bristling with weapons, which encircled
his waist, was not the insignia of border ruff
fianism, as is so often the case with young
fellows so equipped. Scott Redleaf as the
young Chickasaw was called, was deputy
sheriff in the district including the Roaring
Fork region, where Lenita and her father
lived in their isolated cabin
Lenita knew Scott Redleaf well, and she
had loved him for his manliness ever since
the day, several months ago, when he had
protected ner from the insults of debased
character and drunken brute. Scott Red
leaf, too, had been strangely drawn towards
the lonely, unlearned girl in whose veins
flowed some Of the blood of his own nation,
and he was very happy to have met her
this morning.
After crossing the creek the young man
sprang lightly from the saddle, and leaving the
pony to feed on the grass that grew along the
woodland path, he approached Lenita and
told her his business there, in that part of
the Roaring Fork.
Some ponies belonging to a ranchman in
Texas had boon run over the Red river into
tho Chickasaw Nation, and were believed to
be concealed somewhere on the Roaring
Fork He told her that Bert Coles was the
in fbo 111y
believed that her father was implicated and
suspected of screening the chief of the out
laws and his gang.
"FOr your sake, Lenita am willing to let
your father off on his promise to encourage
such law breaking no MORE" Scott Readleaf
said, shut Bert Coles and his followers must
suffer whatpenalties the law has in store for
such criminals as he."
He did not ask Lenita if she knew any
thing about the matter or could tell him of
the whereabouts of the outlaw Coles. He
had merely sought her out to warn her to
put her father on his guard against the posse
of men now securing the country along the
Roaring Fork to find the headquarters of the
outlaws in hiding somewhere among its
bold bluffs and deep gullies.
Bidding the girl good day, Scott Readleaf
vaulted into his saddle and rode off towards
one on which the lone cabin of Joe Frenchy
was situated.
Lenita gazed after the young fellow until
the trees hid horse and rider from view.
Then, tishing-rod in one hand and fish in the
other, she walked up the noisy stream to her
cabin home, q dark, uninviting abode amid
thicket of wild plum and trailing vines.
Joe Frenchy was leaning against his cabin,
pipe in mouth, and hands thrust lazily into
the pockets Of his coarse jeans pants. He
was man of forty, tall and somewhat given
to the bony order of humanity. His face,
however, was bloated looking, revealing to
an observer one who imbibed spirits or "bit-
ters" to considerable extent. His beard
was scant and black. His hair and eyes, as
we'll as his principal features, proved his
Indian blood ut once. Above his head, ON the
rude logs of the cabin, the skins of several
wild animals were tackled to cure in the
meagre rays of sunshine that penetrated to
that treeenvironed habitation At his feet
| slept two lank, lean hounds that pricked
their ears up as Lenita materialized down
the path.
The stolid bloated face of Joe Frenchy
redeemed itself us his child came into sight.
A moment before it had seemed nothing on
earth had power to change tn dull expression
of his countenance. Now the lusterless eyes
grew bright, and his whole face seemed to
glow with different life The power Of love
Is beyond human estimate.
Joo Frenchy's acquaintancos were won't to
| say that If 1t was not for the love he bore his
motherless child he would have gone to the
dogs long ago. AS 1t was he had nearly done
SO anyway, despite the great affection he had
for Lonlta Yet, that love was able to re-
claim him to occasional reforms. He would
break off from his evil associates and declare
that he would never touch another drop of
whisky again, and for little time he would
be truly happy in adhering to his resolves.
But the tempters would come, Bert Coles and
Others, who understood just how 70 strike
the weak cords of his nature, and, yielding
to persuasion, he would do again the very
things he had promised never to do more.
As Lenita put her fish aside, she asked;
"Was Bert Coles tor see you-uns, pap2"
"Yes, he war hyar," replied Frenchy,
knocking the ashes out OF his pipe against
the side OF the worm-eaton door. Entering
the cabin, he laid his pipe up on projection
of q log over the fireplace. Then, putting
ON his coat he prepared to go out again.
"Whar ye goin', paps" asked Lenita,
stopping In her arrangement of the rude,
homemade furniture OF the cabin.
"Just up the creek ways, not fur" he
replied, tying to evade her penetrating
eyes, which sought his own so search
ingiy.
uns air goin' among tho hills up Roarin'
! Fork, tu holp Bert Coles run Oh them stold