Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-07-09
HE NO SQUAw.

At the beginning Of this century the
fur trade was a lucrative business; bat
the traders led life of privation, and
often Of danger and hardship. Many of
them were of rude manner, with reck
less courage which served to keep the
Indians respectful. But occasionally a
gentleman chose the position, either with
the hope of bettering his fortune, or with
Quixotic notion of benefiting the In-
dian. With some such idea as tins last
mentioned, John De Vine moved his
family TO an isolated station in northern
Minnesota, in 1904, and opened store to
trade with the Indians.
Mr.. De Vine was small of stature and
quiet in his ways, and treated his red Gus
toners with honesty and fairness. The
previous trader had been a man Of diff
ferent stamp, and the Indians naturally
failed at first to understand the new
conner.
Mr.. De Vine had been at the station
but few months when the Indians be.
gan to DO impudent and disagreeable, and
to demand more than their due. Thus
does man often suffer from the mistakes
of others.
The Indians were well aware that the
old trader had cheated them whenever
he could, and they supposed that Mr. DE
Vine would do the same If he dared.
They deemed him coward, and acted
accordingly. "He squaw, they said.
As the weeks passed the Indians be.
came more troublesome. One young
brave in particular had two or three times
audaciously helped himself to something
that he swanted, and laughed when the
trader objected.
"oh yes, me pay, me payl" he said in
solently.
One day he went to the counter and
took plug of tobacco. Mr.. De Vine OF
dered him TO pay for it and leave the
store. Instead Of obeying, the young
redskin coolly went up and took a second
plug of tobacco.
Mr.. De Vine lost his temper at this,
and seizing knife which lay near he
brought it down forcibly upon the
Indians fingers. AS result the tips of
two fingers were left ON the counter.
The redskin put the bleeding stumps in
his mouth, and walked out of the store
without a word. The trader had not
meant to strike so hard a blow, and re-
gretted his rash act. The brave was a
chiefs son, and Mr.. De Vine expected
that trouble would result. He felt
vaguely uneasy during the rest of the
day.
The next forenoon as Mr.. De Vine
stood before the stove, half score of
Indians filed into the store One Of
them bolted the door. They were in
war paint, fully armed, and evidently
had come for mischief.
I'VE come kill you'll spoke out tho
foremost Indian.
Quick as thought the trader seized
burning brand, and leaped to the site Of
a barrel of gunpowder.
"Come one step nearer, he said reso-
lutely, land dIop Il brand into the
powder, and Wen all blow up togeiheri
I'm not afraid, " and he held the brand
almost over the open powder barrel
"No blow up powder!" the Indian
leader exclaimed; -no blowup powder.r
and then, turning to his followers, he
said: @He no squaw; he brave mani
@Put down your guns!" commanded
Mr. De Vine.
The Indians hesitated a moment. and
the trader advanced the burning brand
an inch nearer the powder. At that
every Indian laid down his gun. 1t was
evident that the trader was in earnest.
Now, leave the store, commando
Mr.. De Vine, ''and don't one Of you dare
to show his face here for a month. |
won't stand any more nonsensei"
The door was unbolted, and the red
skins solemnly filed out, leaving the
trader master Of the situation. That
was the end of the trouble for that year
Mr. De Vine had proved his courage.