The Forrest City times., 1891-08-14
"HE NO soUAW.s
An Indian Trader Convlnces Savage Red
 skins of His Courage.

skins of His Courage. At the beginning of this century the fur trade was lucrative business says the Youths Companion. but the trader led life of privation and often of danger and hardship. Many of them were rude of manner with . reckless courage which served to keep the Indians respectful. But occasion- ally gentleman chose the position, either with the hope of bettering his fortune, or with a Quixotic notion of benefitting the Indian. With some such idea as this last mentioned. John De Vine moved his family to an isolated station in northern Minnesota in 1894, and opened store to trade with the Indians.
 Mir. De Vine was small of stature and quiet in his ways, and treated his red customers with honesty and fair ness. The previous trader had been a man of different stamp, and the h. dians naturally failed at first to under stand the newcomer.
 Mir. De Vine had been at the station but few months when the Indians began to be impudent and disagree. able 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 when- ever he could, and they supposed that Mir. De Vine would do the same if he dared. They deemed him coward and acted accordingly. "He squaw, :" they said.
 As tho 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 wanted. and laughed when the trader objected.
 ''Oh, yes, me pay me pay" he said insolently.
 One day he went to the counter and took plug of tobacco Mir. De Vine ordered 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.
 Mir. De Vine lost his temper at this. and seizing a knife which lay near he brought it down forcibly upon the In dian's fingers. As result the tips of two fingers were left on the counter. The redskin put tho bleeding stumps in his mouth and walked out of the store without word. The trader had not meant to strike so hard blow, and tal bie, elk 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 Mir. 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" spoke out tho foremost Indian.
 Quick as thought the trader seized a burning brand and leaped to the side of barrel of gunpowder.
 Come one step nearer" he said resolutely. 'and 1 drop this brand into tiiS puNu dlu we II du DiOW up to- gether, I'm not afraid and he held the brand almost over the open DOW der barrel.
 "No blow up powder" the Indian leader exclaimed; mo blow up DOW dern and then, turning to his follow CTS, he said: ''He no squaw; he brave mann
 Put down your guns.n commanded Mr. DeVine.
 The Indians hesitated moment and the trader advanced the burning brand an inch nearer the powder. At that every Indian laid down his gun. It was evident that the trader was in earnest
 "Now, leave the store, commanded Mir. De Vine. and don't one of you dare to show your face here for a month. 1 won't stand any more non- sense"
 The door was unbolted and the red skins solemnly filed out leaving tho trader master of the situation. That was the end of the trouble for that year. Mir De Vine had proved his courage.