Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-08-07
ME NO SQUAW."
An Indian Trader Convinces Savage Red
skins OF His Courage.

AT the beginning OF THIS century INC
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 a
reckless courage which served TO keep
the Indians respectful. But OCCASION
ally a gentleman chose the position,
either with the hope OF lettering his
fortune or with Quixotic notion of
beneftting the Indian. With some
such idea as this 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 customers with honesty and fair
ness. The previous trader had been a
man OF different stamp. and the In
dians naturally failed at first TO under
stand the newcomer.
Mr. De Vine had been at tho station
but few months when the Indians
began to be impudent and Disagree
able, and TO demand more than their
due. Thus does a 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
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 wanted, and laughed
when the trader objected.
"Oh, yes, me pay, me payw he said
insolently.
One day he went 60 the counter and
took plug of tobacco Mr.. De Vine
ordered him to pay for it ard leave the
store. Instead of obeying the young
redskin coolly went up and took Il
second plug of tobacco.
Mr.. De Vine lost his temper at this.
and selling a knife which lay near he
brought it down forcibly upon the In
dams fingers. As Il 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 word. The trader had
not meant to strike so hard blow, and
regretted 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.
1--WE come kill you'll" spoke out the
foremost Indian.
Quick as thought the trader seized
& burning brand and leaped to the side
of a barrel of gunpowder.
Come one step nearer" he said
resolutely, land drop this brand into
the powder and We'll all blow up to-
gether. I'm not afraid. and he held
the brand almost over the open pow
der barrel.
mo blow up POWDER the Indian
leader exclaimed; mo blow up pow
der!" and then. turning to his follow
ers, he said; ''lIe no squaw; he brave
mani"
Put down your guns, commanded
Mr.. DeVine.
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" commanded
Mr.. De Vine, land don't one of you
dare to show your face here for a
month. l won't stand any more nom
sense"
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.