The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1892-04-02

ton lifted the hat from his head and
placed it on the Englishman. Merritt
made a start and then his hand clutched
at his revolver. he longed to send "a
bullet through the Indians heart, for
he had deceived him. 1t was not the
Napoleon hat. Old-Fox-F ond-of- His
Hole had changed the hat while in his
wigwam. He had tricked the English
man out of the superb firearm. Mer-
rift could feel his hands turning cold.
And yet any demonstration of feeling
would be fatal. He smiled and Indian
fashion grunted out his thanks for the
hat to P~eeconowah, and then the
pow-wow ended. Joshua Merritt was
beaten. beaten at the very instant of
triumph.
Johua Merritt was not slow to
reach a certain conclusion. 1t was
this: There is but one way TO get pos
session of the Napoleon hat, and that
is to steal it. Gin-Ghi was to be put
to good service. He was to make
friends with the children and squaws
Of the chiefs family, and, above all.
was to do as much sleeping as possible
in Peeconowah's teepee. In this way
they would become accustomed to his
presence, and neither note his coming
nor going, little reckoning that the willy,
yellow-skinned celestial was never
wider awake in his life. The English
man for his part, was to busy himself
riding about collecting medicine
plants, and, in order that
there might be no delay, he in
variably saddled Gin-Ghi's pony and
took him along under pretense of need
ing the animal to carry the bundles of
herbs which he tied to the saddle-bow.
In a few days there was to be a hunt.
The village would be quite deserted
save by children and squaws. THE plan
worked to a charm. The real Napoleon
hat vas quietly replaced by the bogus
one, and with the coveted obit of his
toric headgear pulled firmly down over
his head. Joshua Merritt swung his
long leg over the saddles and dashed out
of the village. But his Joy was des-
tined to be short-lived, for scarcely had
their horses warmed TO their work
than Gin-Ghi's quick ears caught the
puiiAi WhoOP VI eho pursuing AiShd-
poos.
A shrill, long-drawn cry of fright and
pain suddenly assailed Merritt's ears,
Gin-Ghi had gone to the ground with
his pony, and the Infatuated Indians
were in full sight. Although he would
willingly have given his own life TO
land the Napoleon hat safe in his
museum at Liverpool, yet Joshua
Merritt was too good an En-
glishman to abandon q fellow
being in a moment of great peril.
He wheeled his horse about, and,
swinging himself from his saddle, with
two strides reached the fallen China
man. The Kickapoos, with murder
ous shrieks, came down upon them;
but, calmly and quietly, as if facing a
troup of stage Indians, he spread his
long. strong legs over the PROSTATE
Gin-Ghi, and, drawing his revolver,
faced the bowling band of Kickapoos
with tight-set jaws.
In another instant a dozen bullets
would have pierced his long body had
not a protector sprung to his rescue.
The black horse which brought this
mucb-needed help seemed to have
gorges. To Merritt's a~mazement. the
rider was a woman. wearing a blue
cloth riding habit, set off by
narrow gold braid, and a black
felt hat, from which a single black
plume streamed gracefully. As she
refined in her superb black beast,
which she had thrown between the
Englishman and the Indians, the latter
fell back with a grunt of anger.
"Shame, Peeconowah!' cried the
lady, whom Joshua now for the first
time recognized as Mrs. Hetty Waldron
''to make war on travellers in this way
How dare you attack n white mar
under the very shadow of Fort Reno
almost in my sons hearing?"
The chief gave u grunt of indigna
ton.
Ozark Lady"-so was Hetty called
\ by the Indians-'this man has wronget
Peeconowah," g%rumbled out the chief
HE has stolen his hat" at whicl
words there was a general outburst o
grunts of Indignation.
"Stolen your hat?" echoed Hetty il
unfeigned amazement.
"Yes, Dark Lady" repeated tn,
chief of the Kickapoos, "'tis even nov
upon his head!'
Merritt drew forth a handful of golt
coin and rendered it TO Peeconowah.
Eyes, that's so, that's So, he blurtet
out, but | had no intent to steal tn,
hat, that's so, ! intended to pay tn,
chief for it, pay him well, that's so
here's the money"
"~Peeconowah refuses" growled til
chief, surlily. "Peeconowah mus
have his hat. The Great Spirit sent i
to him. 1t brings him luck. Peec"
wah feels that some great chic
palefaces once wors this hot
wah needs no gold. The
at Washington provides
conowah has spoken"
/ As he listened to the
Merritt was obliged