The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-27

| that he had never seen anything so
beautiful as the scene which spread
around him. Now and then, rabbit
or squirrel scampercd across their
/ way, turning its bright eyes inquisi-
/ lively at the intruders and darling
away beyond reach of harm. But
neither of the two-legged folk, who
went steadily forward through the
woods, vas minded to disturb these in
nccent denizens of the wilderness
/ Phineas was, for once, too happy and
/ too proud to even think of brush"
! his mind and heart were now On high
er game.
As tor his father he strobe on with
darllening brow and troubled thoughts
/ For some time back, he had suspected
meddliDg at his beaver traps These
were several miles from home, and
! their game formed no small portion of
! the Parker revenues. Asa had been es-
/ pecially successful during this season,
and took great pride in his store of
well-cured pelts. Bat Of late he had
found his traps empty, with many evil
dences that his beavers had been
stolen. Surprised. indignant and at
! last exasperated, he resolved to keep a
sharp lookout and, if possible, to dis
cover ald punish the thief
AS they approached the place, he
Hat regretted that he had allowed
! Phineas to come with him. He was
/ bat little fellow, after ell, and he
would fain have him spared the dark
side of life for awhile longer. And yet
the thought again REQUIRED to him-if
bullet from the gun of this wary
rObber should lay him low, Phineas
would thcn-but what was thatP He
looked closer; he saw family outlined
footprint on the snow, two Of them,
indeed, one following straight behind
the other. For an instant his heart
stood still. Only an Indian walked
1 like that They were not far from his
/ largest trap, and he knew as surely
( then as lie did an hour later that these
! scarcely visible tracks kept on to that
/ place, branching neither to the right
/ nor the left.
He turned to Phineas. He spoke to
I him in a whisper.
/ "PhineaS," he said, laying his hand
! again on the shoulder fast growing to
level with his own, - must go on
alone, now. Climb into this tree and
wait for me. If am not back within
! one hour follow the path and find me.
And whatever happens be a good boy
. TO your mother"
Phineas was much startled and awed
/ by his fathers strange manner. But he
had been trained to unquestioning ODE
dience.
Yes, father" he said, looking up
bravely at him.
/ Then he climbed into the slippery
branches of an oak, while the man
went cautiously on. In a few seconds
he turned from the trail and
made n wide dstouT, coming to a
/ large rock. Stealthily he crept to the
top of this, slowly he drew himself up
/ and pcered down at MS trap. a tall IN
dian was IN the very act Of taking out
a fat beaver.
/ Asa Parler's blood ran hotly through
his veins; to his finger tips ne burned
with anger at this piece of treachsry
which he would not have believed
had he not seen it with his own eyes
For many years the most friendly
feeling had existed between the ln6i-
ans and the white people II tie Hop
river valley. Presents Of corn and
game, skins and fruit were frequently
exchanged; and it was no strange
thing for sinewy, young braves to
spend a day or two at the log cabins OF
the "DaIeiaces. The cordial good will
and honorable dealing which had
grown up between former generations
in this neigh borhood had never been
violated until now, SO far as anyone
knew.
/ The white man watch ed the dextrous
movements OF the willy robber He
was thinking vigorously at the same
time. What if he should let him de-
part with his booty? He knew only
too well that such a course meant
further thefts more daring advances
and, in all probability, unreasonable
demands upon the isolated, unpro-
tected family, not stopping short of
/ the cruel murder of them all, if once
blood began to flow.
What if he killed him? a dozen
other redskins might be hiding within
sound of his gun, ready to spring to
the help of their comrade. That, too,
meant the speedy destr uction of him
self and all who were dear to him
He weighed the question carefully.
He made UP his mind. A moment later,
a bullet wniStled through the frosty
air With a yell of agony the Indian
leaped from the ground, then fell
heavily upon the snow, and lay motion
less. When the smoke had cleared
away, Asa lookedaround with searching
glance; his ears were keen to detect
the slightest sound; his hastily reloaded
gun was drawn up to his shoulder; not
moving a muscle, he waited. But he
saw nothing; he heard nothing Minute
after minute passed. Then, still silent
". trying to look in every direction at
once, he ventured TO slide down the
rock; he made his way toward the
PROSTATE Pequot Bending above him,
he saw that his aim had been sure. The
bullet had gone straight through his
heart He would steal no more beav-
ers from 4 white mans trap.
And now arose another question OF
no small Importance. What should be
done Win the bOOET again asa
Parker considered. Again he made up
his mind. His face was set and stern.
. The work Of the next few hours would
be no !child'S play. 1t was attended
with DO little danger, but he did not
hesitate
First Of all. he set the trap Then
he turned 70 the dead Indian. As he
did So he heard quick steps approach
ing. He seized his gun and pointed it