Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-12-12
PICOTEE.

He was tanned and showed the
effects of a rough life in the gold
range, and he could afford to say
good-by to the region, and turn his
face eastward once more.
He had not proceeded far when
he heard a football behind him,
aud as it came nearer he looked
around and into face as sunburned
as his own.
The man who came forward was
a little older than Maury, and they
were speaking ecquaintances, little
more, though he was on speaking
terms with nearly everyone else in
the camp.
"They tell me that you are going
off tomorrow" said the bearded
man who came up, searching Maury
from head to foot with pair of
eyes that had cold, steely glitter.
81 am going off in the stage to-
morrow morning, Burton. Really,
l don't like to go, but, you know"
"Yes, we think we know" was
the interruption. "You have struck
it rich, but that's neither here nor
there. You know how you've
treated the girl"
Maury flushed.
1.-THE girlP" he echoed, confusedly.
NJ don't understand you, Burton"
"We mean Picotee," with en-
phasis. "You have made love
to the red girl and have broken
her heart. If the wrong is
not righted, we will have the old
chief and his minions down upon
us, and will have to suffer for your
shortcomings"
look here, l have never made
love to Picotee, and she Will tell
you so. Have you asked her?"
"Well, no. But you see we aren't
blind, Maury, and the way the girl
mopes and goes about silently,
makes things look bad for you. ]
hear that you will be married soon
after you get backP"
THAT is my secret" replied
Maury, rather tartly, for he did not
like to be put on the witness stand
by man like Dock Burton. IF
am to be married when l get back
to England, what is it to you fell
lows herep"
"A good deal. Our safety de-
ponds on your making amends to
the old chiefs daughter. You
must marry Picotee!"
Maury fell back a pace and looked
at the man before him.
"Come, you don't mean that, Bur-
ton?"
1--WE mean that and nothing less, "
was the answer.
And the next moment the speak
er lifted bronzed hand, and six
stalwart men sprang from the
shadows Of the shanties and sur
rounded Maury.
"You know that we do mean bus
iness," continued Burton. 1--WE
say that you must promise to make
Picotee your wife within twenty
four hours, or you will leave Pine
Ridge in a manner not very pleas
ant to YOU"
Maury seemed to draw his figure
to it's true height as he looked into
the stern faces by which he was
surrounded.
It was asking too much, and then
he had no attraction for the fair
Indian girl, though he had shown
her some attentions which he was
sure she understood in their proper
light.
II can't do that, boys" said he.
"In the first place, you have turned
match-makers without authority,
and them"
THAT'S enoughw broke in Bur-
ton, who did not like the young
and lucky miner very we'll. "You
know what we have agreed to, boysp
Where Is the blackp
Covered by several revolvers,
Maury was marched to the edge Of
the camp under guard, and a man
was found there holding the reins
of magnificent black stallion,
which fretted under the cutting bit.
"You know what lies beyond the
camp, Maury. You know where
the waterless waste is, and where
the soldiers persisted of thirst three
years ago? Well, the home of this
horse is beyond that region, and he
will try to reach it. But you know,
too, the danger that will beset both
Of you"
Both of usp" interrupted Maury.
"Yes, both of you"
Protest was vain with such de-
termined men, and Maury soon
gave up.
In q little time he had been Sc
curely dashed to the back of the i'm
patient horse, and several men held
him, while Burton standing in the
moonlight, addressed him.
"You will not, you sayP You
will not promise to marry the In
dian girl who is dying for you, and
thus save us from massacrep You
are determined to 60 out upon q
journey of death as a Mazeppa, and
perish somewhere IN the desert
with the steed that bears youp So
be il, Paul Mauryw
Maury only glued his lips to-
gether and looked at the dark-faced
crowd.
IL they expected him to weaken
at the last moment, they were mis-