The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-09-07

alhl. weapons
all were there A little to one side of
the fire was post sunk in the ground.
1t was Clipped and SCARED and stained
with dark streaks. Could they be blood?
Barney turned to flee, but he felt
that he was covered II didn't count
on this yere picnic, gents, he said, with
reckless effrontery. "Mebbe you're
reckonin on war dance? I'm not
the one to spoil fun Go ahead
They went ahead in a most un-
pleasant manner. Barney was dragged
to the post, and tied to it with deer
skin thongs in a sitting posture. The
Indians resumed their seats around
the fire. Barney took out his pipe,
and began to smoke. A grunt of ap-
proval went up from the grisly forms
by the fire.
Il kin wait if you kin, gentlemen"
said Barney, his blue eyes dancing
with fun. 'Mebbe you'll make up
your minds what you're goin' to do
with me-
The squaw appeared with a little
birch basket, and each Indian east a
black bean into il.
Say him prayer to Manitou," said
lnjun Joe, him come heap soon" lie
touched the handle of his tomahawk
in a sufficiently grim manner to be un-
pleasant.
1t suddenly occurred to Barney that
it wasn't joke, and a cold shiver ran
down his spine.
lnjun Joe watched him keenly
Where French Lefebre?'' he said.
Got him scalp" He produced hand
full of black hair, clotted with blood
1t was incredible! Barney remem-
bered that French Lefebre had sud
denly disappeared some months ago,
but as everyone supposed he had gone
into the lumber camps no one but his
creditors took any interest in the mat
ter, or associated his departure with
the half dozen or SO of miserable In
dians who fingered out their lives in
holes and corners of the Ottawa val
ley. Barney had often bought bas-
kets from the squaw, and once when
the boys tried to stone her. he had Gov
cred her body with his own. There
was still a scar on his cheek from the
blow of a stone which one young ras-
cal had flung at him. French Lefebre
had once struck this very woman. who
was still young and good-looking
Was it possible that these remnants of
their race had met To avenge their
wrongs? No one would even dream of
such a thing. They would doff their
paint and go slouching about in their
usual noiseless manner, and eDsnare
fresh victims. And there was the
judges daughter, too!
Got to say. say him quick" said In
jun Joe. lingering his knife with an
artistic precision which was not nice
to witness.
Il reckon if you've made up your
minds, gentlemen" said Barney, its
no use my spoilin' this yere funeral"
Injun Joe sprang at him with the
knife, and barney thought of the
judges daughter and said little
PRAYER. If he had to go under to avenes
the wrongs of this last remnant of
their race it was no use attempting to
argue the matter when they held all
the cards.
Injun Joe made a slight cash in Bar
ney's arm and drew back. The other
four Indians did the same. Then, the
woman came forward, bound up his
arm and cut him loose.
Barney continued smoking with un-
disturbed gravity. 1t had all flashed
upon MIN in a second. This was the
Indian method of showing apprecia-
tion of the way in which he had saved
the Squaw. He had become blood
brother of the last of the Iroquois. He
wondered if they would expect him to
sell Indian toys in Moose valley or to
shoot at The was sure to miss them
five cent pieces with arrows.
Him heap brave" said Injun Joe.
with painful disregard of Fenimore
Cooper's studied and grammatical
phrases Him heap brave. Him
white man"
An the show is over?'' asked Bar
ney. stretching himself. The others
had disappeared. Only Indian Joe and
the squaw remained. They fell into
Indian file and marched down to the
beach. through the long somber ranks
of the pines. Then they entered into
the little canoe and padded up To the
Point.
Barney met Injun Joe in the village
next day. That worthy was loating
round with a string of fish. Barney
thought he must have been dreaming
and that it would be better to avoid
Davis pain killer as a stimulant in fu-
turc. 1t was little too powerful in
its after effects. But as he sat ON the
veranda that evening with the judges
daughter. she gave a little shrek and
turned white.
seen a mouse?" asked Barney, try
ing to reassure her.
Your sleeve is slashed, and there is
blood on it," she said. Barney,
Barney, you have been quarreling
again"
Il sorter remember fallin' off the
woodpile." said Barney, with unblush-
ing mendacity. Il reckon il shook me
up, an I'll go early tonight"
Curious folk, wimmen are" unused
Barney, as he wended his way in the
direction of the Point. shed never
believe Tm an Iroquois brave if l
talked for a month. Shed say it was
all that Painkiller."
Injun Joe was sitting by his fire.
making nets. why does my red
brother toll for the paleface?'' said
Barney, calling up recollections of
Deerslayer, etc. He is a squaw-a
catfish. Ugh!'
Injun Joe's sphinx-lilIe face CLEANED
family for moment at the word
brother" Then he went on quietly
making his nets. But French Lefehre
was never seen again.-G. Il. Burgin,
in Detroit Free Press.
THE fOOTLIGHTS.