Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-09-12
SAVED BY A SQUAW.

his shanty tho outlines of the Oasi.
saloon and those of the combined
postoflice and grocery seemed *
waver and dance in the furnace cur
rent rising to tho glaring, brazer
sky. Hot as it was outdoors, IL was
still moro like an oven in Pete's lit
tic ono room hut, for the fire was
blazing, and Pete, coatless and vest
less, was overseeing frying pan OF
bacon and mess of boiling potatoes.
The appetizing odor foated out OF
the doorway and spread over the
neighborhood 1t was distinctly no.
ticeable as far off as the row of lop.
ped oucalypti beyond the saloon. AT
the foot of one of these trees lay
what at first sight seemed only a
bundle of rags, but n closer inspec-
ton revealed q shock of black hair
and glimpses of n brown parchment
skin that indicated a human being.
Gradually as the welcome aroma
penetrated the creatures befogged
brain tho heap of rags stirred and
tossed, and finally uplifting bodily
resolved itself into very dirty and
torn blanket surmounted by hid
eous, blear eyed countenance. The
old hag, for it was n woman, shifted
at the wandering fragrance, trying
to catch its direction, and then stag
gered unstcadily across the road to
Pete's cabin
Hello, there, Wawaga! Gettin
over yer spreeP" greeted that gentle
man easily
"Umph! No drunk. Injun hun
cry, remarked tho visitor.
Pete, laughing good naturally, re-
piled: You wait. I'll give you a
bite pretty quick now"
The old woman squatted on her
heels by the stove and greedily eyed
the preparations for tho feast, while
Pete kept his own optics steadily on
his cooking to forestall any possible
burning. The squaw's gaze roved
around the room, finally pausing at
the shelf behind tho stove, upon
which stood cheap alarm clock and
big black bottle. Here it remained
fixed until Pcto looked at her once
more, whercupon she announced in
her quavering croak:
"Ole Injun heap thirsty"
Pete laughed again. go along
out ter Their pump then" he said.
But Wawaga 8 eye was still glued
to the interesting object before her.
Soon Pete himself went out to the
pump, pail in hand. Immediately
the bundle of rags by the wall
stretched up n lean arm with the
quick and stealthy motion of q pounc-
Ing cat and scizing the bottle poured
the fiery contents down through the
brown parchment throat
Such an unearthly bowling and
yelling as followed this successful
thievery ! Pete dropped his pail and
came running in, to find his guest
doubled up in agony and rolling
around on the floor screeching like
mad.
What in thunder's struck her?"
he cried, but just then catching sight
of the black bottle still clutohed in
the Indians skinny claw his blank
look turned to a wide grin. He
dropped on the nearest box, slapping
his thigh and chuckling, My eye,
of the old fool ain t drunk that Their
quart o kerosene!" The terror
stricken screaming redoubled, while
the man watched the poor wretch g
antics in ecstasy. Guess it'll teach
her ter quit meddlin," he muttered
gleefully, but as the moments passed
he began to realize that the matter
was serious, for the creatures con.
tortions grew awful and her anguish
too great for amusement
Pete's grin faded insensibly. He
scratched his head thoughtfully,
grumbling: Don't know as / want
the old gal kickin the bucket right
here and now, but what in tarnaI
creations Il Teller goin ter do fe,
her? Oh, gosh know" He bolted
across the road. sending up q chok
Ing cloud of powdery soil, and burst
into the store. Say, Ike, you got
any mustard?" he demarded. "Old
Wawaga's done drunk all my Goa
Oil, and l guess it's goin ter kill her
Don't yer hear that screechin?'
Ike Dempsey, reused from his mid
day nap, rubbed his eyes and stretch
a6 binSa1f tho, ,;o;,o ao1;ko.A.,-
from the cracker barrel and thrust
Ing his quid into one cheek drawle,
lazily: WAL, now, where's tn
hurt of the ole sot do gin US tn
shake? Oh, doan't be in or rush
naow. l E less Tiers can or mus
tard around somewher's. Reaohin
a long lazy arm under the counter
he olatterCG AMONG his possession
and brought up n fistful Of yellow
brown dust This here nuf? Neve
mind payin." In two minutes NOR
Pete Oberlin laid violent hands O,
the rolling heap of agony in his cal
In and sternly commanded, "Drini
this here" She drank it. Then tn
frontiersman dragged her bodily out
side tho shanty and left her aion
with her misery.
After some time Pete returned 3
his patient, bearing n tin plate wit
a generous share of his dinner. III
presented this with flourish an,
grinned sympathetically as the NOR
sells of food disappeared.
When the shadows of the blu
gums stretched long and gaunt +
the eastward and a mellow pinl
flushed the tops of the grand, distan
mountains, a tipsy and squalid oil,
squaw in battered blanket traile,