Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-03-02

you think we made mistake in the
case of We.way MAJ"
Mrs. Huntley was silent moment
while she looked out of the car window
at the dusty alliali plain over which
they We're speeding. Then when she an
swcred. it was in a low voice, as If the
words were addressed to herself:
81 hope not"
Yielding toa sudden impulse, Weston
Rundell excused himself to the ladies'
and, rising from his seat, walked into
the car that he had seen We.way
enter. AS he passed through the door
he looked around, but saw nothing of
the dusky youth. The next car was the
smoker, where he observed We-way ma
seated, as if to enjoy the odor of the
pipes and cigars, since he had no money
with which to procure any for himself
Rundell lit cigar and profTered the
case to the youth. who accepted a weed
with smile of thanks and made room
for his friend beside him.
Rundell was determined to follow up
few Investigations Of his own.
"Weway-ma, have you been at
school at Carlisle:" he asked.
Eyes; have been there only year;
do not speak English we'll"
care you going back:'
"No."
"Why not?"
The question EN- barrassed the young
man, who fidgcted little before an
swering:
"Don't like it-yes, like it well
'nough. My father don't like it. He
want me home with him on reservation.
My brother die some time ago, Father
and mother want me come back and
live with them"
Then you will stay with your peo-
pie. | have heard We-way Una, that
some of your bucks now and then leave
the reservation without permission and
burn ranches and shoot white people.
Used to do so-dont do so now
81 hope not, but we can't tell. Sup
pose a party of them steal away and
ask you to go with them. Will you go:'
"No. no, no.' replied We-way ma
with almost too much earneStness. II
will try to keep them back. Ii they
won't stay back | will run to agent
and tell him.
"Give me your hand on that! Spoken
like "a true friend Of your people"
The Apache promptly accepted the
protfered hand, and his clasp was as
warm and cordial as that of his Anglo
Saxon brother. The thought came to
the latter:
"Can it be he is insincere? Suppose
he does start on a raid and he and |
meet. How Will he act toward me? 1t is
hard to believe him treacherous, hut it
is also hard to get over those incidents
told by Mrs. Huntley to say nothing of
what the conductor said. ="
At that moment the official entered
the car He smiled when he saw the
two seated together, and, returning the
smile, Rundell asked to be informed Of
the amount of the fare for the point
nearest the White Mountain reserva-
ton. 1t being named, he drew out his
wallet and handed the sum to the Off
cial, who, with another significant
grin, passed on.
GLOW much you pay?" asked We.
vagina
-Four dollars and quarter"
"Write it on your card and give it
me, please. "
81 will give you my card, but prefer
that you should not repay the sum-
which is small, and you are welcome to
it,"
'Please write it on your card and tell
me where you live"
Tho request sounded simple enough,
and yet it affected Rundell strangely
with the recollection vivid upon him of
what he had heard short time before.
Nevertheless, he took out his card and
penciled the amount in the upper cor
ner, Then he wrote underneath:
AT James Huntley's ranch, ten miles north
of the ella and about the same distance from
the southeast corner of the White Mountain
| reservation. Come and see me. ". Il.
1t was sudden within that caused
the young man to write the last SEN
tence, and he could not nelp asking
himself whether, if the invitation was
ever accepted, the Apache would come
as "a warm friend or an enemy. He pass
ed the bit of pastehoard to We-way ma,
who read what was written on it, grin
ned again and then showed it into the
small upper pocket of his vest.
"Will you be good enough to give
me Your card, We.way- MAJ"
"Ilavc no card.
Write your name on the back OF
this, " added Rundell, drawing ont AN
other of his cards and handing it and
his pencil to his companion.
The Apache laid the pasteboard on
his knee and wrote slowly and care
fully. When he had finished, Rundo
was surprised by the neat handwritip.
which was as follows:
Wo'way ma, son of Chief Aurita.
1t was curious card, but pechaTe