Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-10-04

"You give me liberty for to act. You
give me time. Let me have my own
way?' asked Jean Marat. and he stood
on tiptoe and whispered his words.
"Oh. l will not interfere. Get even
with him il you can. Ha, ha, ha! Why,
Jean Marat. l will give you money" the
major handed him some gold pieces, and
with another tantalizing laugh, contin.
ned: II like to hear little fellows brag.
You make a good valet, Jean, but yos
want nerve"
"Oh. YOU tink l do want narve, ell?
Well, you sail see. When you put him,
Cooleen Morting on de sentry-eh?'
"To-morrow night he goes on guard"
II major yawned and motioned TO Jean
Marat to cave him.
Jean Marat got the whole of the next
day off. and he went outside of the Fort,
where III traders had cabins, about
which the Indians hung constantly.
1t was thought that Jean Marat had
some Indian blood in his WI veins; GER
tain it is he fratcrnized more easily with
these wild people than other white men.
After dark he came into the Fort and
learned. without attracting attention, at
what time Colin Morton went on guard.
CHAPTER VIII.
Jean Marat did undoubtedly hate Colin
Morton, and he was certain that his con
duet would meet the approval of his
master. Mai. Germon.
More knave than fool, he had heen
long enough with the major to UNDER
stand him thoroughly, and he lattered
himself that he knew all his master did
about himself, and Il great deal more.
There was a strain of Indian blood in
the Wallets veins. enough to make him
spitcful and rcvcngeful and cunning.
There had been hanging on about the
Fort, for some time, an Indian named
Fish Hawk, a tall, powerful, drunken
fellow, who was reputed to be the son of
Black Otter, chief of n band of Flat
heads that had long been settled west
of the Cascade Range. Fish Hawk was
particularly distinguished as "a bad In
dian" He was ready with his knife and
always took a leading part in the broils.
near the Fort, that SO frequently ended
in blOodshed. He was not amenable to
military law, and as there was no civil
law to punish him, he carried matters
with q high hand, and became a terror
to the peaceably inclined.
This was the man to whom Jean Marat
went, and he found the Indian crying
down the exploits of the young soldiers,
and boasting that If he had been on the
ground he could have done more with
less trouble. He spoke English very we'll,
and dressed white fashion," being usu-
ally clad in cast-off army clothing.
Jean Marat had no trouble in leading
Fish Hawk into the woods.
And so you hate this Morton? 2" said
Fish Hawk, when he had heard the
manufactured complaint Of Jean Marat.
II hate him so much that if 1 was as
big as you, 1 would kill him" Kissed Jean
Marat.
LAS big as me?" laughed the Indian,
and he stretched out his long, shapely
legs and looked at them with admira-
ton.
That's all I'd want. just to be as big
as you."
you wouldn't want to give him a
chance!"
Not the ghost of a chance, Fish
Hawk
"l'lcn l don't see what size has to do
with it. The little finger of u baby
squaw could pull a trigger that would
send IL hole to the heart of the biggest
man in the tribe"
THAT is so: but if l missed, first time,
I would stand no chance. All. if l only
had a friend to help, I'd stand by him.
Id give him all the gold he wanted as
long rs he lived"
II am your friend Said the Indian.
Here. Marat, give me your hand. That's
it. Now I'm your good brother. I'll
stand by you. You tell me where l can
find this man tonight and he will trouble
you no more"
He goes on guard tonight"
ION guard, where?'
Il do not know the place nor the time.
But il you will l;cep Your word, l will go
and find out" said Jean Marat.
Maj. Germon heard the Wallets account
of the arrangements he had made, but he
laughed at them.
"Ah. if l could only tell when he goes
on guard replied Jean Marat, with a
questionable look at the major.
81 do not know, and so cannot tell
YOU" said the major.
but you could find out, sar-r-r."
perhaps I could, but l won't. Can't
YOU see, Jean, that it won't do for me to
be mixed up in this matter in any way?"
But you, too, hate him. Major?"
THAT is my own affair. All! l knew
YOU were Boosting, Jean Marat,' sneered
the major. II knew that when it came
to the pinch that you would be found
wanting. Go away and bother me no
more about your foolish schemes"
(To be continued.D
A Pertinent Query.
"And just in the nick of time" said