Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-08
III.


Where did you get this?" heard my
self asking, a strange voice sounding Tar
down the throat.
From an Indian" the mystic told me
| quietly. HE said 1t was bad medicine
| to him He never had any luck in hunt
| ing after it fell to his share, so he was
| glad to give it to me-"
Where did he get it?'
''His tribe took it from some prisoners
( they killed"
was running blindly around in circle
TO find relief from the news he dealt me,
when the absurdity of such news over
took me- stood and laughed
who were the prisonersT
''I don't know" answered Johnny APP
pleseed.
How do you know the Indians killed
them?
THE one that gave me this book told
me So"
"There are plenty Of padlocked books in
the world" I said jauntily, AT least
there must be more than one. How long
ago did it happen?"
mot very long ago, think; for the
book was clean"
give it to me-" I said. as If cursed
him.
itating.
"Mavbe it's sacred. Let me see."
''There may be holy mysteries In 1t,
to be read only of him who has the key"
ST have a key!'
took it out Of the snuffbox. Johnny
Appleseed fixed his rapt eyes on the little
object in my fingers.
''Mebby you are the one appointed TO
omen and read what is sealedi"
.sryo I'm not! How could my key fit
a nad1ocked book that belonged to pris-
ovor~ fxf11ad nv the Indians
He held IT out to me and took hold of
the paddock. 1t was a small steel paddock,
and the hole looked dangerously the size
of my key.
''I can't do it," said.
LET me try" said Johnny Appleseed.
mo! You might break my key In
strange paddock Hold 1t still, Johnny.
Please don't shake it.
I'm not shaking it." Johnny Appleseed
answered tenderly.
There's only one way Of proving that
nv kew doesn't fit" I said, and thrust
Il in. The ward turned easily. and the
paddock came away in my hand. L
dropped Il and opened the book. Within
the lid a name was written which had
copied a thousand times-"Eagle Made
line Marie de Ferrier.'
StflI I did not believe It, Nature pro-
tects us In our uttermost losses by
density through which conviction Is slow
to penetrate In some mysterious way
the padIocked book had fallen into strange
hands, and had been carried to America.
eff Eagle were in America, l should
know It, For De Chaumont would know
IL and Skenedonk would find II out
/ stopped for the paddock, hooked 1t In
place, and locked the book again.
as the message to you alone?" inquired
Johnny Appleseed.
did you ever care for a WomanF
asked him.
Restless misery came into his eyes, and
I noticed for the first time that he was
not an old man; he could not have been
above thirty-hve. He made no answer;
shifting from one bare foot to the other.
his body settling and losing its Indian
nghtness.
"A woman gave me the key to this
hook Her name is written inside the
lid 1 was to read 1t If it ever fell into
nv hands, after a number of years.
Somebody has stolen it, and carried 1t
among the Indians. But it's mine. Every
shilling in my wallet the clothes OF my
back you're welcome to-"
81 don't want your money or your
clothes
'But let me give you something in ex-
change for it,"
what do L need? I always have as
much as 1 want. This is a serviceable
coat as good as any man ueSO WISH IOTS
and the ravens feed me. And IL I needed
anything, could I take it for carrying a
message? carry good tidings of great
ioy among the people all the time. This
is yours Put 1t in your pocket"
I hid the padlocked book in the breast
of my coat, and seized his wrist and his
hand.
BE of good courage, white double
man." said Johnny Appleseed. The Lord
Tiff ~, al IfOhfz Of His cO1IpfauanCp IIpOu
you, the Lord make His face to shine upon
you and give you peace!'
He returned to his side Of the fire and
stretched himself under the stars, and I
went to Croghan's quarters and lay down
with my clothes on in the bunk assigned
to me.
The book which 1 would have rent open
at twenty, now carried unsealed. The
suspense OF 1t was so sweet, and drew my
thoughts from the other suspense which
could not be endured. 1t was not likely
that any person about Mont-Louis had
stolen the book, and wandered so far.
Small as the volume was, the boards
indented my breast and made me increas-
ingly conscious of its presence. / walked
in the night and held It.
Next morning Johnny Appleseed was
gone from the fort, unfraid Of war, bent
only on carrying the apple of civilization
into the wilderness. Nobody spoke about
his absence, for shells began to fall
around US. The British and Indians were
in sight; and General Proctor sent flag
of truce demanding surrender.
Major Croghan's ensign approached the
messenger with a flag in reply.
The women gathered their children as
chickens under shelter. All in the fort
were cheerful and the men Joked with the
gush of humor which danger starts In
Americans. 1 saw then the ready laugh
that faced in its season what was called
Indian summer, because the Indian took
the advantage of the last pleasant wea-
Their to make raids. Such pioneers could
speak lightly even of powwowing time
the first pleasant February days, when
savages held councils before descending
on the settlements.
Major Croghan and I watched the par
ley from one OF the blockhouses that
Fashioned the place. Before it ended
Shawanoe sprang out of a ravine and
snatched the ensign's sword. He gave it
back reluctantly. and the British flag
bearer hurried the American within the
gates
General Proctor regretted that so fine
a young man as Major Croghan should
fall into the hands Of savages, who were
not to be restrained.
when this fort is taken" said Croghan
On hearing the message, there will be
nobody left in it to kill"
British gunboats drawn up on the San