Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-06

even when he told me of the big strike he
had made II seemed a dreadful risk to take.
I'm not sorry now, though. DO you know
which is our claim, and is it very rich?"
Little Put looked away from her, and the
lids Of his brown eyes narrowed. There
was a mosquito settling daintily on Sauna
tha.s ear. He struck It q blow that would
have felled Samantha, and his heart was
full. He did not know 1t was quite as bad
as this.
az guess 1t must be that last one this side
the break in the ridge" he said. steadily.
HAS It a name?"
He nodded.
Paradise mine Jack called It."
That night in the big tent he told US all
which was Angels claim, and that he was
going to work 1t for her until Jack came
back. Then the spirit fell upon us all. Len
Mason lugged his best side Of bacon, and a
new blanket over to the shack, and swore
Jack had loaned him bacon when he was
starving. Big Tom Wyndham slipped over
one evening when we couldn't see him and
left his pet frying pan on the doorstep, to-
Eether with a brand new oil lamp from
Florence that he had Haunted at US for
weeks as an evidence Of superior c~iviliza-
ton. Little Put was all in at the end Of
a week. Eddie Barton gave him a shake
down in the corner OF his tent and he never
murmured.
tits got to be-" he said d%efiantly, when
big Tom stood him on his head and told
him not to make too gigantic a fool OF
himself. when she told me he'd got all
her money to buy a mine with out in this
devils desert, l didn't give a hang rap what
happened. She's here and Piety Flats got
10 look out for her."
''Until Jack comes back?' asked Tom. and
Put wilted.
Not until we have to, Tom" he said
| p~Ieadingly. Let It 60 until we Just have
to, don't you understand? h believes in
! him something terrible, and she's his sis
ter. Wait until It comes OF itself"
After the nrst week she grew worried,
and II was up to little Put to keep her busy
We made him special deputy and he worked
over time. He taught her how to ride Sa.
mantha, and when tina palled he trotteo
her down to the river and southwark to the
Indian camp and let her smile on Broker
Arrow and his family Of seventeen. sh'
was disappointed.
They're picturesque. in a way, and the
blankets are lovely. but they don't look al
II they had any go TO them. Do they evel
wake upT"
"No," said little Put grimly. "but the!
have nightmare"
Then there was her kodak. and she sho
everything in the place with It and devel
oped the aims herself. But the Indian
kicked every time she pointed il at them
and Put drew the line there.
"It's only prejudice" he told her. "bu
they have nightmare over those little pre1u
diees. Don't."
"only one more" the Angel begged. II
I don't get a shot at that funny little tai
over there / shall break the kodak"
Put looked. and there In front OF enc o
the tepees was . picture, ready posed
Broken Arrows youngest. Sun Dog. stoo
in the sunshine staring at them. He wa
knee high TO Samantha. A shock-hairec
ugly, dirty. half-clad statuette in copper
and the Angels heart went out to IN
heather. She had caught him on the nlI
before he moved. but the instant the but
ton clicked. be let out a yell OF terror an
made for the tepee.
There Was an uneasy movement anon
the Indians around. and Put hurried th
two burros on. out Of the village withou
asking permission.
First sign OF nightmare" he said. in re
spouse to the Angels query as TO thei
haste. she ala not see the point, but wa
jubilant over securing Sun Dogs pictur'
and he let the matter drop, for little p
was wise in these ways In spite Of his
years and bsGrdless jaws; but two day
later he made a mistake. He warned II
Angel not 70 ride beyond the wash witho'
an escort.
4, WHY"
little Put seorned 10 argue. Besides
didn't want 10 worry her. he said.
The Angel stood in the doorway Of Jsek