Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-10-04
HE WILD
WEST SAVAGE
tOriginal. |

always referred to rs the plains" nc
one day can.e upon party of Arapa-
hoe Indians who were about to burn Il
young tie at the stake. Indeed the
flames were curling about the boys
legs, and he was beginning to feel the
agony Of burning. Henderson. who
had sufficient troopers back .< him 70
warrant interference, dashed in. kicked
away The fa2ots. cut the thongs and set
the boy free. Then he took the Indian
to camp, where surgeon dressed his
wounds and after his recovery sent him
to his tribe.
When Henderson left the army he
gathered a number of Indian imple-
ments of various kinds, which he took
with him to his home. There We're
blankets, feathers, moCcasins, beads,
pipes and a few weapons such as were
used before the red man got the rifle
including bows and arrows. These the
major hung about the walls of his
smoking room, n profusion of calumets
being especially appropriate.
The curiosities We're of especial inter-
est to the majors little boy, Russell.
who was never SO contented as when
his father told him stories about them
stories usually invented by the IA
ther, for he knew but few Incidents
connected with them. Nevertheless the
yarns delighted the boy, who had all
boys love for adventure, and when il
was announced on the billboards that
wild west show was coming to town
Russell Henderson WAS wild with ex-
peetation. His father promised to take
him out to see the procession Of cow
boys Indians and "plains" people gen
orally enter the city and aftcrward to
give him an opportunity to see the per
fornancc.
When the show made IT'S formal en-
trance the major was standing on the
sidewalk. his little boy holding hiz
hand. the Youngsters eyes big as sau-
GERS and watching eagerly for the I;;-
dians. At their passage there was an
element of surprise which neither IA
thcr nor son had counted upon. An
Indian suddenly threw himself from
his horse, made a dash for the major
and, extending his hand, said excit-
eddy:
sIIow?'
Henderson stood looking blankly at
the brave. who explained in few
words that he was the Ute whom the
in, l,f l. tIl,
the burning. The Indian was SO de-
monStrative so delighted at meeting
the man to whom he owed his life. that
the ma. .or invited him when not en-
gagged in his duties to coIue to his
house. The invitation was accepted
and the tie. who was not in good
health. remained after the show had
departed Little Russell was at first
very much terrified at him. but when
his fright wore off depended upon him
for most of his amusement. the Indian
telling him more wonderful stories
about the decorat tons of the smoking
room than the major had ever
dreamed.
Russell became much attached to the
Indian. and the Indian, who worshiped
the major seemed eager to give the
little fellow all possible pleasure not
only from gratitude to the father, but
affection for the son. Time slipped by.
and the Ute. who was suffering from
malaria, remained at the home Of his
benefactor.
One evening Major Henderson came
in before dinner and. going into the
smoking room. found the Ute bending
over Russell. who was standing near Il
table on which rested an arrow. Both
the boy and the Indian We're looking at
the tip of one of Russell'S fingers. On
it was a red spot. about which the
flesh was slightly swollen. \ terrible
anxiety was depicted on the Cte's fea-
lures AS the ma jor entered the Indi'
an cast glance at him. then at the
arrow on the table. then back at the
maio
You saved me from a torture death,
In return | have brought death on your
idol. That arrow was poisoned; the
child in handling it has rricked his fin
ger. He will die"
This was what Major Henderson
read in the Ute's face. Then suddenly.
without a word, the Indian seized the
boy S finger and. placing it between his
lips, began to suck the wound. pulling
SO hard that the child cried out.
The poison was drawn from the
wound and. entering the thin Goa ting
that lined the Utes mouth. was quick
~ absorbed A doctor was summoned
and arrived in few minutes. He adj
ministered a drug to the boy. then ad,
vanced to do the same to the Indian
His offer was refused. Indeed by this
time. though Russell showed no signs
OF poisoning. the Ute was giving evi
dence that the deadly weapon of the
savage had entered his system.
He began a low moaning which soon
IL. ff,,1 1pC