Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-11-17
NUMBER 46.

with mud. Alice, although brave
enough and quite accustomed to start
ling experiences, uttered cry when
she saw those snaky eyes glistening so
savagely amid the shadows. But Jean
was quick to recognize Long Hair. He
had often seen him about town. q figure
not to be forgotten.
They've been hunting him every
where" he said in half whisper to
Alice, clutching the skirt Of her dress.
ITS Long Hair, the Indian who stole
the brandy. know him."
Alice recoiled pace or two.
LETS go back and tell EN-" Jean
added, still whispering. "They want tc
kill him; Oncle JazOn said So Come
| Onw
He gave her dress jerk, but she
did not move any farther back. She
was looking at the blood oozing from a
wound in the Indians leg.
"He is shot; he is hurt. Jean; we
must help him." she presently said. re-
covering her self control, yet still pale.
I'VE must get him out Of that bad
place"
Jean caught Alice's merciful spirit
with sympathetic readiness and
showed immediate willingness to aid
her.
1t was n difficult thing to do. but
there was a will and Of course a way.
They had knives with which they cut
willows to make standing place on
the mud While they were doing this
they spoke friendly words to Long
Hair. who understood French Il little,
and ut last they got hold Ofhis arms,
tugged, rested, tugged again and finally
managed to help him to dry place,
still under the willows, where he could
lie more at ease. Jean carried water
in his cap with which they washed the
wound and the stolid savage face.
Then Alice tore up her cotton apron, In
which she had hoped to bear home
load of lilies, and with the strips bound
the wound very neatly. 1t took long
time. during which the Indian remained
silent and apparently quite Indifferent.
Long Hair was man OF superior
physique. tall, straight, with the mus
ces Of a Vulcan, and while lie lay
stretched OH the ground. half clad ana
motionlcss. he would have been
grand model for heroic figure IN
bronze. Yet from every lineament
there came a strange rcpelling infiu-
ence. like that from snake. Alice felt
almost unbearable disgust while doing
her merciful task but she bravely per-
severed until it was finished.
1t was now late in the afternoon ana
the sun would be setting before they
could reach home.
I'VE must hurry back, JEAN Alice
said, turning to depart. 1T VIII De
all we can do to reach the other side
in daylight I'm thinking that they'll
be out hunting for us. too. II we DON'T
move right lively. Come"
She gave the Indian another glance
when she had taken but step. lie
grunted and held up something III lib
haud-somethiug that shone with q
dull yellow light. 1t was small,
oval, gold locket which she had al
ways worn in her bosom. She sprang
and snatched it from his palm.
Thank YOU" she exclaimed. smiling
gratefully. IL am so glad you found
it,
The chain by which the lOcket had
hung was broken, doubtless by some
movement while dragging Long Hair
out of the mud. and the lid had
sprung open. exposing miniature por-
trait of Alice painted when she was
little child. probably not two years old.
II WAS n sweet baby face, archiy
bright. almost surrounded with fun
of golden hair. The neck and upper
line of the plump shoulders, with
trace of richly delicate lace ana
string Of pearls, gave somehow s'ig-
gestion of patrician daintiness.
Long Hair looked keenly into Aiices
eyes when she stopped to take the
locket from his hand. but said nothing.
She and Jean now hurried away, ana.
so vigorously did they paddl" Their
| pirogue. that the sky was yet red In
the west when they reached home "nd
| duly received their expected scoldihg
from Nine Roussillon.
| Alice sealed Jeans lips as to th'ir
| adventure. for she had made up her
| mind to save Long Hair II possible,
| and she felt sure that the only way 10
| do il would be to trnst no one but
| Father Bcret.
II turned out that Long Hairs wound
was neither Il broken bone nor cllt
| artery. The flesh Of his leg. midway
between the hip and the knee, was
pierced. The bullet had bored neat
hole clean through. Father Bcrct took
the case in hand and with no little
surgical skill proceeded to set the big
Indian upon his feet again. The afiair
had TO be clcverly managed. FCod,
medicines and clothing were surrepu-
tiously borne across the river, bed or
grass was kept fresh under Long Hairs
back. his wound was regularly dressed
and finally his weapons-a tomalawx,
n knife. a strong bow and quiver or
arrows-which he had hidden on the
night of his bold theft. were brought TO
him.
Now 20 and sin no more said good
Father Berct. but he well knew that his
words were mere puffs Of arti.ulate
wind I'm the ear of the grim and silent
savage. who limpcd away with an air
of stately dignity into tn WILDERNESS;
A load fell from .Alicc's mind when
Father Beret informed her OF Long
Hairs recovery and departure. Day
and night the dread lest some OF The
men should find out his hiding pi,:e
and kill him had depressed and worrl q
her. Long Hairs imperturbahle ca.El-
ness, his stold. immObilc countcnance.
the mysterious reptilian gleam OF his
shifty black eyes and the sorllesS rx-
preston always lurking in them kept
a fascinating hold OH the girls memory.
They blended curiously with the in-
pressions left by the romances she had
read in VI. Roussillon's miidewed booSs
!. Long Hair was not young man. bu'
II would have been impossible to guess
near his age. His form and face sim
ply showed long experience and I'M
measurable vigor. Alice remembered
with a shuddering sensation the look
he gave her when she took the locke,
from his hand 1t was Of but sec
ond's duration. yet 1t seemed to search
every nook Of her being with its subtle