Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-11-26

cherries. eating every one OF them and
that girl running OF somewhere instead
Of staying here and picking them" she
rallied ia answer 10 the young mans
polite inquiry Il haven't seen her
thc-c four hours. neither her nor that
rascally mn,hback Jean They're up
10 some mischief. III be bound"
Nine Ruussillon puncd audibly he
tween phrases. but she suddenly be
came very miid when reii"yrd of her
tiradr
"Mals cutr,z." Size added ln a pleas
ant tone. come Ia aud tell mo the
news
Rcnc's disappointment rushed into
his face. but he managed TO laugh il
aside
Father Berct has just been telling
me- said Nine Roussillon. that our
friend Long Hair made some trouble
last night How about IT,
Rene told her what he knew and
added that Long Hair would probably
never be- seen again.
He was shot. no doubt OF it," he
went ON. "and Is now being nibbled by
fish and turtles We tracked him by
his blood TO whore he jumped into the
Wabash. lie never came out"
Strangely enough. IL happened that
az the very time OF this chat between
Mime. Roussillon and Rene. Alice was
bandaging Long Hairs wounded leg
with strips OF her apron. 1t was under
some willows which oyerhung the bank
OF a narrow and shallow lagoon or
slough, which In those days extended
mile or two back into the country
on the farther side OF the river Alice
and Jean went over In pirogue TO see
II the water lilies. haunting a pond
there. were yet beginning 10 bloom.
They landed AZ convenient spot some
distance up the little lagoon. made the
boat fast 10y dragging its prov high
ashore and were on the point Of setting
out across neck ~ wet grassy land
TO the pond. when "A deep grunt. not
unlike that OF self satisfied pig. at
tracted them 10 the willows. where
they discovered Long Hair. badly
wounded. weltering In some black mud.
His hiding place was cunningly
chosen. save that the mire troubled
him. letting him down by slow degrees.
and threatening To engulf him bodily;
and hc was now too weak To cXtricate
himself lie lifted his head and glarcd.
His face was grimy. his hair matted
with mud Alice, although brave
enough and quite accustomed To start
ling experiences. uttered cry when
she saw those suaky eyes glistening so
savagcly amid the shadows. But Jean
was quick 10 recognize Long Hair lie
had often seen him about town. a figure
not TO be forgotten.
They've bton hunting him every
whore ho said in half whisper to
Alice. clutchiug the skirt of her dress.
IT'S Long Hair the Indian who stole
the brandy. | know him
Alice recoilDd pace or TWO.
Tets 80 back and toll EN-" Jean
added, still whispering They want to
kill him: Oncle Jazou said so Come
on
lie gave her dress jerk but she
did not move any farther back. She
was looking at the blood oozing from
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
II was a difficult thing TO do but
there was "A will and Of course a way.
They had knives with which they cut
willows 10 make standing place on
the mud. While they were doing this
they spoke friendly words TO Long
Hair, who understood French little,
and at last they got held Of his arms,
tugged. rested. tugged again and finally
managed TO help him 20 dry place,
still under the willows, where he could
lie more nj ease. Jean carried water
in his cap with which they washed the
wound and the stolid savage face.
Then Alice tore MP her cotton apron, in
which she had hoped - bear home n
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 n man of superior
physique, tall. straight, with the mus
Giles of Vulcan. and while he lay
stretched on the ground. half clad and
motionlcss. he would have been
grand model for heroic figure in
bronze. Yet from every lineament
there came strange repelling influ-
encc. like that from a snake. Alice felt
almost unbearable disgust while doing
her merciful task. hut she bravely per-
severed until 1t was finished.
II was now late in the afternoon and
the sun would be setting before they
could reach hQms