Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-30
DAILY SHORT STORY
The Death Trap.
[OriginaL-l


the peak on which it is located is call
ed ..Deathtrap mountain" Ordinarily
the stone is of a blue metallic luster
and shows traces of volcanic action.
being scanned and ribbed as if by melt
cd lava. IT is rough. jagged outcrop-
ping, bursting up through the shale OF
its surroundings, reaching up the noun
tain side to the height of about seven
feet, when a sharp projection shelves
over it again, making Il groove about
nine feet long and three feet wide.
During the DAY when the sun shines
directly down upon it its color is pale
blue. but in the night ii glows so
brightly as TO be seen for a long dis
lance. There is a tradition among the
Indians that it became known To their
ancestors hundreds of years ago, and
this is the legend of its discovery:
One day a speck was seen far up the
mountain, descending slowly toward
the Indians encamped in the valley.
Ii grew larger and larger as it ap-
preached untA il was seen TO be the
figure of Il man-not a perfectly made
man. not a warrior, but dwarfed and
hunchbacked. But if the form was Ill
favored the face was marvelously
beautiful. The features We're kindly;
the eyes beamed softly, like twin stars
after sunset on balmy summer even
ing. The man asked for food and
SHELTER and he was at once given what
lie asked.
But they gained far more than they
gave. Though the stranger knew moth
ing of herbs, he possessed the power to
heal the sick by simply laying his
hands upon them or looking upon them
with his lustrous eyes. Even the dumb
animals were subject TO his strange in
fiuence, and if he willed it they would
flock about him TO be careSsed. Since
he showed no intention of departing.
he was adopted into the tribe and made
n medicine man.
The stranger lived with the Indians
for many years, beloved and reverence
ed by all. When one of the tribe was
afflicted either by disease or sorrow
the medicine man was Straightway
sent for, and as soon as his two lumi-
nous eyes beamed on the afflicted, as
though the Great Spirit looked through
them, the patient began to mend, the
sorrowing to regain a more cheerful
mind. To the children he impaired
health to the aged. whose lot among
savage tribes is often to be left in a
wilderness to die. he impaired strength
to live on.
But at last something occurred to
change all this. The chiefs son, who
when the stranger came to the tribe
was but child. grew to manhood, and
it was time that he should take a wife.
The young squaws were inspected for
the comeliest maiden, and when one
was selected preparations were made
for the wedding But when the day
arrived and they looked for the bride
I'm her bower of boughs she was not
there. The camp was searched, but
she was nowhere to he found.
Then came the old women, lament
ing and gesticulating. The medicine
man had spirited the girl away. they
said The chief resisted tho imputa-
ton as long as he dared. then consent
ed to treat the adopted son of the tribe
as guilty But so great was the love
of the people for him that no one could
be found to kill him. so the chief chose
dozen of his best warriors to drive
him out of the camp. Early in the
morning these braves set out to chase
the diminutive medicine man away.
To their surprise, be ran so swiftly
that they could scarcely keep him in
sight How did lie fee so fast Oh his
little withered legs? From time to
time he looked back at his pursuers to
see if they We're following. and at last
it began TO dawn upon them that in
stead of fleeing from them lie was
leading them on.
The chief stood in the valley watch
ing the pursuit in wonder When lie
saw the dwarf distancing his fieetest
runners it dawned upon him that he
was drawing the warriors after him.
and he sent out messengers to recall
them He watched his messengers till
they came within hailing distance. but
saw that the pursuers did not stop. He
could himself hear the shouts of his
braves who were calling and knew that
the pursuers must hear. but they paid
no attention TO the commands. On and
on they went up the mountain side.
looking neither to the right nor left. but
keeping their eyes fixed upon the dwarf
as If bewitched. The messengers. ap-
palled, slackened their pace. but kept
near enough to see. dreading that they.
too. might fall under the spell
And now the medicine man comes to
protruding rock. climbs its side.
stands a moment on its summit de-
scending the other side. and is seen no
more. But the pursueTs follow on.
watched by the messengers sent out To
recall them. by the chief and the peo-
pie in the valley. The first pursuer
reaches the protrudinG rock. climbs its
side and falls as if pierced by an ar
row into the groove passing through its
center. The second. the third. every
one of the following braves, one after
another. passes between the blue lips
OF the stone as if enguIfed by some ir-
resiStible monster.