The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-06-10

the water streamed and dripped over
.he floor the thrifty housewife busted
herself al tidying things on the porch.
for a glance al the young buck made
her realize the proprlety OF her pres
ence on the scene. III DO what
have always intended TO do with this
eame-bag." she said. half aloud. IL
has hung here long enough collecting
trash. This Is a good time 20 overhaul
il and throw the rubbish away"
The game-bag was a poaGerous
leather thing. and its capacity appsr-
entity unlimited. Old fshhcoks and
tackle came first. rusied and rotten
from long disuse. Then hatchets,
horseshoes. gopher-traps, doorknohs,
coils 81 WIRE shot-pouches. rubber
gloves everything. in short that
catch all Of such sort collects in the
course Of 20 years. The last thing
brought up was an old hunting knife
an uaIy-looking weapon. broad and
short. with a rude deer-horn handle.
The blade was rusted. and looked as IL
not cleaned after its last thrust.
The white hands touched IL gingerly.
Il don't know what 10 do with all these
| things after all" the woman said
looking up into the quizzical eyes OF
the tall young fellow. who came sing
ing Bonnie Doom" through the house
whistled the dogs over from the
stable stirred the drowsy canary into
a food OF song. and sent the cats
scampering away from the neighbor'
hood OF the meat-safe. They were
YOUR fathers things. Hal, when h
wasn't much older than you" she ex
plained in the subdued tones in which
one instinctiyely refers 10 the dead
But the duty on hand was temperate,
dropped when the boy announced tina
a book agent was in the front hall
and the contents OF the game-bag wer
. left in a heap on the floor.
Sikra bent low over her tubs. bu
now her ewes were wild and ever
nerve in her body tingled with excite
ment. The back of her benefactres
was scarcely turned when the huntin
knife was swept into her hands an
? stealthily concealed under her aproi
, Her boy did not follow her action
but sat idly in the sunshine. watchin
the lower branches OF the cedar hllir
with its tenants for the night. Near
s while the pile Of clean clothes gre
= with surprising rapidity. \ wonde
Z full energy was al work rubbing. rim
e inc. wringing. and soon the work WI
y completed. and the squaw depart'
with her son.
e The next weeks washing was accor
plished with the same degree OF u
:. wonfed energy. Sikra stood uprigf
y no longer bent and decrepit Her no
% Of triumph was come. The knife 81
IS hung at her belt-the knife she h
'f watched Black Wing make from I
4. horn % the deer she had seen him ii
d. At last sikra had found a trace OF o
"a Of her mans murderers. This II
ne worked itself slowly into her darken
o. mind for the knife in the game-h
er cried out Howe's implication in
crime.
lie But now. at the very moment OF
az impending triumph. a shadow
OF athwart her CLEAN Of hope The b
ne uurtured into stalwart manhood
q. one end. looked al her listlessly VIII
OF with dilated eyes and feished vol
er She told him the story Of her discove
De He did not seem TO even hear her Z
ed After a sleepless night. she went
Is. rouse him and try again 20 wake
vengeance in his blood. but he did
rs know her.
a wild with apprehension. The
az souaw's first thought was Of y
is Howe. her neyer-failing source OF S
a. cor. The kind eyes up az the WI
house grew large with sympathy
az dread. ITS only a fever. sikh
en- Young Hal came forward 10 assure
u.s. and catching up his hat he followed
Glstraught mother to her little hut
m The wild. black eyes that met
oht as no entered startled him with q
ath ferocitv and the wilder words
az him on the threshold But six
lao dumb look Of appeal prompted hin
ne enter the room. The calm preset
and the cool. firm hands OF the W
vas bow seemed 10 lay the fever-de'
re- Ars tho trourht that the fever M
I'h- no contagious was overha,anced IN
ana mind by the grief Of the squaw mot
~. "He must not die. he must not q
she walled. Il raise him for
tfa For just now.
Tae weeks that followed were a
s,rurqle with the feyer-deyils
~ filled the Indian boys frame "
Asp his wild rawlings and threats OF vel
ance rose to shrieks and threat'
10 exhaust the Pickering fame Of
nothing but the cool. strong hands
-, had first Quoted him had any pS
me to calm him.
Poor old Sikra's heart seems Sc
his accomplishing something befoF
n's dies Young Howe explained. one
nl'r ~ his mother. 1T is pitiful to see
Ia~ hopelessness whenever the sympl
= ~ !. are discouraging." And when OF
e.. said. Let the good-for-nothing
- elm die. he is a menace 10 the NJ
ai'o borhood." the boys blue eyes re
his scorn at their sentiments.
emu all she has" he answered.
80 when at last they were able "a
,sie 10 sikra. "He will live" II wa
Mot Young Howe's feet she flung ne
for il was Hal whose presence, sh
:, clared had saved her boy.
Lind In time the old conditions Of the
yasn households were re-established-
-. ..;od "a no more cOnsidera