The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-08-21

SuOulutE before ne nOileu.
"He has her up at the agency" he
burst out fiercely. you know NAL
lock- 1t was Mallock before What
chance has decent Indian girl as pref
ty as Ally with a father like she's got
and that beast around?"
"Hochaska,7 began the cowboy,
you're fool-hold on! Don't you git
gay. now! They whooped you off to
the effete east and pumped good learn
in into you till you've got books whip
ped to a standstill and you can doctor
a sick hawse to beat any man between
the Pecos and the Mississip-but COM
mon sense you're short on"
''The reasons plain 'nough, pardner.
The old mans out after the coin.
You've got to bid up. You're sure a
good locker and you're plumb gen
tleman, Hochaska-jest the son-in-law
I'd make grab at If l was a Sioux
chief with a pretty daughter to marry
off,"
Il have offered him all | have-and a
mortgage on my future. Nothing will
do"
Somebody else is biddin' higher" re-
iterated the cowboy "Or he thinks
they will"
"Ally would come to me-" said the
Indian desperately. at is not as it was
before. Mallock's wife was living then.
He may hold out hopes of a marriage
to Burnt Bear"
The cowboy was up and ready to de
part now. If that there spotted pony
should go lame, Chaska," he remarked,
they hain't a man but you that could
doctor it-and the race comm on next
week. If such should happen reckon
you could name your price"
An eager fire leaped into the Indians
somber eyes. 81 could" he answered.
but no such thing will happen. Burnt
Bear sleeps with the pony's stake rope
to his wrist
Don't you be too sure" demonstrated
the cowboy. I've got money up on
that cayuse, an Pm mighty uneasy
that he's about to get some sort o. COM
plant in his right hind foot. The old
man knows I'm bettin' heavy on his
hawsefiesh an him an me is great pals
we're thicker'n thieves. SO long.
Chaska"
He stepped to the front of the black
smith shop, swung into the saddle and
disappeared.
All day long the young Indian served
his customers and attended to his usual
duties with an air of preoccupation.
He guessed what simple trick his COW
puncher friend had in mind. If the
game went through successfully, would
the father pay the price?
Crowds were gathering for next
weeks races and business was brisk,
for this scientific blacksmith and vet
erinarian Of their own race who had
learned his trade among the white men
was a prime favorite.
The forge fire had died down to
smoldering red eye and the young
blacksmith sat half asleep before his
door when a stealthy sound from the
steep slope behind his cabin reused
him. 1t differed not at all from
hundred other small night sounds which
had preceded it, yet he was suddenly
again. He sprang to his feet Once
more-and he was walking rapidly to-
ward the precipltous path which led up
to his spring.
Within ten PAGES of the bushes which
concealed it he halted Out of those
bushes soundlessly moved the shad-
owy form of a man leading a pony
IoC 4
Hochaska recognized the voice of Burnt
Bear.
In the tongue which was common to
them both the old chief stated, with
the frankness of despair, that the spot
ted pony had gone suddenly lame.
81 have watched him as though he
were my child he declared "And
now tonight find his right hind foot
is lame. Have you a quick cure?
care not If in the end it kills the pony,
so that he be not lame when the race
is run, for if he does not win this race
l, Burnt Bear, must walk back to our
people stripped and destitute"
The young smith drew up and folded
his arms. He saw that something melo-
dramatic was expected of him. He
was to play the big medicine man. If
Billy had only done his part and not
overdone it and this lameness were not
actual he could carry out the trick
Il have" he said. II have a bottle
of medicine so strong and valuable that
have never used it upon the ponies Of
these common Indians nor even on the
horses of the white men. Whatever
famed your spotted pony, this medicine
will cure him. But | must have my
price,
Cure first. pay after" said the cd
Indian sententiously.
The lover gathered courage from ii
fact that the price itself was not men
toned He held out his hand for the
bride. and Burnt Bear permitted him
to lead the pony down to the forge fire.
| 1t well suited the young blacksmith
to halt in the darkness, run to the shop
for a harmless bottle of volatile oils
which would smell loud and look well.
Then, STOPPING, he took the slim pastern
In his hands. The foot was hot and
throbbing Those deft digits, W armed
where to seek. cleverly interrOga cd the
hair about the smallest portion of the
joint. All, 1t was there. He snapped
it. The relieved pony put down CRATE
full nose toward his shoulder. Then
with skilled movements Hochaska rub
bed and kneaded the member to hasten
The impeded circulation.
For an hour he worked thus; the dra-
matte values must be preserved. Dc
easionally he walked the pony about
and its owner could see the lameness
decreasing. At the end of that time he
Strengthened up and said:
Burnt Bear, your horse is sound
Shall name my price,"
The old man grunted, felt the foot
saw that the fever was all out of it
then, taking the bride rein into his
hand. led the pony back and forth till
he was certain there was no limping IL
that gait. 1T is magic indeed!' he de
clared. with proud generosity, ther
turned. peered over his shoulder into
the darkness of the trail and lifted hi:
hand sharply
From where she had stood an hour Of
more motionless as the stems of the
young birch trees about her, there
slipped silently forward and approach
ed him slim, light footed Indian girl
Impassively he motioned toward Ho
chaska, and she fled to her lover.
But following her, so that one nigh
almost have thought it her shadow. th'