The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-22
TIE EVENING STORY

(By Grace MacGowan Cooke

Icy Grace MACEDONIAN Cooke
Suffering Mosesi Hochaska, it's
Heads I win, tails you lose. pIayin'
poker with you these days. I rung in
five jacks on you that hand, an, you
never turned q hair. What's up"
The cowboy pushed back and re-
garded his silent companion quizzi-
der laid fine, slender hand upon the
table, and, leaning forward. whispered
across it.
Burnt Bear runs his spotted pony
in the races next week."
the cowboy nodded, stopping to
tighten q spur leather.
Keep your long green, pard," he
said, with bent head. Il was Just
a-foolin' them last three games. Wei
The old chief runs his spotted pony IN
the races-and the gal is up here
turnin' Hochaska's heart to Water-is
that the how of 1t -
Again the Indian looked over his
shoulder before he nodded.
He has her up at the agency, he
burst out, fercely. You know MAI
locks! It was Mallock before what
chance has decent Indian girl as pref
ty as Ally with father like she's got
and that beast arOund?"
'Hochaska, began the COWBOY,
you're a fool-hold on! Don't you
git gay, noWi They whooped you on
to the effete east and pumped good
whipped to a standstill, and you can
doctor a sick hawse to beat any man
between the Pecos and the Mississip--
but common sense you re snort on
1.-THE reasons plain 'nough, pardner;
the old mans out after the coin.
You've got to bid up. You're sure
good locker, and you're plumb gen
tleman. Hochaska-jest the son-in-laW
I'd make grab at II was a SIOUX
chief with pretty daughter to marry
II have offered him all have-and
a mortgage on my future. Nothing VIII
Somebody else is biddin' higher"
reiterated the cowboy. "Or he thinks
.'Aliy would come to me- said the
Indian, desperately. 1T is not as 1t
was before. Mallock's wife was living
then. He may hold out hopes Of
marriage to Burnt Bear.
The cowboy was up and ready to de-
part now. "If that there spotted pony
should go lame, Chaska,' he re-
marked they hain't man but you
that could doctor it-and the race
happen reckon you could name
your price,"
An eager fire Ieaped into the In
dams sombre eyes. Il could" he an
swered. "But no such thing will hap
pen. Burnt Bear sleeps with the
Don't be too sure" demonstrated
the cowboy. 1--WE got money up on
that cayuse, an I'm mighty uneasy
that he's about to get some sort O
complaint in his right hind foot. The
old man knows I'm bettin' heavy on
his hawsef1esh, an him an me is
great pals-we're thicker'n thieves.
So long, Chaska-'
He stepped to the front of the
blacksmith shop, swung into the sad
die and disappeared.
All day long the young Indian
served his customers and attended to
his usual duties with an air of pre-
occupation. He guessed what simple
trick his cow-puncher friend had In
mind. If the game went through sue
cessfuNy, would the father pay the
price?
Crowds were gathering to 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 a
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 a hun
bred other small night sounds which
had preceded it; yet he was suddenly
broad awake and listening. It came
again. He sprang to his feet. Once
more-and he was walking rapidly to-
ward the precipitous path which led
up to his spring.
Within ten PAGES of the bushes |
which concealed 1t, he halted. Out of /
those bushes soundlessly moved the |
shadowy form of man, leading |
How dor" said the newcomer. and
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
spotted pony had gone suddenly lame.
IT have watched him as though he
were my child" he declared. "And /
now, tonight. I find his right hindfoot
is lame. Have you a quick cure? I {
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 T. Burnt Bear, must walk
back to our people stripped and desti-
tute.''
The young smith drew uD and fold
ed his arms. He saw that something
m elodramatic 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 1ameness were
not actual. he could carry out the
trick.
Il have" he said. 81 have a bottle
Of medicine so strong and valuable
that nddVe never USED II upon the
ponies of these common Indians-nor
even on the horses Of the white men.
famed your spotted pony
this medicine will cure him. But I
must nave my price"
"Cu~e frst-pay after" said the old
indian sententiously.
The lover gathered courage from the
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
are.
It well suited the young blacksmith
to halt in TIE darkness, run to the shop
for a harmless bottle Of volatile oils,
which woult- smell loud. and look we'll.
Then, STOPPING. he took the slim pastern
IN his hands. Those deft digits. warned
where to seek. cleverly Intercepted the
hair about the smallest portion Of the
-. I. q ssran 81