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

slipped silently forward and approached
him, a slim, light-footed Indian girl.
1nupassively, he motioned toward Hoch-
aska. and she ned, eagerly, to her lover
But following her. so that one might
almost have thought 1t her shadow. the
form OF a man entered the circle OF
light
This is the way you keep your bar
gains yosz old renegade, fs ft2. Mailock
snarled, pointing to where the lovers
stood hand in hand.
Il make new bargain returned
Burnt Bear. tr1pertur ba bly,. = u make
any bargain when my pony 90 game"
Mallock's loosely hanging hands
clenched themselves into fists. Rage
seemed to overpower caution. Nine
Spot lame? Who famed him 20 Look
ing about and receiving no answer he
went on in a louder, more conndent
tone. Who famed Nine-Spot7'' hS
inquired holly. I'm here to prove
that Hochas1xa slipped in and famed
the beast to get even with you about
Ally--an' now you give I'm your
daughter-to cure It. Burnt Bear,
you're nine sorts OF a fooI!H
1t is not courteous=nor even safe
TO tell a Sioux chief that he Is as much
as one sort OF plain, unqualified fool
Burnt Bear started for Mallock, and
the Englishman began to explain how
he had seen Hochaska tying a horse
hair around Nine-Spot's pastern to
produce the lameness.
Burnt Bear halted uncertainty II
was apparent that he had been tricked
by some one and when ne felt sure OF
the culpr1t there would be a reckoning
Matters hung thus in the balance for
moment; Hochaslxa frightened his
arm about the girl. and decided to as
sumo the responsibility of anything
Billy had done, but to keep Altamaha
now he had her.
Hold on. hold on, my noble red
man! cried cheerful voice, and a
rider galloped up to the s1nithy
It's al right to eat Mailock, Burnt
scar the cowboy explained as he
leaped from saddle; but you want ia
know Just what you're eatin' i'm for.
The Englishman drew back. DENT
60, urged Billy, laying a Constantine
hind upon his arm. I've can't spare
He turned to the three Indians. who
stood regarding the white man curl
Burnt Bear" he began. you know
what I've bet on the Nine-Spot I've
been watching that cayuse most as
close as yea have. Tonight before
You got around to him, I was up on
the knob where he grazes You
thought It was light enough So Won
could see the hawse from where Won
was down at the camp-sittin' by the
door of your wicky-up. But there was
q great big snake in the grass that you
Couldn't see, worming itself along to
self. Does the Teller want to have his
brains kicked out?' Then as I watches
i'm he moses up a long, stout hawse
hair so-fash, and slips it around the
ponys hook"
Let go of me- growled Mailock
under his breath.
An that there snake in the grass
warn,t Hochaska." explained Billy
genially. He suppressed the further
information that there was a rubber
band in his own pocket prepared to do
a like service, at the time he dfscov-
cred Mallock playing the trick ahead Of
him.
Here's your pony lamer, Burnt
Bear-take him. And with sudden
unexpected jerk the cowboy flung Nal
lock almost into Burnt Bears arms
Bless you, my children" he con-
cluded, turning to Hoehaska and the
girl. "I'll skip down to Casey's and
take some good bets an the pony=Mal-
lock has done spread the news that
Nfne-Spot's gone dead lame, and we
stand to make good money II It don't
get out too soon that Eochasika has
cured him. ''-( Copyright. 1906, by
Ruby Douglas.)