Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-12-26

answer. he shook his head slowly and
sadly from side to side.
"Don't want tor cried the colonel
"I1l tell you, sir" interposed Lieu
tenant Fraser, studying the paper. Il
don't believe he ever speaks. You'll
notice that it says here, but he has
never | can't be sure, but | think
the next word is spoken"
"Vow OF silence?"
Something of the kind. Captain
Oliver has been telling me about these
bucks that are degraded, and ! don't
believe that. even If this fellow spoke,
the rest Of the tribe would treat with
us through him"
That's probably true"
"They've made a squaw OF him. SIR
Deep humiliation instantly showed
in the pariahs eyes and posture. He
looked at Lieutenant Fraser imploring-
ly and drew his blanket still more
closely about him. Then, as with a
sign he was hidden TO put it off, he
suddenly let It drop to the floor
Great Scott" cried the colonel.
"He's dressed like onew
His punishment, sir. And he won't
be taken back as a warrior till he does
some big deed"
what does that paper say again.
'Out Of the weakness Of the flesh he
wept under the tortures Of the sun
dance SO that's the cause Of his trou-
BILE! What did they do to you, Red
Moon?
To reply Squaw Charley quickly oil
vested himself Of the calico waist and
turned about And Colonel Cummings
tutoring his horror, traced with tender
finger the ragged, ghastly seams tina
lined the pariahs back.
"Musclcs torn loose he said. "No
old wounds either As Squaw Char
ley resumed waist and blanket he look
ed on pityin-y.
I'll give him his freedom" he sale
when the outcast stood ready to de
part. He can come and 90 in the pos
as lie likes. Robert see that the nd
iutant understands my order. Nov
let him get something to eat in thu
kitchen"
When Squaw Charley's hunger hat
disappeared before the enforced anC
rather nervous generosity OF Colonc
Cummings black cook and Lieutenan
| Fraser had left him he hurried ava.
/ from headquarters. Making his wa,
to the sentry line north of Brannon, b
/ gathered tircvood along the Missouri
until dark.
The lantern had been out for a.
hour in the cottonwood shack. Fathe
and daughters We're asleep. But a
the end Of that time Dallas was SUD
denly awakened by the sound OF lou
stamping and rending IN the lean-t,
Pen and Betty, reused by the fear c
something, We're plunging and pullln
back on their halter ropes. Startle,
her heart beating wildly, the elder 81
crept softly to the warped door
Her father and sister still slept, III
disturbed by the noise in the stabl
which now quieted as abruptly as
had begun. Dallas heard the teal
begin to feed again. And from outsi(
the shack there came only a faint ru
tie. Was it the uncovered meade
grass Of the caves as the wind brushe
gently through it or the whisper {
moccaSins on snow?
Later. when Squaw Charley cntere
the sliding panel of the stockade, h
crept noiselessly toward the shingl
roof But he was not to gain it unseel
Afraid of-aFawn, who had been lool
ing about for him, hailed him savag
" as he neared.
"Wood for the morning fire she d
mandcd,
BY the light streaming ont of Il nca
by lodge She saw that SquJW thare
was looking at her dciautT. She $
upon him, curslnE and kicking. ar
drove him before her to the shelter.
The pig" she cried. Running fr'
since the sun was at the center Of ii