Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-07

IoI dull eyed, among the dogs
hsET5-"S The dark folds of his blanket
laI were drawn tight over his
tattered waist. Close around his feet,
which were shod in old and cracking
moccasins. was tucked his fringed
skirt. An empty grain sack covered
his head and shielded his face from
the wind. LAS an icy gust now and
then filtered in through the chinks Of
the stockade wall and swept him he
swayed gently back and forth. while
the tailless ours smuggling against
him whined in sympathy and fought
for warmer place. For the kennel
roof Of shingles. put up in one corner
of the Enclosure rs a protection for the
pack. had served only during the week
that followed the storm to prevent the
pale beams of the winter sun from
reaching the pariah and his dumb COM
tanions.
Presently the flap of a nearby lodge
was flung aside. An Indian woman
emerged and threw handful of bones
toward the shelter. At once Squaw
Charley awoke to action. Shedding
sack and blanket, he scrambled for
ward with the half starved, yelping
beasts to snatch his portion.
His bone picked clean of its little.
the pariah resumed his crouching seat
once more and the pack closed quietly
about him, licking his face and the
hands that had cuffed them as with
much turning and shivering they set
tied down to sleep.
A warrior stalked proudly past, ig-
noring both his disgraced brother and
the sentrics that paced the high board
walk at the wallis top. Two Indian
lads approached, chattering to each
other over the heart shaped horn tops
they were swinging on buckskin
strings and tarried a moment to scoff.
Squaw Charley paid no heed to either
brave or boys. His face was hidden.
his eyes shut He seemed, like the
dogs. to be sleeping.
OF sudden there came a shrill sum-
mons from n distant wigwam, and the
pariah sprang up eagerly. AfraidOf
aFawn stood in the tepee opening hei
evil face with its deep scar thrust for
ward to look about.
skunk she shrieked as he hurried
toward her, and her long black teeth
snapped together. "a fire. Then she
spat to cleanse her mouth.
Squaw Charley FASTENED back to the
single roof for an armful of fuel.
Returning he entered the wigwam and
knelt beneath the smokehole. And
while he arranged the sticks carefully
upon twist of grass the aged crone
lowered, hawklike, over him, ready
with fist or foot for any lack of haste
or failure with the fire. Not until
with flint and steel he lighted a strip
of spongy wood and thrust 1t under
the dry hay and a flame leaped up and
caught the, SCOT on hanging kettle
did she leave him and go on quest
for breakfast rations.
The pariah had not dared to lift his
eyes from his task while the bag was
Watching But now he stole swift
glance toward the back of the lodge
where the maid, Brown Mink, was re
Ginning. and his dull eyes, like the fue
at his knees, leaped into sudden fame
But, with the dizziness of a woman, he
kept on putting bits of wood into the
mounting blaze.
Brown Mink did not look his way
She lay on slanting frame of sap
lings held together by network o.
thongs. The gay blanket on which
she had ridden during the march wa:
folded under her. a buffalo robe wa
spread over her bead wrought legglng'
and shoes, its hairy side under, it
tanned face, which was sgaudily paint
ed, uppermost. Festoonings of bead
fell from her neck to the top of he
richly embroidered skirt and heav,
eardrops of gilt pushed through tn,
purple black masses OF her hair.
Squaw Charley fed his sight gladl
with her loneliness, thankful that she
who once had looked upon him kindly
did not now turn to see his squalol
The blaze was thawing his chille
limbs and fast warming him; the bras
pot was singing merrily. He kept hi
hands gratefully near 1t, and as fror
time to time the girl held up her arm
admiringly to let the freight shin
upon her bracelets and pfhchbec
rings ne Watcncu ner IurtiNely lroi
half closed eyes.
But not for long. Afraid-of-a-Faw
soon returned with meat and mea
and. cursing. ordered him away.
"Off. Ojibway coward" she cried
ito the dogs! But see that there
wood for tonight's cooking and tomol
rows
The pariah gave the fire under til