The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-10

are with them and their war ponies I
are feeding on cottonwood bark Be |
sides, eheir head chief will be sharp t
enough to see that he'll have to treat /
and not fight If he wants 70 save the |
necks Of his favorites. Then, as far as
the safety and comfort of my men are |
concerned, everything is being done. |
Better reconsider, Matthews"
Cant do it"
Colonel Cummings left his library,
where he had been talking. and sought
LOunsbury's advice. The two held a
short whispered conversation in the
entry.
Let me have few words with him."
said the storekeeper. Matthews balk-
ing was not altogether q surprise
Nevertheless it was 4 keen disappoint-
ment. He had hoped to be able TO
send SQuaw Charley across the river
soon with good news. Let me see
him. Maybe l can bring him around"
They entered the library.
Matthews" began Lounsbury. you
might as well go along. If you stay
you can't get a hold O that claim"
He looked at the colonefs clock. Its
midnight Your six months are up
If you did have a chance it's gone
Possession 8 nine points in law. and
Lancaster 8 up at Bismarck mailing
the tenth"
If the storekeepers blunt assertions
were of any particular interest to the
other he failed to show it. He occu
pied himself with finding cigar. cut
ting it carefully and lighting it at the
stove. Then he turned about to Colo
mel Cummings, his glance as it tray
eled utterly ignoring Lounsbury.
Not to mention the risks you run
with the boys" added the storekeeper
easily, amused by the play of indiffer-
ence.
ooh. l guess Shanty Town can taks
keer Of itself" observed Matthews,
sending up smoke rings.
Lounsbury walked out.
There was but one thing left for
Colonel Cummings to do: Ask this man
to interpret IN the medicine lodge, that
at least the Indians might learn their
position. Knowing it. they might he
prevailed upon to select one of their
own number to accompany the expedi-
ton and repeat the terms. The COM
handing officer. rather provoked at
Lounsbury. who, he thought. had
harmed and not helped his cause. i'm
mediately suggested this course to
Matthews.
II can parleyvoo for you there. all
right agreed Matthews patronizingly
"But how you goin'?"
"You and I alone"
Matthews stared. Garry any guns?"
he asked.
Not when I go into the stockade
The Indians are without weapons.
And l like to show them that | trust
them"
The other laughed. "You go t tell
some redskins that they s goin' t. be
strung up ana y don't take no gun.
Well, not for me, colonelr'
tsThen wen have a guard"
30. K I'm with YOU
A scout who understood the sign
language was dispatched to the stock
ade. And by the time the braves were
settled down before the blaze Colonel
| Cummings, Matthews and a detail of
armed men were before the aperture
of the medicine lodge
/ The soldiers waited outside the big
wigwam, where they made themselves
comfortable by moving up and down.
| Their commanding officer and the in
/ fQrDrptay. i'm hni nrOr 0a
the warriors rose gravely, shook hands
and motioned the white men to take
seats upon robe placed at Lame
Foots left hand. The air in the place
was already beginning to thicken with
kinnikinick and fire smoke. The min
gled smell of tobacco and skins made
| it nauseating Colonel Cummings
would gladly have hurried his errand.
But Indian etiquette forbade haste.
He was forced to contain himself and
let the council proceed with customary
and exasperating slowness.
The first step was the pipe. A young
Sioux applied a burning splinter to a
sandstone bowl and handed the long
stem TO the medicine man. His nos
trils filed he gave the pipe to Colonel
Cummings, from whom in turn it pass
ed to Matthews. Standing Buffalo,
Canada John and thence along the
curving line of warriors. When all
had smoked the bowl was once more
filled and lighted. and once more 1t
was sent from hand to hand. Not IN
til this ceremony had been repeated
many times did the council come to
speech.
But neither the commanding officer
nor his interpreter made the first adj
dress. Though the braves guessed that
something unusual had brought about
an assembly at this hour and though
their curiosity on the subject was
childishly live. they surpassed their
captor in patience. StolidlE they look.
ed on while Lame Foot rose to his feet