Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-13

him. he stood silent for a moment;
! then the bent, half-stumbling figure
I Sunk past him Jim dared not watch
Nat-u-ritch, though he could hear her
heavy breathing and the Tapping of
Der beaded robe against the ground as
she crossed to the stable. Once Pet,
rie saw her sway. but she had steadied
herself before he could reach her. AS
she reached the corral she stopped
and turning, flung out her arms in an
| peal to Jim; but his back was towards
her. the child hidden in his embrace.
Then he heard the quick patter of her
feet rs she fed out into the night
AWAY from these aliens, back to the
hills to abandon herself to her grief.
As Jim rose he resolved that when
the boy had gone he would try tt
make her understand that this sacri
dee was forced upon them that for the
childs sake they must both bear it
md in the future she should receive
sven greater care and comfort from
him.
"This is harder on her than on me
Petrie," he said. as he lifted Hal up
Dn the bench and knelt beside him.
Where is she going?" Petrie asked
as he walked towards the corral be.
hind which she had disappeared.
1 "Out into the hills to fight it out
llone. Mr.. Petrie, this is going to be
hard on the boy, too. He is a shy
little prairie bird and has been great
pet
He was thinking that perhaps he
could arrange to let Nat-u-ritch have
the boy little longer and keep Petrie
with them awhile. at would be rough
on him to leave us all so suddenly and
go away with "a perfect stranger
Can't you stay here week or two t.
let him get used to your" Jim propos.
ed. "By that time you will have won
his confidence"
Petrie answered, 81 am sorry, but
that is impossible. j have over-stayad
my time some weeks. | left important
( business interests in London to under
take this mission and | must return
at once"
But jim pleaded, ''It can't be q
bad as that. Well. then. only week"
81 am sorry. but have already used
up all the time can spare, in finding
you. If the boy goes with me it must
be now" Petrie knew Diana was
waiting for Jims arrival; he must
reach her with the news as soon as
1 possible Every hour was of moment
~ to them. She had been persistent in
lSher desire to accompany him, and
1.-TWO days had passed since he left
Yher at Fort Duchesne. He feared some
lcomplication might arise from her
Ewoman's Impotence, and as it was, he
would not be able to leave the ranch
before daybreak Night was already
beginning to close in on them
Jim began to realize the wisdom of
Petrie's decision It would only pro-
long the agony. He must make it
easy for the boy; afterwards-we
afterwards But he dared not pic
,ture the desolation which would be
his.
''Hal. my boy. my darling, I must
tell you something. You know you
want to be soldier like the ones you
saw at Fort Duchesne. Remember?
With the yellow plumes and tassels
and swords and things?"
The boy was growing sleepy but at
these words reused himself and de-
lightedly exclaimed, Eyes. yes!"
well Mr.. Petrie is going to make
you cae' Hal looked over in appro-
val at their visitor who was to make
his dream come true "Only," Jim
continued, you'll wear a fine red
coat instead of blue one and Mr..
J, Petrie's going to make you big. fine
soldier man. So daddy's going to let
you go. Isn't that fine!
"You, too, daddy?" the child ques-
toned
"No, dear: can't go. When you go
away there'll be nobody but me to
take care of little monte"
II won't go alone" Hal protested.
yes, dear. il father wants you to-"
Jim persuaded.
But the child only cried, 81 won't
II wcn't--I WON'T" as he flung his
arms about his fathers neck.
Jim felt it would be useless to argue
further now It was past the boys
bedtime, so he only said. coaxingly,
eyes. yes you will A scheme to help
the boy bear the separation began to
formulate in his mind. They should
take him away while he was asleep.
and he would send Big Bill along with
him for few days if necessary
Now. old man, tell Mr.. Petrie good
night"
The child did as he was bid
Quite hopefully jim went on talking
to him as they crossed to the cabin
"All right And, now daddy will rn-
dress YOU and hear your prayers, and
We'll have our usual romD and the;
the sandman will come Then. as
the sleeDy child. yawning. dropped his
head lin lifted him in his arms and
cried: kiss me- dear. Oh, don't ever
FORGET your daddy"
So engrossed was he that he failed
to hear in the distance sounds that
told that visitors were arriving at the
ranch H:It retria who was eyer alert