The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1907-09-19
and ammunition, that's all that Is
needed. will be a chieftain or Q


What if the Indians make up their
minds to shoot you?" Johnny asked.
Shoot me, not likely. A bow and
an arrow against a rife? Nonsense,
man."
But what about food?" asked
Johnny.
my rifle will provide food" l re-
piled.
Johnny was silent for awhile. Then
he said: Its not SO difficult as l
thought"
Not one Bit" / answered, delighted
at the prospect of being able to win
his favor for my scheme. Truth to
tell, | required his assistance in the
matter very badly. Each company
occupied one apartment Mine was
at the extreme end of the building.
Johnny was at the rear end in de-
tached wing. To pass from my room
f.! into the yard you had to go through
four other rooms, down the main
stairs, and pass the guard. Johnny's
room, on the other hand, led to the
yard direct.
when are you going?' he asked.
Tonight" | said, much pleased at
his conversion in my dress. Il want
you to help me Johnny-for the sake of
Kilsheelan and the old days"
He caught my hand and shook it
warmly.
Dear lad, will always be your true
friend" he said.
l could have embraced him at that
minute, the honest, simple fellow.
Il want your assistance tonight
l went on cat II o'clock, when all
is silent, l shall pass down to the
closet. l have hidden my rifle be-
tween the closet wall and the wooden
paling, where no one would ever
dream of looking My going to the
closet will cause nc remarks. You
have charge of the ammunition of
your company, and you> can easily fill
my haversack and hide it in your
room till midnight. Then you can
bring it to me-
Very good he replied. ''Fll be
| there. sure enough
| Il shall never forget your kindness"
I said, little knowing how true the
remark would prove in way that l
never suspected then.
l was waiting for Johnny's coming
a few minutes before the time ar
ranged. AS l stood in the shadows
! by the pailing began to think.
| | reviewed many incidents in my
! past life l thought of my moth
| er and my sweetheart, and l
| pictured their amazed looks when
| they read of my adventure in the
| great American forest. The people
| in kilsheelan would be proud of me,
| the greatest Of their many great sons.
| AS these thoughts crossed my mind
! the clock struck the hour of mid
night, and ere the sounds had died
| the barracks as arranged. He ap-
| preached me noiselessly, and we
| shook hands.
Have you got the ammunition I
asked.
Here it is" he replied, throwing
| back his big overcoat and showing the
| haversack inside. You have hun
| dred rounds here"
| Dear old Johnny" 1 answered, at
the same time selling my rifle and
climbing to the top of the fence.
Johnny" l whispered.
well"
Johnny, we may never meet
again. It's terrible place is the
heart of the forest"
| "Oh," he said as if with surprise.
| But I'm not a bit afraid, Johnny.
Only if I never turn up want you to
write to my mother and tell her-tell
her that died nobly."
Il won't neglect it,"
God bless you" l said, fervently
| "But there's something else. You
| knew little Norah O'Halloran, a
daughter of old Tins from below the
salmon pool. l never knew till now
how much l cared for her Would
you tell her-telf her that she was
in my thoughts by day and night,
| and-and-"
And that her name was upon your
| lips at the last" added Johnny.
| l reached down and caught his
hand.
Dear. faithful Johnny. There are
no hearts so true as the Kilsheelan
ones"
He climbed up the pailing half way,
and with his own hands strung the
haversack around my shoulders
"Good-by, Johnny" I said, preparing
myself to leap over the fence One
last look around, and l prepared my
self to jump. Only two miles away
was the forest of my longing and my
dreams. In other years men would
wonder at the deeds l would do there.
1t was the grandest moment of my
life. Already l felt myself a chief
king among the red Indians. I
raised the rifle to my shoulders, and
put my hand to steady the haversack
ere jumped. AS 1 did so the heart
sank within me. I had been duped,
deceived
The haversack contained nothing
but broken biscuits.
1 became frantic and threw discre-
ton to the winds. l shouted a ter
rible malediction after Johnny. Then,
horror of horrors! all the windows
in the rooms of the four companies
went down as If with a simultaneous
thud that woke a thousand echoes.
Scores of heads peered through, and