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

since his last visit. Undoubtedly were
he to come he would help them But
would her father allow her to ask the
ttorekeeper's aid? Probably not
"I'll tell Charley about II tonight"
sho said finally. I'VE just got to find
n way"
What en- he do?" retorted her "a
thor. Far s him s Citing team e
concerned, we might IS well look fer
some one { come right outen tn sky"
Her determination to ask advice of
the pariah was a natural one. The
morning that succeeded the night of
the mules terror she had awakened to
find reassuring explanation for their
fear. In the growing light, as the
trumpet sounded revelle from the fort.
she sprang up and looked out expect
anty. On the top of drift In front
OF the door was a bundle of sticks, A
hard crust had formed during the
night, and moccasn tracks leading up
to the wood and then pointing away
again were cast In ii with frozen clear
ness.
THAT poor indian" she had ex-
claimed in grateful relief.
Not once after his summoning before
Colonel Cummings had Squaw Charley
forgotten daily to leave firewood at
the shack The evening Of his second
trip across the Missouri Dallas had
lain in wait for him, seCretcd under
the dismantled schooner. which she
had drawn into place beside the door.
And as bringing his Offering he cross.
al ho Spft1v hal
the terrified mules again announced
his coming. and she hailed him.
"Come on. come near" she had call
ed. II want to see YOU"
Eager TO prove his good intent he
had FASTENED forward, and she. just
as eager to show her thankfuness had
led him into the house. There. with
the distrustful eye of the section boss
upon him and with Marylyn watching
In trepldation from distance, he had
eaten and drunk at Dallas bidding
At the very moment when Dallas de
cided to confide in him Squaw Char
ley was not unmndful of her Where
the river bluffs back of Brannon shov-
ed their dark shoulders through the
snow. the wind having swept their
tops clean of the last downfall, he was
working away like n muskrat. To and
fro he went, searching diligently for
buffalo chips. A sack followed him on
rope tied to a leather belt, so that
he could beat his hands against his
breast as he covered every square rod
of dead, curly grass on the uplands.
The bag crammed to the top he took
off his blanket and despite the cold,
began to fill it also. For he knew.
and fully rs well as they who watched
the thermometer hanging just outside
the entrance at headquarters, that the
night would require much fuel.
AS he hunted along the bare ridge
something more than the frigid gusts
that whipped the skirt about his lean
shanks urged him to finish his gath
ering and go riverward. In the little
snug cabin out on the prairie a CHEEKY
welcome awaited him. Before the
glowing Goals in the stone fireplace he
could warm his shaking legs. There
was good food for his empty stomach.
But, better than all else. there n kind
ly face always smiled a greeting.
The blanket piled so high with chips
that It's weight balanced the grain
sack, he prepared to start riverward.
But first, prompted by an old habit,
he climbed 10 high point of bluff
near by and standing where lookouts
had maintained a post before severe
weather compelled their withdrawal
carefully scanned the white horizon.
To the west, from where-the band in
the stockade boasted-warriors OF their
tribe would come in the spring to
make a rescue; to the north, on either
side of the Ice bound Missouri to the
east, in the wide gap between the dis
tant ranges Of hills. he saw no crea-
ture moving. But facing southwark,
his hands shading his eyes carefully
from the glare, he spied on the eastern
bank and at not a great distance, the
approach of familiar milk white
horse drawing heavy pung.
The STOPPING pariah was transform
ed by the sight, He threw up his arms
with an inarticulate cry and sprang
away down the slope to hi. sack and
blanket. Selling them he made for
the level ground north of the barracks,
descended TO the ice, swiftly crossed
and dragged the fuel up to the cotton
woods. Then he started down the riv-
er, taking long leaps.
The upper part Of the lmprovised
sleigh that was fitting it's way across
the drifts like skiff on angry water
was the green box OF an ordinary
farm wagon set on runners. The
wheels Of the vehicle lay on some hay
in the rear Of the box On the broad
wooden seat was a man, facing rear
ward to get the wind al his back. He
was almost concealed by quilts, his
arms being wrapped close to his body.
| and the milk white horse was taking
his leisurey way unguided. Above
the man, and nailed so loosely to the
wagon seat that 1t wavered from side
to side and kept up a squeaking. was
q tall board cross, rude and implanted.
When he came close to the sleigh
Squaw Charley caught the sound of
singing and stopped. The Traveller was
comforting his lonely way with sa-
cred hymn, the words Of VIII n, scat.
tered by the wind, reached the Indian
In broken but martial phrases:
Onward Christian soldiers,
Marching war
the cross of Jesus