Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-07
COPYRIGHT 1905 BY MCCLURE. PHILLIPS &
By ELEANOR GATES.
Author of 1.-THE Biography of Prairie Girl"

Kettle q last tOucn anu Sunk out mas
tily into the snow. The bag pursued
him, moving backward and pulling
after her the partly dressed hide of q
black tailed deer.
MAKE it ready for the cutting
board" she babe and threw the piece
of hard stone for the f1eshing so that
it split the pariah's cheek.
Squaw Charley took up the hide and
dug in the snow for the stone.
A young warrior was lingering at
the lodge flap. blowing spirals of kin
nikinick. He burst into Il laugh. "Ho,
ho!" he tainted. 1.-The squaw Of a
squaw drudges today. Ho. ho"'
The crone Joined in the laugh. Then.
standing Buffalo may enter" she
said and respectfully led the way into
the wigwam.N
The pariah heard, yet did not pause
But when among the dogs again he
cleaned at the deer hide with short.
swift strokes. II light once more fam
ed up in his dull eyes-a light unlike
the one that had burned in them at
Brown Mink's fireside.
ne was SUN OiliEChtfs, thI
sack over his head as before, when.
about the middle hour of the day.
Lieutenant. Fraser entered the sliding
panel of the stockade and began to go
rapidly from lodge to lodge. as If in
search of some one. Seeing the in
truder. the dogs about Squaw Charley
bounded up, hair bristling and teeth
| barred.
The outcast laid aside his rubbing
| stone and strove to quiet them. But
the sudden commotion under the roof
| had already attracted the young Off.
Ger. STOPPING. he caught glimpse of
| Squaw Charley.
"Oh. there you are!" he exclaimed
and motioned for him to come forth.
When the Indian appeared. the deer
skin in his arms, Lieutenant Fraser
pointed toward the entrance. You
come with me-" he said, with gesture
in the sign language.
Squaw Charley moved slowly along
| with him. No one was in sight in the
| inclosure-no one seemed even to be
looking on. But, opposite Brown
| Mink's lodge. the old woman dashed
| out, seized the hide with Il scream of
rage and dashed hack again. The
| next moment Charley passed through
.he sliding panel and took up his
| march to headquarters.
80 this is your last Wild pet, eh,
+, Robert?" said Colonel Cummings as
| they entered. He backed up to his
stove and surveyed Squaw Charley
| good naturally. let me see, row.
| You've run the scale from a devils
| darning needle to baby wolf. Next
thing, 1 suppose, you'll be Introducing
US to Il youngish rattlesnake."
Lieutenant Fraser rumpled his hair
| sheepishly. But you ought to see the
way they're treating him - banging
him around as if he were dog"
Him. He certainly doesn't look
strong"
fThey work him to death. colonel"
The commanding officer laughed. as
redskin working must be sight fol
sore eyes"
"But they don't feed him. sir"
The outcast, wrapped close in hi:
blanket, lifted his pinched face t.
them.
/ How'd it happen I didn't notice thi
fellow during the marchY" inquired
the colonel trifle suspiciOusly.
He was with the squaws whel
there was anything to do. but whel
we were on the move he fell to tn
rear"
Didn't try to get away?"
! mo. Just struggled along"
5; "Ahl Do you know whether or no
!; he took part in the fight the day W
; captured them?"
: At the question swift change cam
over Squaw Charley. He retreated
r little and bent his head until his Chi
7 rested upon his breast.
, Lieutenant Fraser threw out his arr
in mute reply. No feathers, no pain
7 no gaudy shirt or bonnet marked tn
:. Indian as a warrior.
Il The elder man approached the silen
:. shrinking figure not unkindly. can
l what do you want me to do for hin
5 Roberty" he asked.
S Lieutenant Fraser sprang forwar
a eagerly, his face shining. Hes S
qulCt "oO iCuuy W VI
e anything he's told, I'd be grateful
< you thought you could trust him. GU
0 side the stockade. He could get tn
odds and ends from the bachelor
o mess"
j "Ill be hanged. Robert!" cried hi
superior, annoyed. "Most men, jus
. out of West Point, haAe an eye
$ killing redskins, not coddling EN-"
: The other crimsoned. I'm sorr
you look at it that way, colonel b
e said. I'm ready to punish or kill
the case of bad ones. But-you'H pa
don my saying i'll don't see that it
the duty of an officer to harm a goo
one"
Squaw Charley raised his head an
shifted timidiy from foot to foot.