Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-07

Very carefully the latter read 1t, his
interest growing with every line.
Finally, giving it over to the Heuten-
ant, he smiled at Squaw Charley.
'That tells the tale" he said. Il
knew the man that wrote that when l
was with Sibley in Minnesota, the
summer after the massacre. He's
man that writes the truth. He talks
the truth, too. and 1 wish had him
here now, SO that he could interpret
for me-
why, SIR" exclaimed the younger
men, lit says this chap knows Eng
lishr'
by all the gods! OF course it does.
Robert, I'll make him my interpreter
The colonel strobe up and down in his
excitement, pausing only to contend
with the other for the paper. Red
Moon" he said at last, motioning the
pariah forward, do you know what /
am saying to you?'
Squaw Charley nodded.
"Good. good. This is fortunate.
Now we can have a talk with these
| Sioux" He addressed the Indian
| again. "And you speak English?' he
\ asked.
There was second grave nod.
"You shall be my interpreter, Red
| Moon. You shall have a log house
near the scouts, and the great father
| at Washington will pay you. You
shall have double rations for yourself
and your squaw. and more if you have
papooses. What do you say to that?"
| Squaw Charley shad not taken his
eyes from the others face for an in
slant while he was talking. Now, for
answer, he shook his head slowly and
sadly from side to side.
Don't want to-" cried the colonel.
| 'Fll tell you, sir" interposed Lieu.
tenant Fraser, studying the paper. Il
| don't believe he ever speaks. You'll
notice that it says here. but he has
never / can't be sure. but l think
the next word is spoken
"Vow of silence?'
Something of the kind. Captain
bucks that are degraded. and don't
believe that. even If this fellow spoke.
the rest of the tribe would treat with
| is through him"
That's probably true"
They've made squaw of him, SIR
Deep humiliation instantly showed
In the pariah's eyes and posture. He
looked at Lieutenant Fraser imploring-
~ and drew his blanket still more
closely about him. Then, as with a
sign he was hidden to put 1t off. he
suddenly let it drop to the floor.
Great Scottv' cried the colonel.
Hes dressed like one!"
His punishment. sir. And he won't
!. be taken back as warrior till he does
) some big deed"
What does that paper say again
Out of the weakness of the flesh he
wept under the tortures of the sun
dance So that's the cause of his trou-
Bile. What did they do to you, Red
MOon?'
To reply SQuaw Charley quickly di
vested himself of the calico waist and
turned about. And Colonel Cummings
uttering his horros traced with tender
finger the ragged, CHASTITY seams tha
lined the pariah's back.
Muscles torn loose" he said. "No
old wounds either" AS Squaw Char
, ley resumed waist and blanket he look
; ed on pityingly.
"I'il give him his freedom" he salt
: when the outcast stood ready to de
, part. He can come and go in the pos
, as he likes. Robert, see that the ad
jutant understands my order. Nov
, let him get something to eat in tn,
kitchen"
When Squaw Charley's hunger ha,
! disappeared before the enforced ant
r rather nervous generosity of COlone
Cummings black cook and Lieutenan
Fraser had left him he hurried ava,
5 from headquarters. Making his wa.
D to the sentry line north of Brannon. H.
gathered firewood along the Missouri
$ until dark.
The lantern had been out for a.
u hour in the cottonwood shack. Fathe
and daughters were asleep. But a
the end of that time Dallas was sud
denly awakened by the sound of lou
stamping and rending in the lean-to
=. Ben and Betty, reused by the fear o
= something, were plunging and pullin
back on their halter ropes. Startled
her heart beating wildly. the elder gfl
crept softly to the warped door.
Her father and sister still slept, ur
disturbed by the noise in the stable
;, which now quieted as abruptly as
!. had begun. Dallas heard the tear
begin to feed again. And from outsid
the shack there came only faint ru:
tie. Was it the uncovered meadow
:, grass of the caves as the wind brushe
gently through it or the whisper c
> moccasins on snow?
% Later, when squaw Charley entere
n the sliding panel of the stockade, h