Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-11-30
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PlOW Woman !
By ELEANOR GATES.
Author OF Biography of Prairie Girl" {
COPYRIGHT q COMPANY 8
By ELEANOR GATES.
COPYRIGHT B MCCLURE. d COMPANY.
Of The Biography of a Pra

their return they said that the Sioux
camp numbered several hundred wig
vans. while just above was village
of dog soldiers.
"The night passed quietly. In the
morning Il single brave came riding to-
ward us. He stopped beyond rifle
! reach. | sent the interpreter out. He
returned TO say that the chief promised
him fair treatment if he would come
! alone. I took it that the camp was
anxious for little entertainment and
that one white was to furnish it. |
| didn't consider this second proposal
| a minute. 1t was worse than foolish,
l thought. But''-he looked toward
the cot-"Mr. Matthews didn't agree
with me. He went. 1t was magnif-
cent bit of courage, sir"
! The colonel wheeled. by Jupiter"'
he exclaimed. You did that?'
| Matthews smiled and crossed his legs
awkwardly. oh. it want nothin','
! he said, forbearing to glance Up. Il
! savvy Injuns, you know. II was
wilIin' to take the chances"
| Colonel Cummings looked down. Aft
err moment and without changing the
7 posi- ion of his body he turned his face
| slowly in divers direction. The eyes
Of the two officers met and flashed
message of doubt.
When the commanding officer looked
! ut the Interpreter again it was on his
| lips to say, But you were afraid to
! enter the stockade with me-" lie
checked himself, however, and instead
reached for Matthews hand. ut was
Il magnificent bit of courage he
agreed. Tell us what happened
Matthews fingered the blanket on the
cot Il seen the chief" ne said, "and
told him what you told me to tell him.
, When | got it all out lie says to me:
! The white women amt here! They re
, with the Wyomin' band. and the Wyo-
min bands up in Canada. Now he
says, the band II come south in the
+ spring. So tell Colonel Cummin's If
he do no hangin' I'll send the white
women home them"
a low groan came from behind the
stove. Young Jameson came out, his
features distorted With grief and shin
ing With tears. Think of it, Think
of it! Not till spring! Are they well:
How are they treating them?'
oh so ,so,'' said Matthews signif;
I cantly. .-.-..--.- ---.-,-,
/ Young Jameson understood. He
Went back to HIS seat sobbfng with
the lysterical weakness of sick man
Hes bungled the business. eoloneln
& Ia, =
only let me goH' -
*'Yes. yes. my dear boy" answered
the other soothing!y, f'bGt please re
ID. member that you couldn't have talket
With them. The conference would have
/ been carried on through Mr.. Matthews
just the same"
There was silence, broken only by
Jamicson's weeping.
rs that-all:" asked Colonel Cum
mings at last, addressing himself t,
the interpreter.
Yes, sir"
Shortly afterward, when he wa
gone, the two officers left the librar.
for the reception room and discusse,
the expedition in low tones.
Il have Il feeling, colonel, that on
| Interpreter wasn't fair in this thing,
was Captain divers first confidence
They were standing at a front window
watching Matthews cross the parade
ground to the barber shop.
"The same thought occurred to me.
"And yet--it doesn't seem possible.
"Oh. if Bond had only come sooner!
Bond. He here?'
"Yes-just half Il day too Late
While they were talking Matthew
was losing his tow beard and mus
tache and Il good length of hair. Thi
I over and his supper eaten, he reappeaT
ed at headquarters and went witt
!; Colonel Cummings to the stockade.
Much to his chagrin he found tn
, evangelist there, ready to be presen
at the interview with the hostages, bu
O the Indians understood his predicamen
: and accepted the speech he made 70
|, the little it was worth. 1t was speec
n that, repeated by David Bond, sc
Colonel Cummings last suspicion a
. rest.
Lounsbury arrived at Fort Brapno
the next day, appearing in time fC
breakfast His early advent, which
: explained away nonchalantly, was til
cause of some good naturcd teasing.
y Say, LounSbury," observed one of
Ger, Il thought you were keeping
store
. "Get OUT he retorted. "I'm dow
: here to see that you fellows do somt
! | thing for the good money Uncle Sal
, pays You"
'Why, don't you know" said MajC