Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-21

toned, giving the interpreter glance designed to wilt him with the words that called for stress:
 "The proposed line will open up a country of rich grasses and ground and of unexcelled hunting. The In dians, while still troublesome beyond the Missouri, are rapidly being brought to see the advisability of remaining on the reservations, and little more an noyance on their part may be appre- hended. Fort Brannon, he declares, is in the hands of several hundred brave | fighting men and may ba looked upon as q place of certain refuge in case of an outbreak. The soldiers are proving to be such menace to those Indians who will not agree to reservation life that whole bands of the more savage redskins are leaving for the bad lands and the rougher country farther west. No Indian war parties have been seen east of the big river for some time. Al ready there is an increasing interest in land along the survey, and it Is be- lieved that when the last ties of the new line are laid there will be few un- claimed quarter sections between the Big Sioux and the Missouri
 "There!" Braden wound up. And gradin' begun already at the Missis- sippi!"
 ''The h-l you say!"
 Believe me now, won't you? Didn't they have a banquit, with champag- ney? All the state big bugs, head sur veyor, and so on!'
 ''Too bad!"
 That's what I say, and I'll say more. Of course we was to go pard- ners on this thing. So far, so good, but here you ain't did your half, and you can't kick if deal from now on with old man Lancaster"
 Matthews understood. By -, done my best" he cried. "Y' can't come any of that on me, Bradenr'
 Keep on your shirt, Nick; keep on your shirt. I looked into this thing at Bismarck, and under the law you ain't got one right. Lancaster owns that bend, and if pay him out of my own money why ain't it square?"
 The interpreter hung his head.
 'Of course," Braden went on, ''I'd rather divvy. I can see he's one of them greedy old ducks that's hard to talk money with. Maybe you can think up how to get the land back"
 Matthews leaned close. q had a scheme"-he nodded south in the di- rection of Medicine mountain-"but the reds cant come. I had t go slow. There's women in tn fambly. Nat'lly all the men up and down the Muddy want t see Lancaster stay. There's been a dude firm Bismarck here off and on-tony cuss, sleeps between sheets, nice about his paws as cat. He's been ready t tattle or roll gun"
 Braden sniffed What trick s he played?"
 Matthews evaded the question. q seen one of the Clark outfit" he con- tinued, 'and tried t git him t bother old limpy. Says I, 'They's stealin' your slow elk down there Wasn't any use. 'Thunderation" says the COW punch. You mean that bull? He was a yearlin' when he come to 'em. That's maverick age"
 Braden sneered. "Such a kid" he murmured Why didn't you lay low and not go putting down their door? Why didn't you lose the old man and snub up one of the girls-marry her? Big ones a rip snortin' beauty; pert, by jingo, as prairie dog!"
 Shed send me a-fyin'," urged Mat thews. But tn little one"-
 Sure! You're a good looker-hand some-if you'd fix yourself up some."
 If I could git rid of the old man! If I could! Aw, come t think, what I got that lout of brother for? Easy-with Indians to lay 1t on. Blaze the way for 'Babe'-hes a saphead-but he knows enough to follow a spotted line"
 GO careful"
 "I'll try to scare 'em of"
 Huh! Folks that ain't afraid to come this far in a schooner, Indians or no Indians, ain't likely to stampede at one white"
 You don't know how mean"
 Go ahead. No use our brayin' like starved jackasses. Do somethin'. You was a fool to ever let 'em winter"
 Matthews clinched his fists. Well" he said, they won't winter again"'
 ITO be ContiuuedD