Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-12
CHAPTER XIV.

following day. Bitter as was her diSap-
pointment, Diana accepted 1t without com
ment. Now her concern was chiefly for the
boy. and she eagerly awaited Nat-u-ritch's
return. hoping she might help the little
woman to see the wisdom of making this
sacrifice for her chld's advantage.
Down the hills toward midnight Nat-u-
ritch stole. elf-like creature. with her
clinking. beaded robe cleaning in the
moonlight. Past the mems dwelling she
went. and on to the cabin for a last sight of
her sleeping boy From his spying ground
Bill saw her but made no effort to detain
her. He knew that the arrival Of Jm's
kinsmen had caused strange turmoil in
his life. and made him forget that Bud
Hardy might still prove a menace to him.
So Bill kept his faithful vigil; but once
fatigue caught him and he closed his tired
eyes for brief space. 1t was just the mo-
ment that Kid Clarke the sheriff's watch
er.<had been waiting for. Unobserved
he slipped away to follow the trail
that Nat-u-ritch had taken when she
fled from the house in the afternoon. Bud
Hardy had cautioned him not to lose sight
of the squaw and to report to him in the
early dawn at the cabin Like Bill, he saw
Nat-u-ritch make her way to the cabin
and saw her return; then, as he felt Sc
cure that she was safely out Of the way,
he lay in the loft near the cabin and waited
for Bud
But Nat-u-ritch had not succeeded in see
ing her child. AS she peered into the win
dOwS OF the cabin shes saw a beautiful
woman and another stranger seated near
Jim. For long time she watched him as
he talked to the woman. who now and
then went to the door of the room in which
the child lay and listened though afraid
that their voices might disturb the boy.
The womans presence became added
complication in the impending tragedy that
engulfed Nat-u-ritch. She longed to creep
into the and kDpel beside Him n beg
to be allowed just to be near him: but she
was afraid-afraid of the curious chances
Of the strangers. Intently she watched the
woman and saw the look on Jims face as
he talked long and earnestly to her. How
he had changed! She remembered him as
the young. strong. handsome buck whom
she had met at the bear dance For the
first time she seemed to see the whitened
hair the tired patient eyes and the marks
Of sorrow on his face. Once she saw him
lean forward and gently argue with the
white woman. She dimly understood the
difference between his attitude toward this
woman of his own race and to her. Grad
ually new pain was added to the hurt
that tried her endurance; she could not
explain it, but Jim had never looked at her
like that. He treated her as he did little
Hal. while he regarded the woman with
him as his equal She began to sob pite-
ousy. like a child who Is suddenly asked
to face something it cannot understand. 1t
was useless to remain there longer. Back
she hurried to the hills. more desolate
than when she started to see her child
Through the long hours that followed she
made no effort to reason or to control her
emotions, but abandoned herself to her
grief.
silently along the road and hid behind the
wagon that stood near the house. He had
been following Bud Hardy. whose early
visit to the cabin had aroused his sus-
advice yesterday. the chief was deter
mined to see him again as soon daylight
should come. He was impatient to disclose
to Jim the fear that tormented him for
the first faint streaks Of dawn. from his
hiding place Tabywana saw Bud Hardy
emerge from the mems quarters and steal
toward the cabin. Bud uptoed about the
place. then crossed to the loft and gave
three short whistles. Almost Immediately
Kid Clarke appeared and leaned out Of
the loft door.
"Well?" Bud called. as Clarke. dazed,
rubbed his sleepy eyes
"Nat-u-ritch has disappeared-her trail
leads to the hills Carston hasn't been to
bed at all He went away about half an
hour ago"
Bud glanced quickly about the place.
mo one in the room, them"
Kid nodded
"All right-come down." Bud said
Kid disappeared from the aperture in the
loft and Bud went softly into the house.
Silently the chief slid down under the
porch of the cabin. AS Bud came out OF
small thirty-two caliber revolver which he
was smilingly examining. Before he could
pocket the weapon Tabywana leaped
upon him and clutched the hand that held
the gun but Bud with muttered i'm
precation. deftly threw the hand with the
revolver over Tabywana's shoulder, but
only to feel an iron fist beat his knuckles.
Involuntariy he loosened his hold and
heard Bills voice say:
Put up your gun. Clarke
Kid had reached there just at the end OF
the struggle and had started to pull his
volver to assist Bud.
Holding the captured revolver in his
hand. Bill said: why. what's the matter
boys? l don't allow no gun-play on this
ranch-not while I'm foreman OF it,
In the first faint light of the rising sun
the three figures were like ghostly sill
houettes against the gray background.
II want that gun." Bud replied.
How did you come by it?" Bill de-
manded
Before Bud Hardy could speak. Taby-
wana grasped Bill by the arm and by pan
the house and stolen It.
Bill turned sternly to Bud. What do
you mean by sneakin' into other peoples
houses at night an takin' their property
Why'-as he examined the revolver-"this
gun belongs to Nat-u-rtch.'
does. does it? You heard that. Clarke!
Well. that's all I want to know
Bill saw that Bud had gained evidence
against the little woman. We'll. 1t amt
all want to know. You'll have to show
me. Bud-you'H have to show me why
you're combinin' the trades of burglar an
sheriff" Then. with change In his voice.
he said. Better sit down and we'll discuss
this am!cable."
Bud seated himself near Clarke and Bill:
Tabywana remained standing near them.
eagerly trying to grasp all that was being
said. Bud was not averse to taking Bill
Into his confidence. He felt that with
Clarke as witness to Bills statement he
had gained the essential point his case
needed.
"You fellers have guyed me for years
about Cash Hawkins death. amt you?
Now it's my turn"
SO Bud was going to try to make q sensa-
tional arrest through Bill. and thus win the
county over to him and secure another
election to the office of sheriff. Should he
call Jim at once. Bill wondered He deter
mined to wait and see II Bud meant to de-
clare his intentions
ancient history that. Bud" he said.
Forgotten long ago"
But Bud answered Not by his friends
and relatives about jansen
'Oh. they're still looking for somebody to
scalp. eh? Better let sleeping dogs lie
Bud Perhaps he could reason the sheriff
out of this scheme: perhaps convince him
that II was not profitable move on his
part. and that he would in such case have
the other party against him If he ever at
tempted to use these unfair means
His thoughts were interrupted by Bud