Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-07-04

might have a taste OF the whlte thai
magic"
The lantern man proved to be a
| bright, versatile fellow. used to making
a living out of public entertainment In
a small way as a juggler. sleight-of-
hand performer, ventriloquist, punch
nd Judy Snowman. or even clown In
n circus, upon occasion. In addltlon 10
the special line of business Tor wnfch
he was now engaged. With the help
Of Pete and one of the interpreters 1t
was easy for him to learn the few
words of Sioux which should accom-
pany the pictures he was to show, the
Datter," as he ermed them. to be
spoken in a girls voice.
The magic ceremonial came of IN
my log cabin long after the last l
slider had left camp. SLY Fox, led by
a couple of friends, was brought In n
seated at one end of the cabin. In his
presence. that he might see there was
no deception, a great sheet was hung
upon the bare logs of the farther END.
AT one side. pendant from a tripod, was
a kettle. over a low fire. and Pete,
made up as a most horrifying witch.
inutternd incantationS-really recita-
ions of blank verse in several lam
guages-and from time to time he
threw n the kettle smal objects
which famed into various colors and
sometimes produced atrocious smells.
an 1i1'2ltiA1 A'SIiio " DNoNso o'>'
tial in any medicine making" and
never was that requirement better filled
thar by a toy drum-beating rabbit,
worked by Johnny Baker and Bill
Sweeney. Well did SLY Fox know some
thing would come of beating n drum so
fast as that. And something did.
Clouds rolled over a round space that
spread until II seemed as If that whole
end of the cabin had melted away and
the edge of the world We're just outside.
There. amid the clouds. a forest of
pines grew clearer and clearer, so dis
tinct at last that the Indian felt he
could climb one of them. Suddenly.
from behind a tree. the smiling face OF
n girl appeared. the face of Skipping
Bird. looking i'll his eyes. He sprans
up with a cry of JOY. Instantly girl
and trees vanished. The clouds rolled
and whirled once more. He as told that
he must keep still, or he oul see her
no more. Penitently he promised tic
be good.
Quickly she r~eappeared. not peeping
from behind "A tree. but life size. stand
ing out upon n grassy space, with a
look of affection in her eyes n her
hands extended toward him. And
voice. he heard. low but clear. Sioux
words. that being translated meant.
Come back to me. dear Sly Fox. your
Skipping Bird waits for you. Bring
plenty of lankets and the Mus-ziS-caw
dong green) and we will be happy yet
Just then the witch threw something
in the fire that made it blow up The
figure disappeared n for a moment
there was darkness. When lights were
brought, no trace was left of the white
mans magic. but Its work had been
done. Sly Fox cried a,aGa, Eyes. Skip
ping Bird, / will come back-many
blankets will I bring and heap. big
heap, mus-zis-caw." The effect on his
health was truly amazing. showing
clearly that savage though he was, the
Indian nature was as sensitive to the
finer sentiments at his white brother
when wounded by Cupid's arrow.
He became the shrewdest economist
and Spectator in the troupe, buying up
Indian goods from his less sagacious
comrades. and selling them to visitors
at advanced prices. He also devoted
time and energy. with marvellous luck
to poker. and when he returned to the
reservation it was with plethoric peck
In fact, he returned a financier, and
happily married the devoted and de-
lighted Skipping Bird.
With good health and his accumul-
ated wealth invested in horses and cat
tie, and taught by his experience from
travelling with the Wild West, Ito fol-
low the white mans road" Sly Fox
today. with his we'll preserved. proud
matron. Skipping Bird. and a truly
lovely educated family. Is a most pros
porous and happy White river ranch
man-an example of the Indians abil.
ity to evolute with opportunity.
Too Late to Collect.