Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-12-26


'nkinick. lie burst into laugh. "Ho
ho!" he tainted. "The squaw of q
squaw drudges today 10. no"
The crone joined in the laugh. Then
standing Buffalo may enter" she
said and respectfully led the way into
the wigwam.
The parlah heard, yet did not pause,
But when among the dogs again he
cleaned at the deer hide with short,
swift strokes, light once more fam.
cd up in his dull eyes-n light unlike
the one that had burned in them at
Brown Mink's fireside.
lie was still working diligently, the
sack over his head as before, when,
about the middle hour of the day,
Lieutenant Fraser entered the sliding
panel Of the stockade and began to 60
rapidly from lodge to lodge, as If in
search of some one. Seeing the in
truder, the dogs about Squaw Charley
bounded up, hair bristling and teeth
barred.
The outcast laid aside his rubbing
stone and strove to quiet them. But
the sudden connection under the roof
had already attracted the young Off
Ger. STOPPING, he caught glimpse of
Squaw Charley.
"Oh, there you are" he exclaimed
and motioned for him to come forth.
When the Indian appeared, the deer
skin in his arms. Lieutenant Fraser
pointed toward the entrance. you
.,.st 4,
in tho sign language.
Squaw Charley moved slowly along
with him. No one was in sight in the
inclosure--no one seemed even to be
looking on. But opposite Brown
Mink's lodge, the old woman dashed
rage and dashed back again. The
next moment Charley passed through
the sliding panel and took up his
march TO headquarters.
so this is your last wild pet, eh,
Robcrt?" said Colonel Cummings as
they entered. He backed up to his
stove and surveyed Squaw Charley
good naturally. let me sec, now.
You've run the scale from devils
darning needle to a baby wolf. Next
thing. | suppose, you'll be introducing
us to youngish rattlesnake."
Lieutenant Fraser rumplcd his hair
shcepishly. "But you ought to see the
way they're treating him - banging
him around as If he were a dog"
HIN. He certainly doesn't look
strong"
"rhcy work him TO death, colonel"
The commanding officer laughed. az
rcdskin working must be sight for
sore eyes"
but they don't feed him, sir"
Tho outcast, wrapped close in his
blanket, lifted his plnchcd face tC
them.
How'd 1t happen didn't notice this
fellow during the march?" inquired
the colonel. a trlne suspiciousy.
"IIe was with the squaws vher
there was anything to do, but wher
we were on the move he fell to tbs
rear"
Didn't try TO get away"
mo. Just struggled along"
"Ah. DO you know whether or no
he took part in the fight the day VIZ
captured them?"
At the question a swift change came
little and bent his head until his chi'
rested upon his breast
Lieutenant Fraser threw out his arm
in mute reply No feathers, no paint
no gaudy shirt or bonnet marked TIL
Indian as warrior.
The elder man approached the silent
shrinking figure not unlsindlY "An'
what do YOU want me TO do for him
Robertf" he asked
Lieutenant Fraser sprang FORWARD
eagerly, his face shining. Hes s.
quiet and willing. slG-so ready to d
anything he's told, I'd be grateful
you thought YOU could trust him out
side the stockade. He could get tn
odds and ends from the bachelor
ness
IN he hanged, Robert" cried hi
superior, annoyed. Most men, jus
out of West Point, have an eye t
killing redskins, not coidling EN-"
The other crimsoued I'm sorr
YOU look at It that way, colonel" h
said. I'm ready to punish or kill I
the case of bad ones. But-you'n pal
don my saying til don't see that it
the duty of an officer TO harm a goo
one"
i Squaw Charley raised his head an
shifted tlMldly from foot to foot
We'll. Robert" said Colonel Gun
mings quietly, you still have the cas-
ern view of the Indian question. How
ever, let me ask you this: Has TIL
man a story, and what is 1t? For a
you know, he may deserve bein
banged around"
Lieutenant Fraser was shaking h
head in answer when swift came or
from the pariah. He searched in h
bosom, under the tattered waist, Dire
out the rag bound paper and hande
1t to the commanding officer.
Very carefully the latter read it, h
interest growing with every lin
Finally, giving 1t over to the lleutel
ant, he smiled Mt Squaw Charley.
That tells the tale" he said.
knew the man that wrote that when
was with Sibley in Minnesota, Il
summer after the massacre. He's
man that writes the truth. He tail
the truth, too, and | wish | had hi
here now, SO that be could interpr,
for me-"