Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-06-06
"It,s choctaw to Me-"

"It's Choctaw to Me-"
valley where the summer road lay
twice a coach's length beneath the
winter snow road-Stella trembled
with fear and prayed that Uncle
Billy's passengers might be men of
courage and strength, young men.
Poor Uncle Billy He was so old:
Fifty, forty-even the prime of life
is old age to youth so lately embarked
on the souls voyage.
Stella turned from the dark land,
scape to read again Gideon's letter
that had come the day before, an
other perturbing portent.
It was dated at Virginia City. For
tune has been good to me, sweet
STAR he wrote; $50 good that I pour
libations to her shrine and trust her
to give me in due time the one great
gift that is all of life for me.
I'm glad I dared fate. Such in
credible luck I've had! I was pros
pecting in the gorge just above your
fathers old, worked-out mine, and in
dilapidated cabin-built since we
left there, it was-I found cigar box
with a lot of bullion in it. 1t must
have been years there; for it was half
covered with pine needles fallen
through hole in the roof
"I came to this city, sold the stuff,
bought stocks, sold them, bought
again, and have now $1,000 good
money in the bank, besides more that
I've saved and my stock That five
thousand shall not be touched. 1t is
to found a home, our home! I'm
studying men. I'm trying to learn the
things you'd have me know, and do
something that you won't be ashamed
Of 1 think it will be teaming. There
are a couple of outfits here that go at
sheriff's sale tomorrow. If 1 can get
them cheap enough, and trusty men,
I'll buy, and lease other teams
And soon I'm coming to you-when
I'm used to my cane; and my clothes
and 1 are older friends; and when I've
picked up a few more points on stocks
and men
There's some secret on foot. Cad
wallader has been here for week or
two. He was blowing harder than
ever when he left two days ago; said
Virginia was doomed, mines worked
out, and lot more. That means
something's in the wind. I look for a
strike somewherethe announcement
of it, rather. 1t has already happened,
I'm sure; but the owners are keeping
dark till they can buy in all the stock
at bedrock figures.
Goodnight, little Star, These long
weeks have been years to me. When
/ come you'll see different Gideon
the same heart, though-and you'll
think me better than the old Gideon,
your lover always
1t was his first mans letter to Stel-
Ia She marveled at his fuency, yet
recalled their childish game of post
office and his smoothly worded though
ink-blotted epistles-
Who was Gideon? Many times she
had asked this question of him, once
of her father. He told her that Gideon
was a waif, and babe her think Of
something else
She started from the window with
sudden, unaimfng energy, as IL she
would shake free a hand already
grasping her. The sharp rap and dull
thump of Alvin's alternating crutch
and shoe came down the street, vel
come sounds to her.
Like draught of cool air on hot
cheek came his merry voice
Are you here, Miss Stellar" he
asked, poking his head through the
door into the dim room You stood
at the window minute ago."
YES; and so glad to see you. Al
vim Come in
81 can't stop a minute Here's some
stun that's been ON my mind ever
since it went through ON the wire be-
fore daylight yesterday It's Choctaw
to me- Some mans cipher. all right;
but I'll bet cookie that's Baowtard
Cad,s signature
stella looked up quickly. apprehen-
sion In her face. That means
GRO N Co1TlNuEDtl