The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-11
By MarUin Dane


George Mason. This was because he
heard that bis old love, Minnie Thrail.
now Mrs Silas French. had come with
her husband from the east to settle in
Oregon. Ultimately, the restlessness
resulted in his turning from the Cali
fornia mining camps and taking the
trail to the north.
He had no fear in thus yielding to
his longing for sight Of her face
after so many years. He fought his
fight, and he had won.
1t was in the early Sos that Mason
took the trail to the north. He had
been among the first to cross the con-
tinent to the Pacific slope. He had
been successful in his quest Of gold
successful beyond his needs, since
he had no zest for dissipation. and no
craving for the costly luxuries Of town.
Moreover, he loved most, after the
one woman, the solitudes Of the wilder
ness.
On his journey Mason had the good
fortune to save the life Of a Modoc
chief The red man had been cor
nered by a great, shaggy bear, Mason
happened upon the scene and quick
" dispatched the brute with his rife
His act gained for him the friendship
Of the tribe, which was suspected Of
being none too friendly toward the
whites He camped with the Indians
on the night Of the adventure.
Next morning Mason parted from
tho Indians, and resumed again his
march across the mountains. In two
days he reached the valley in which
Mrs. French lived and came at early
evening to her door.
Small use to attempt the telling Of
all that this meeting meant to Mason,
The matron was more nobly, more
wonderfully beautiful than the girl
had been. In his glamoured eyes she
was indeed the very queen Of women,
She was strangely glad to see him
and curiously kind to him-and tender
too, for his eyes, all unknowing, told
her Of his loyalty in love- The hus
band also gave Mason hearty greeting
Mason passed week Of happiness
such happiness thac 1t tortured him
But at the end Of seven days he bade
them farewell and returned to the
mountains. There, in a fair natura
park overlooking the valley. he bull
him a comfortable and strong cabin
Thenceforth he lived the solitary lif'
he most esteemed. He went but rarel!
to the valley.
The Modocs soon found him out
they made much of him for his servic,
to the chief, Leaping Bull AS the,
came to know him better their esteem
grew; finally he was adopted into th'
tribe and was given the name White
Bear.
When the Klamaths made an expedi
tion against the Modocs Mason Tough
with his tribe, side by side with Leap
ing Bull. His fighting qualities aidet
in the victory Of the Modocs and en-
deared him to them.
While the Indians loved Mason him
self they had no love for his race. s.
1t came about that on descending Il
the valley after a long period Of isc
lation he was Mortified to learn tina
band of Modocs had gone on the wa
path toward the south and had slail
half a hundred settlers Gen. Crosb,
was to march against them with dc
tachment Of troops the next day.
Mason returned to his cabin. hi
mind made up He would join th
troops in the morning and accompan,
them as a guide. He. and he alone
could lead them to that secret plac
among the mountains that Leapin
Bull had shown him. His Intimae
with the Indians could not for an II
slant release him from the duty b
owed to his own race. And, too, ther
the woman he loved She was Il
peril, in deadly peril, as was ever
man. woman and child IN the valley
49, - 49, s a..