Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-23
lanuinr on. ..r s-n, Dnvld Bond.

on the plowed strip. cross dragging 1t
In preparation for the planting OF the
corn. As she drove up and down she
walked hatless in the sun. Her hair
was down md hung forward in two
bralds. She wore the snug jersey that
had been her mothers Her skirt was
tucked up, back and front, to be out
OF the way. II disclosed no red fan
mel petticont, however.
Not far away was Simon, starting
riding him to gobbe the greenheads as
they bit. The bull was revolving sulk-
fly on his picket rope and shedding his
long winter coat upon the new grass.
In Difference to his Unborn dislike Dal-
las was wearing m undcrskirt Of blue.
Though the evangelist had never
seen her trudging behind the mules, he
had often spoken Of It pityingly. Yet
ms he came toward her now he felt
only an unbounded pride in her unself-
ishness and in her brave efforts to
wrest living from the soil.
"a splendid Ruth" he murmured,
advancing; "a splendid Ruth toiling
In the fells.'
Seeing him, she gave a swift, trou-
bled glance at the shack. Then, avoid
ing kis eyes and without speaking,
she pulled up Ben and Betty and held
out n hand.
When he took it the pride of mo-
ment before changed to compassion.
He remembered that he must tell her
al in hnr fnC hn
saw traces of many a sleepless night
and Of n sapping worry.
Daughter, you are ILL" he declared
and kept a tight hold on her fingers.
NO; there amt anything the matter
with me, only"-still avoiding his eyes,
she turned to survey the narrowed
land--"only I'm some put out. This
sod
Never mind the sod" he said grave
ly. Il want to ask-did you see the
mountain" He loosed her fingers and
pointed an arm to the south.
She laughed. following his pointing.
yes did. Looks as If claims are
getting scarce, don't 1t? When nest
er has to file up there
was an OK team that had been trav-
cling to and fro across a quarter sec
ton since dawn. The team was now
at stand, and their driver was
slouching against his plow. Beyond
him were several gallopng dots.
"And you saw the cavalry" said
David Bond.
She assented.
zone word will tell you what it
means, Dallas. It's Indians"
| She showed no sign Of disquet.
/ Presently, when she had thought over
/ the announcement, she turned round
! to him, frankly meeting his gaze for
the first time That's funny" she
said. Why, last year all the way up
from Texas there wasn't an Indian
bothered u.s."
Last sum mer before you came the
soldiers at Brannon did not dare 60
more than n mile outside the lines to
hunt. 1t will be the same this sum-
mer. There is that stockade full of
prisoners, and four Of them are con
demned to be hanged. Before long the
Indians will be circling the post"
She looked away at the OK team
They were being taken from the plow
and put to n wagon.
Then again she turned squarely
What about Shanty TOWN." she said
with meaning
lie understood. "Shanty Town goes
when the troops go, enthusiastically
M atthews does not. lie will stay
at Brannon TO act as Interpreter"
He will" she said and colored.
He colored, too, feeling himself re
proved. but from under the wide bat
tered felt that had supplanted the nu
bla his eyes shone with no resentment
only fntherly tenderness.
You wonder why do not remain,
he began, 80 that Matthews could be
sent away. | shall tel. YOU"
She let the reins fail to the drag
THAT isn't it, she answered quickly
I'VE have no rieht to ask you to dc
anything after the way dad treated
you. But the colonel sent you over tc
tell us to look out didn't he? And be
keeps a man over there-pays him to
stay-and that man is n sight worse
than an indian
II could have that man dismissed,
he said slowly. "Please let me tel
you why don't. In the first place
the Indians are beginning TO act badly
very badly. They are invading Grow
territory and stealing from peaceful
bands. They are molesting whites
wherever they can find them and muir
dering, SO we can Judge that there
well be hard fighting, for the troops
Will seek to pay them up.
"Oh. Dallas. how pray TO see trou
bic stop. l am going to the Indians
know their leaders-have known
them for ten years or more. l shall
ask them to consider the good of their
squaws and children and property and
ask them to accept reservation life. II
they won't, | shall beg few of them
to come in with me and at least talk
treaty.
That is the first reason for my 60
Ing. The second is the Jamiesons. II
find those poor women and tell theil
captors that the four chiefs here are in
danger, l know mother and daughter
will be handed over to me-
You're right. You can save them
"God bless you for saying that. II
won't be pleasant with Matthews
here
But you must go, Never mind abou,