Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-01

wouldn't be squaw men."
"My father isn't shiftless," she chal. |
lcnged. ut which he remained silent,
refusing to go on record. isn't a
half breed Just as good as II whiteY
Look here" said he. what are
you driving atT
"Im blood" she declared reck.
lessly, land want to know what peo-
pie think of inc. The men around here
have never made me feel conscious Of
1t, but
You're afraid Of these new people
who nrc coming, CHI? We'll, don't wor-
~ about that, miss. 1t wouldn't make
any difference to me or to any Of your
friends whether you were rcd, white,
black or yellow"
But 1t would make difference with
some people," insisted the girl.
"Oh. I reckon 1t would with eastern
people. They look at things kind Of
funny. But we're not in the east"
That's what wanted to know.
Nice people back there wouldn't toll
crate Il girl like me for a moment,
would thcy?"
you'd have hard time breaking in
among the 'bontonncrs.' But what's
the use Of thinking about It? This Is
your country, and these are your peo-
ple."
A morbid desire was upon her 20
track down this intangible racial dis
tinction. but she saw Runnion, whom
ala tnrv 20 ri
them, so thanked Stark hurricdly and
won't on her way.
Been making friends with that
squaw, eh:" remarked Runnion cas-
ually.
yes" replied Stark. "She's a nice
little girl and like her. I told her
didn't have any part in that miners
meeting affair."
"Huh! What's the matter with you?
1t was ali your doing"
II know 1t was, but I didn't aim It
at her. I wanted that ground next to
Lees, and wanted to throw a Jolt
! into Old Man Gale. I couldn't let the
girl stand in my way. but now that
It's over I'm willing to be friends with
| her"
"Me too. BY heaven, she's as grace
frl as fawn. She's white too. No
body would ever know she was q
breed
"She's good girl" said Stark mus
ingly in gentle tone that Runnion
had never heard before.
Getting kind of mushy, amt you
I thought you had passed that stage,
old man."
mo; don't like her in that way"
''I'll lay you little eight to five that
Burrcll has thrown her down." chuc-
Killed. Runnion.
II never thought of that. You may
be right
IF it's true I'll shuttle up hand for
| that soldier"
Meanwhile Necia had passed on out
Of the town and through the Indian
village Mt the mouth Of the creek until
high up on the slopes she saw Alluna
and the little ones. She climbed up to
them and seated herself where she
valley. with the great stream flowing
half mile beneath her. She stayed
there all the morning, and. although
the day was bright and the bushes
bending with their burden of blue. she
picked no berries, but fought resolute-
ly through dozen varying moods that
mirrorcd themselves in her delicate
face. 1t was her first soul struggle
but in time the buoyancy Of youth and
the almighty optimism Of early love
prevailed. And so she was in n hap
pier frame Of mind when the little
company made their descent at mid
day.
As they approached the town they
heard the familiar cry Of Steam
bo-o-O-at" and by the time they had
reached home the little camp was noisy
with the plant Of wolf dogs. There
were few men to Join in the welcome
today, every abebodied inhabitan,
having disappeared into the hills, but
the animals came trooping lazily to the
oank and sat down on their launches
watching the approaching steamer. ir
their soft eyes the sadness Of canine
race Of slaves.
The deserted aspect Of the town puz
zled the captain of the steamer, ant
upon landing he made his way at once
to John Gales store, where he learned
from the trader Of the strike and O.
the stampede that had resulted. Be
fore the recital was finished man up
: preached and spoke excitedly:
Captain, my ticket reads to Daw
son, but I'm getting Off here. Won
) you have my outfit put ashore?" HI
was followed by group Of fellow
passengers, who made similar re
quest.
This place is good enough for me,
one of them said.
ME, too" another volunteered. "Thi
, strike is new, and we've hit her JUS
, in time"
: Outside Il dozen men had crowded
} NO Creek" Lee against the wall of tn
store and were clamoring to hea
/ about his find.
Stark wasted no time. With none,
In his hands, he secured dozen me-
who were willing to work for hire, TO
, there are always those who prefer til
surety Of ten coined dollars to the hop
) of hundred He swooped down wit
these helpers on his pile Of merchar
| disc that had lain beneath tarpaulin
on the river bank since the day he AM
, Runnion landed, and by midafternoo
IN OF