The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1909-03-05

Cfone5, Bones
~ find Bugs.

When the - university scientlnc
! expedition was made up 1t was de-
clded to unite professional work with
| pleasure. Some Of the professors TOOK
| their wives, some their daughters. and
among the bachelors and young ladies
were one or two incipient love AFFAIRS.
For instance, Miss Nellie Marchand'
whose father occupied the chair OF
the French language and literature,
had been attracted TO young Professor
| Stewart, curator of the university mu-
| scum. Professor Stewart was so in
| tent upon stones, bones and bugs that
he had no eye for the charms Of the
young lady, who. by the bye. was very
pretty.
Having reached a far western spot
rich in geological and other specimens.
the party settled for the summer IN
camp. making fOrays In parties, In
couples or individually. When they
left the east the Indians on a not far
distant reservation were as peaceful as
n litter Of kittens. Before the unlver-
sity party had been In camp a fort
night the red men had broken their lin
Its and were ready to tomahawk any
white man, oma or child they met.
One morning a cowboy rode into the
camp and announced the fact to the
startled intellectuals. What added to
the terror occasioned by the news was
that there were several small groups
at the time out looking for specimens.
Among those who were out and did
not come In was the curator. Miss
Nellie Marchand took note Of this fact
before any one else. Although she
was in agony at his danger, she said
nothing. but started out In the direc-
ton she had seen the professor 60 an
hour before to warn him. She walked
a mile, regardless of her own danger,
In her effort to warn the man she
loved, when, coming to a rise In the
ground, she saw a sight that para
lyzed her. Barely 200 yards from her
was Professor Stewart cracking a stone
with a hammer, and not a hundred
yards from the professor were a dozen
Indians on ponies dashing toward him
with blood In their eyes.
The first thing Miss Marchand did
was to faint. This was blind luck, for,
falling. she was concealed from view.
Meanwhile the red men swooped
down on the professor, who on hear
Ing a clatter looked up to behold i'm
mediate redhot death. However, since
he was one white man against their
dozen they were not In a hurry. Tor
ture or murder might wait. What they
were first absorbed In was their cap
tive's possessions. They knew enough
OF civilization to appreciate the value
Of his watch, hammer, loose change
and penknife. They plunged their
hands In his other pockets and took
out stones. Every receptacle was filled
with ~them-stones, stones, nothing
but stones. But In his inside vest
pocket were some decayed bones. The
Indians looked at one another In won
der.
A tiny box lay "a Suddenly no
ticing 1t, they made a rush for II.
Here at last must be something they
could exchange for fire water. for pow
der, lead, blankets. Opening It, their
wonder was tenfold. 1t was full of
bugs.
Suddenly an explanation came to the
leader. He tapped his forehead with
his finger. The others saw his mean.
Ing and assented. The professor was
an imbecile.
One OF the redeeming features Of the
North American Indian has always
been kindness for the feebleminded.
Any injury to such persons they con.
slider sure to be visited upon them.
They closed the bug box and handed
1t to their captive. They picked up
the stones they had scattered about
and placed them again In the profess.
ors pockets. They restored his watch
and other useful articles. Then. their
march for a definite purpose having
been interrupted, they mounted their
ponies and rode hurriedly away. Pro-
lessor Stewart turned his face straight
toward the camp and began to triangu-
late In that direction.
.Miss Marchand recovered conscious.
ness, crawled forward and, looking
over the crest. saw the Indians riiing
what she supposed to be the curator's
dead body. She tainted again. When
the professor came that way with his
stones and bones and his box of bugs
he saw a sight that astonished him
the body Of Miss Marchand. PERHAPS
It was an exuberance Of feeling at his
escape; perhaps II was the girls con.
d!tion. At any rate, 1t struck him that
there was something In her dearer
than stones, bones and bugs. Kneeling
beside her, he pressed his warm lips
against her cold ones.
Now. 1t happened that after Miss
Marchand started out to warn Profess.
or Stewart not only she, but the pro-
lessor. was missed. Every one in
camp started out In n different direc.
lion to hunt for them. Mrs. Marchand
and Professor Mackinnon happened
to meet neal the very spot where Pro-
fessor Stewart found Miss Nellie and
at the moment he kissed her.
Under the warmth Of the c%urator's
kiss the young lady revived. gave a lit.
tie shrek Of delight at seeing him
safe. then caught sight Of her mother
approaching. She rose. blushing. Pro.
lessor Stewart, elated at his escape,
shouted:
"Hurrah! I'm crazy"
II should think So" said Mrs. Mar
chand severely.
This recalled the professor to him
self, and while the four were hurrying
70 camp he explained what had occa-