The Holly chieftain., 1909-04-30
Rex Beach
cosva.onr ,soe. ~ nAnpga . sRorngaS

wouldn't he squaw men,"
MY father isn't shiftless." she chai-
lenged. Mt which he remained silent.
refusing 10 go on record. Isn't .
half breed just as good AZ white"
Look here" said he. what are
you driving at!''
I'm Blood" she declared reck-
lessiy. and want TO know what peo-
pie think OF me. The men around here
have never made me feel conscious Of
It, but
You're afraid Of these new people
who are coming, Ell? Well. don't wor-
ry about thar. miss. 1t wouldn't make
any difference to NE or to any Of your
friends whether you were red. white.
black or yellow
But 1t would make Il difference with
some people," insisted the girl.
"Oh, reckonit would with eastern
people. They look ut things kind of
funny, But we're not in the east"
That's what l wanted TO know.
Nice people back there wouldn't toll
crate = girl like me for moment.
would theyT''
He shrugged his shoulders. Il guess
you'd have hard time breaking in
among the 'bOntonners.' But what's
the use Of thinking about 1t: This is
your country, and these are your peo.
pie"
a morbid desire was upon her to
track down this Intangible racial dis
tinction. but she saw I.unnion. whom
she could not bear, coming tsward
them, 80 thanked Stark hurriedly and
went on her way.
Been making friends with that
squaw, eh?" remarked Runnion cas-
ually.
''ies" replied Stark. shes nice
little girl, and I like her. told her /
didn't have any part In thnt miners
meeting affaiE.',
.'Hnh! Whats the matter with you?
1t WAS Ill your doing
Il know It WIS. bnt didn't aim 1t
1t her. ] wanted that ground next to
Lees. and wanied to throw jolt
into Old Man Gale. ] couldn't let the
girl stand In my way. but now that
It's over I'm willing to be friends with
her.
ful as fawn. Shes white too No
body would ever know she was a
breed
"She's a good girl" said Stark nus
ingly in gentle tone that Runi.ion
had never heard before.
Getting kind of mushy. amt your
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
Burrell has thrown her down." chuc.
kled Runnion.
II never thought Of that. You may
5 be right"
"If It's true I'll shuf1e up hand for
that soldier"
Meanwhile Necia had passed on out
Of the town and through the Indian
village at the mouth OF the creek until
high up on the slopes she saw AIluna
and the little ones. She climbed up to
them and seated herself where she
could look far out over the westward
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 resoiute-
~ through dozen varying moods that
mirrored themselves In her delicate
face. 1t was her tirst soul struggle.
but In time the buoyancy Of youth and
the almighty optimism OF early love
prevailed And SO she was IN \ 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 nf Steam
bo-o-o.a,l" and by the time they had
reached home the little camp was noisy
witt, the plant OF wolf dogs There
were few men to Join In the welcome
today every ablebodicd inhabitant
having disappeared into the l.i,!s but
the aDin.als came trooping 'azi.y t" the
oank and sai down on their hiunches
watching the approaching steamer. In
their soft eyes the sadness Of canine
rae" Of slaves ~
The deserted aspect OF the town puz-
zled the captain OF the steamer. and
upon landing he made his way AT once
to John Gales store. where he ienrned
from the trader Of the strike and Of
the stampede that had resulted. Be-
fore the recital was finished man ap-
,roae he'd and spoke exciredly:
''Gap;,in. NY ticket reads to 'Daw-
son, Lul l'il getting OF here. Won't