The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1909-05-07
Bill
By CAROLINE LOCKHART


1t was not surprising that the school.
marin from Cut Bank shortly owned
Stag-Hound Bill, body and soul, since
Stag-Hound's heart was like a dead,
ripe peach hanging over a wall on a
public road.
The schoolmarm had come a-visit.
Ing a squaw-man's family on the Clear
water, where Stag-Hound was haying
that he might make a stake M get
back to his prospecting in the Oun
tains. The schoolmarm smiled upon
him, and the pounding of his heart
IN his breast almost choked I'm.
At the trOut-hole under the willows
Stag-Hound told her he loved her; and
he schoolmarm. sitting on the bank
beside him, looked curiously at his
glorified face.
Il haven't anything to offer you,"
he said, simply, because l have
thought of this-for myself. Hunting,
trapping and prospecting suited me,
and l have lived the life | like best. l
have never tried to make money, but if
you like me enough, l will work: l
will take care of you; you need not be
afraid. You wouldn't be afraid to
trust me?'
The schoolmarm glanced at his
broad shoulders. the hairy hands
which told of his bear-like strength,
and dropped her ash-blonde lashes
coyly.
When Stag-Hound let her breathe
again she said, pouting: Il wouldn't
get married until I could have as good
a house as the storekeeper's over to
the Agency"
"Wouldn't you?" Stag-Hound's face
grew troubled. 1T would cost a thou
sand dollars to build a house like that"
Il don't care; nothin's too good for
me-"
you're right! Sure, you're right"
replied Stag-Hound, in a wave Of pride
and tenderness. "Nothin's too good
for you! I'll get you a house like
that; l don't know just how, but some
how"
Its no use talking marry until you
do" she said, bluntly.
"Tll get it," Stag-Hound reiterated,
after a moments hurt silence. Just
wait for me a little, that's all ASA"
He squared his jaw, %doggedly.
The Agency was mystifed when
Stag-Hound invested the proceeds of
his work in ribbons, beads, brass
watch-chains, INC stick candy.
Coin peddlin?' inquired the grin
ming Agency.
Coin to sell neckties to the noun.
tain goats" replied Stag-Hound, curt
ly, and puzzled the Agency still fur
Their by turning his horses heads
to the north at a time Of the year
when the sparse population Of the
country was moving into the settle
ments for safety and society. Just
before the first snow came, Stag
Hound, his saddle-bags bullying with
grub his belt with cartridges, rode.
a solitary figure, along the trail which
wound among the foothills Of the
Rockies. He smiled as he turned in
his saddle and looked his last on civ
tliZatiOn; the schOolmarm from Cut
Bank had said she would wait.
At nightfall, towards the end of a
bitter day, Stag-Hound sat before the
fireplace in a deserted cabin halfway
up Chief mountain. The heat of the
blaze set his damp clothes steaming,
and he smiled contentedly as his body
felt the warmth of it. The horses stood
in n end Of the cabin, their
legs cut by the crust of sno through
which they had travelled. They We're
.,oDr n-I l,1 ,<o 3d. Y---,
had not the heart to turn them into
the numbing cold. Besides, they were
something alive, and so miles of drifts
separated him from any human being.
He went back to the fire and drew
his saddle-bags towards him. There
was coffee, just a handful, but enough
to last a day or so-a tiny slab Of
bacon, a pint of flour, and a bit of
jerked deer-meat. Grub was getting
down to bedrock, but Stag-Hound had
been in worse straits; that so little
food lay between him and hunger did
not disturb him. His face was radi-
ant as he took a canvas sack from the
saddle-bags and thrust his hand in.
side.
AAoiS tlcy "clC'-d uuluIeu elk
teeth!-a thousand dollars!-a house
like the storekeeper's!-and the WON
an he loved!
There long had been a story afoat
on the reservation and its borders
that an eastern branch of the Society
of Elks would give $1,000 for 100 elk
teeth. The story passed from mouth
to mouth, and was believed. but no one
made an effort To earn the money An