Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-01-27
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

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its and were ready to tomahawk any
white man, woman or child they met.
One morning 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 I'M 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 rise in the
ground, she saw a sight that para
lyzed her. Barely 200 yards from her
was Professor Stewart cracking stone
with hammer, and not a hundred
yards from the professor were 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 clatter looked up to behold i'm
mediate redhot death. However, since
he was one white man against their
dozen they were not in 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 hts other pockets and took
out stones. Every receptacle was filed
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 near. Suddenly no.
ticing IT, they made a rrlsh for It,
Here at last must be something they
could exchange for fire water, for pow
der, lead, blankets. Opening it, their
wonder was tenfold. It 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
it 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 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 rifling
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 sight that astonished him
the body of Miss Marchand. Perhaps
it was an exuberance of feeling at his
escape: perhaps it was the girls con-
dition. At any rate, it 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. It 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 a different direc-
ton to hunt for them. Mrs. Marchand
and Professor Mackinnon happened
to meet near the very spot where Pro-
lessor Stewart found Miss Nellie and
at the moment he kissed her.
Under the warmth of the curator's
kiss the young lady revived, gave lit
tie shrek of delight at seeing him
safe, then caught sight of her mother
approaching. She rose. blushing. Pro-
fessor 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
TO camp he explained what had occa-
stoned his apparently idiotic remark
Professor Stewart says it was Miss
Marchand's brave act in going to look
for him that settled matters between
them. ANNA BENTLEY.