Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-01

Constantine slipped 1t into its place
and strobe away without a word.
| It was considerably later In the day
when Boyd discovered the Indians to
whom he had given the note talking
excitedly on the dock. Seeing Constan-
tine in argument with them, he ap'
preached to demand an explanation,
whereupon the quarter-breed held out
a silver dollar in his palm with the
words
These men say this money no
good"
What do you mean?"
"It no good No can buy grub at
Company store"
! Boyd saw that the group was eying
him suspiciOusly
Nonsense! What's the matter with
Iit?'
"Storekeeper laugh and say it come
! from you. He say take 1t back. He no
sell my people any -four"
It was evident that even Constan-
tine was vaguel.' distrustful.
Another native extended com,
saying:
"We want money like this"
Boyd took the piece and examined 1t,
whereupon light broke upon him.
The coin was stamped with the initials
of one Of the OIL fishing companies,
and he instantly recognized a ruse
practiced in the north during the days
of the first trading concerns. It had
been the custom of these companies to
pay their Indians in coins bearing
their own impress and to refuse all
other specie at their posts, thus conf
polling the natives to trade at com.
pany stores. BY carefully building III
this system they had obtained mo.
nopoly of Indian labor and 1t was evil
! dent that Marsh and his associates
had robbed the Aleuts in the some
manner during the days before the
consolidation. Boyd saw at once the
cause of the difficulty and undertook
to explain it, but he had small sue
cess. for the Indians had learned a
hard lesson and were loath to put con
fidence in the white mans promises
Seeing that his words carried no con
viction, Emerson gave up at last, say.
ing:
IF the company store won't take
this money, I'll sell you whatever you
need from the commissary. We are
not going to have any trouble over O
/ little thing like this"
| He marched the natives in body tc
the storehouse, where he saw to H. thai
they received what provisions they
needed and assisted them In Loading
their canoes.
But his amusement at the episode
! gave way to uneasiEess on the follow
| sv,-~ tho 10 fo oil r
report for work, and by noon his anx
iety resolved itself into strong sus
picion.
Bait had returned from the banks
ea,lier in the morning with news Of Q
struggle between his white crew and
4 Marsh's men. Georges boats had been
surrounded during the night, nets had
been cut, and several encounters nae
occurred, resulting in serious injury
Ito his men. The giant, in no ami able
4 n.coo, had returned for re,-force
lnents, stating t,:a* the situation wa:
! becoming more serious every hour
4 Hearing Of the desertion of the ma
i tives, he burst into profanity, thes
4 armed himself and returned TO thu
/ banks, while Boyd, now thorough,
alarmed, took a launch and sped vi
the river to Cherry's house, in the
4 hope that she could prevail upon hel
own recruits to return.
4 He found the girl ready to accom-
pany him, and they were about to EN-
bark when Chakawana came running
from the house as II in sudden fright
where you go?" she asked her mis-
tress.
Il am going to the Indian village
Yor stay here"
"No, no! no stop here alone. &C
long, too She cast a glance over hel
shoulder.
But Chakawana, what is the ma.
ter. Are you afraid?"
Eyes" Chakawana nodded her pref
ty head vigorously.
I. what are you afraid OFF," Bnyl
i asked; but she merely stared at hin
with eyes as black and round as OK
heart cherries, then renewed her en-
treaty. When she had received per
mission and had hurried back to the
house. her mistress remarked, with 6
puzzled frown:
II don't know what to make of fler
/ She and Constantine have been acting
very strangely Of late. She used to. be
the happiest sort of creature, always
laughing and singing, but she has
/ changed entirely during the last few
weeks. Both she and Constantine are
forever whispering to each other, ant
skulking about. until am getting ner
VOWS myself" Then as the Indian cir
came flying back with her tiny bab,
brother in her arms, Cherry added
"She's pretty, isn't she. GAIT bea1
ugly people around me-"
At the native village, in spite o.
every effort she and Boyd could make
tile Indians refused to go back =
work Many Of them, so they learned
had already reported to the other can
neries, evidently still doubtful Of En-
terson's assurances, and afraid to ruiz
the risk of offending their old employ
ers Those who were left were lazy
fellows who did not care to work un
der any circumstances; these merely
listened then shrugged their shoulder:
and walked away.
!. "Since they can't use your money a
the store, they don't seem to care
whether it is good or not" Cherry an
nounced, after time.