The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-05-19


this job, too. He acted as IL he had
forgotten something besides the bow
and arrows, and about three yards of
string, which he had already brought
out In the way Of baggage. He
crawled between Sandy's legs. where
the latter stood In the door of the
tepee, put his arms around the old
woman's neck, and she made one
quick grab and held him close to her
breast. Some folks have an idea
squaws aren't like other women when
you get clear down below their outer
skin. Well, they are. Sandy was up
against II again, because he under
stood how she felt.
Then he argued with himself in this
fashion: Although | do know how
TO care for mules and dogs, / amt
much up on kids. Onc't when made
a shirt out Of buckskln for kid, 1t
took me six months. This old dame
would be mighty handy. So she's In
the play. She's goin' to be Mods
little nursery maid, because he likes
her; even II she IL a hundred and
fifty years old"
The chief didn't care. II meant one
mouth less to feed. and saved some
body from knocking her on the head
And she, poor wretch, divided be-
tween affection for her tribe, dis.
trust OF the white man, and love for
Mods, finally gave In to the latter, and
went along.
Well, In the course OF time, they
all landed In Canada gulch, and set
tied down into the happiest little par.
ty you ever saw Before they came,
the only partner Sandy had was
three'legged dog. Before they came,
an eight-by-ten shack had been big
enough. Now all this was changed.
Sandy had the finest cabin on the
gulch, The biggest In all the dis
/ trict. Had three rooms and big
| porch, and some store furniture. Quit
using tin plates and tin cups and tin
spoons, Swore Off on tin, and got so
that real china, a halfinch thick. the
real, fine kind they use In restaurants
In big cities, wasn't any too good.
Mods brought an addition into the
family, not being satisfied with loaf
ing around with the dog and Re.
becky. II was a shaggy little burro
He called II Pete. although Sandy
thought Jane would be more appro
pirate. because II wasn't a Pete"
kind OF burro.
! Sandy, wanting to give Mods an
dedication" used to come in at night
and laboriously teach him his A b
C's. until the little yellow head would
get the droops. and the eyes would
lose their velvety brightness. Then
any one passing the cabin would see
the glow OF pipe, and, IL he took
the trouble to walk up the path be-
tween the sweet-smelling flowers. he
would find a big. lank man sitting
on a bench In the darkness OF his
porch, looking far out over the hills
and the lights OF other cabins, and
either telling stories or holding tight
a tired little boy who had gone asleep
very fast asleep. Most always at
their feet was curled a three-legged
dog. ready to fight for them both II
harm offered. II you looked farther
where the lamp shone through the
|
bent old squaw, squatted on the
floor. making something out of beads
| When one Is happier than ever be
fore In all his life. and has every.
thing he wants, and all the love he
has starved for through all the years
the heels OF Times moccasins are
greased. Then Time Is young and
travels fast. The fellow who first
pictured him as slow. dragging old
man. with a gait like turtle. and
totlng a scythe, must have known him
only in trouble. That's when he goee
slow. Two years, which didn't seem
more than an hour long had passed
over before Time went slow In Can
ada gulch. then stopped and made
each day a month. each week an age
and lifetime a pack too heavy for
tho shoulders,
Sandy had piece of pipe to mend
and came up to the cabin. on the
point OF the hill. when he heard steps
He turned round inquiringly TO see q
man as big as himself And he
wasn't the sort Of man you like One
Of those bull-necked, thick.lipped
coarse-looking fellows. who leers in
stead Of smiles, and brags when he
talks.
I've come to get my boy-the one
you call Mods" he said.
The wrench dropped from Sandy's
clay.coyered hands. A minute be.
fore the birds had sung, the flowers
hloomed. and the sun shone. Now the
birds were Nolceless. the posies with,
out color, and the sun had slipped
from sight, II was very still. and all
the world was unreal and full Of
bloom, A blow In Saudy's face would
have brought instant response, bur
this stranger, IN a dozen words, had
hit full in the heart, so that Il al
most stopped beating, and. for the
first time In all his life, Sandy trem
bled and was afraid, and couldn't
strike back, He looked at the stran
ger, at the cabin, and then up int
I he Hu IL