The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1911-12-23

| reached down into its hollow. There
were dry leaves, and beneath small
rocks. freshly placed there. but under
| both her hand came in contact with
| something foreign. something sharp
and queer to the touch She lifted it
out, held it up to the light and gave
quick gasp of amazement. Then,
returning. she turned about and made
for the post
1t was mfd-afternoon before she
| reached the post. too late to stop the
detachment that had already started
for the reservation to head of the
war parties. Signal fires must not
be lighted that night on distant hills
or by morning there would be open
war and bloodshed. When Vivien ar
rived she threw her bride to the first
soldier she met. and limped toward
the coIonePs quarters. lame and al
most dazed after her race but clasped
in her hand was the necklet
Can you ride with me to the res
ervation?" asked the old fellow,
watching the flushed girl face mar
rowly. Il shall need you"
I could ride anywhere now" she
said
Fifteen minutes later. on a fresh
horse, she rode with the colonel and
escort straight out toward the reser-
walton.
Whoever carries that necklet bears
power to sway the whole tribe the
colonel told her. THAT brave you
saw at the spring must have been
Flying Fox himself, but who was the
woman? The wife of the medicine
man is over thirty-five, and is fat and
already Old
"Oh. this girl was young. and al
most handsome, colonel" protested
Vivien- And she wore two eagle
feathers behind her ear
I'VE will find her. Whoever she
is, she is the thief"
It was almost shutdown when they
came in sight of the tepees OF the
reservation. On a small hillock an
arrows fight from the entrance to
the stockade were the major and
his men. waiting the going down of
the sun as the signal to open fire. Up
and down, before the tepees raced
the young braves on their war ponies.
nearly nude, and brightly painted.
yelling wildly. The dull thud of the
tomtOms came family over the plain.
Not until they reached the main
tepee. where Broken Bow himself
held court. did the colonel dismount
and help Vivian from her horse. The
major had gaIloped to meet them. his
face stern and haggard as he realized
their peril
The truce ends at shutdown.
colonel" he shouted
at IS not shutdown yet, my boy"
said the old man. and he led the way
into the tent where Broken Bow
waited with the medicine man and
his wife and the old men of the tribe
The chief returned the coloneIs saIu-
tation graveIy.
at is too late,' he said; ct have
no power to quen them Flying Fox
has been acclaimed their chief. and
rides to light the signal fires to call
the other tribes. 1 have no power
now"
a long high wall came from the
medicine man, and his wife looked at
Vfvien. as one women stares at an
other she has never seen. Suddenly
girl, tearing at the necklet that rested
about her throat Vivien threw off
the clinging hands. and held the
necklet high above her head out of
reach to the hands of Broken Bow.
1.-The white sQuaw holds the bal
ance of power in her hands, said the
old chief Send messengers to say
we have the neckIet. and the gift re-
turns to our side. not Flying Fox's''
Suddenly Vivien heard a low gasp
behind her, and turned to find the
girl who had hidden the necklet at
the spring. She caught her wrist. and
held fast. as she called to the major
what she knew of her.
ct is Evening Star" said Broken
Bow, sternly, my own daughter. She
had stolen the necklet for him, to
give him victory. What shall her
punishment be at the hands of the
great white father?" He looked at
the old colonel, and the colonel
looked at Vivien. standing beside the
major And Vivien, reading the look
in the Indian girls eyes. gave SEN
tence.
Let her be banished with Flying
Fox to the North country"
Thou hast said,' replied Broken
Bow. but the girl smiled back at
Vivien as they led her forth to her
exile, and understood.