The evening world., 1912-02-23

A murmur OF angry amazement
arose. White Antelope. n Kindly.
peaceable Cree. who had not an enemy
In the reservation!
''This is DREADFUL" declared Macarthur.
believe me'-he turned TO them all
II had but found the corpse myself
when these men rode up. Tho Indian
was cold: no certainly had been dead
for hours. Besides" no demanded.
what possible motive could I haveT"
"rhcm as likes iettin' blood don't need
a motive" The sneoring voice WA
Smith's.
But you. sir. met u on the hill. You
know tho direction from which we
came"
IT'S easy enough to otruesL"
but why should I 90 backf" cried
Macarthur.
They say there's that that draws
folks back for another look"
smiths insinuatiOus. the stand he
took. a its effect upon the Indians
who. hot for revenge, needed only this
to confirm their suspicious. One OF the
ndlans on horseback began TO uncoll
his rawhide saddle-rope. All saw Nc
Arthur understood tho Significance OF
the action. They mean to tie him hand
and foot and take him to the Agency.
with blows n insults plentiful en-
route.
They edged closer to him. every sav-
age instinct uppermost. their faces dark
and menacing. Macarthur. his eyes
sweeping the circle. felt that he had not
one friend. not one. In the motley.
threatening crowd fast closing In upon
him: for Tubbs. hearing himself indi-
rec,iy included in the accusation. had
discreetly. and with ~percept!ble haste.
Withdrawn.
The indian swung from his saddle.
rope In hand, and advanced upon Nc
Arthur with unmiytakable purpose; but
ne did not reach the little scientist. for
SUSIE darted from tho circle. her Nash
ing eyes looking more curiously at vari.
ance than ever with her tawny skin.
NO, no. Running Rabbit" She
puehed him gently backward with her
nnger-tips upon mis- chest.
There was a murmur OF protest from
the crowd. and II seemed to wing her
like n spur. Susie was not accustomed
To disapprovai. She turned to where
tho murmurs came loudest-from me
white grub-liners. who were eager for
excitement.
who are you" she cried. "rhat you
should be 20 quick TO accuse this
stranger? You. Arkansaw Red. that
skipped from Kansas for KILN a Mig
ger! You. Jim Padden. that moi q
sheep-herder In cold blood! You. Banjo
Johnson, that's hidin' out this minute!
Don't you all be so darned anxious 10
hang another man. when there's a rope
waitin' somewhere for your W necks!
And lemme tell you"-she took a
step toward them. The ma that
--- - s.L. tkA. has1 "A
10 the Agency can take his blankets
along at the same time. for there'l
never DO a bunk or a seat at the table
for him on this ranch az long as no
lives. Where's your proof against
this bug-hunter? You can't drag a
man on without something against
him-just because you want to hang
somebody
Some sound from Smith attracted
her attention. she wheeled upon him,
and, with her hin arm outstretched
as she pointed at him in scorn. she
cried shriily:
why, I'd sooner think o aid IT,
than HIM"
There vas not 80 much as the flicker
OF an eyelii from Smith.
II know you'd sooner think ! did It
than him." he said. playing upon the
word. you'd like to see me get my
neck stretched"
His hravado, his very i~nsolence. was
his protection.
And maybe IN have the chanst'"
she retorted %furiously.
Turning from him to the Indians. her
voice dropped. the harsh language taxi
ing on the soft accent Of the squaws as
she spoke TO them In their own tongue.
Like many h%alf-breeds, Susie seldom
admitted that she either understood or
could speak the Indian language. She
had an amusing fashion of referring
even to her relatives as those lnjuns;'
but now, with hands outstretched. she
pleaded.
1--WE are all Indians together In this
friends OF White Antelope. Our hearts