The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-05-23

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red blossoms of the Indian paint brush all about him
{ lie was watching in silent mrh, the magPe who VA.
pallmg the young from robins nest, while the paIen
birds flew near, screaming in agony. ~ 1870
When he saw the girl he rose and took her Ia hia
arms with gentle laugh. She drew away iron hlin,
gazing on his face with look of horror, Not ior
second did she contemplate the deed Leyob had
freed her to perform but the thought OF It couid Ho'
be dispelled, and the knife lay in her bosom. .
She told her lover OF the fate prepared for them py
her husband and with frantic haste she tried to pull
mm from the gully, bidding him lose no time in Tying
and taking her with him. The stroked her hair
and held her trembling hands until she calmer; then
he told her his plan They would escape of course Or
course, foolish child Leyob would not overtake them
No horse could go faster than his "Blackblrd"; and
they would travel 10 the land OF the big waters 10 the
lana "hefe ue snow was not plenty She must nsi nan
age IN some way to procure that bag of nuggets OF fee
NNe s. Nhen me girl had handed them over 10 nun nun
he had hidden them under the floor of the cabin not
knowing that Leyob would suddenly grow suspicious,
and he without those gold pieces had no money at all,
and IN these days could fly far on the best
of horses, without money. The girl must go back and
tell !eyob that She could not find her chance to per-
form her deed that day that the man was TOO wary
and She was afraid that he suspected something.
lhe girl, haggard, wd-eyed, with fearing, hesating
cngng steps descended the mountain. All about her
the land CLEANED yellow for the golden rod had bios
somed she seemed piece OF moonlight win her
asly lace and dark eyes. astray in glowing gord.
When Leyob saw her coming he trembled until his
teeth chattered but he restrained his impulse and
meet her, and waited in the doorway, his eyes looking
eagerly over her hands and dress for signs OF that
which would proclaim her task accomplished.
When she him standing there, her courage failed
her She turned and started to run Leyob soon caught
her and The savage in his nature entirely uppermost
he dragged her home by the hair and beat her
For three days these repeated them
selves Leyob watched her So closely that she had
little chance TO hunt for the nuggets, and her lover
would not go without Them sending her back again and
again.
One night Leyob entirely exhausted slept, and the
girl saw her chance Quietly, but with feyerish haste.
She raised by the boards of the floor and hunted
for the money. Over the earth underneath she
again and again; then she sank back with gssping
breath
"Thad moneys gone" she whispered She was ia
an agony OF fright for fear Leyob had found it. In
TACT her terror that she longer had any
sense OF purpose IN her actions, And as the night
progressed she grew afraid that she might the knife
on her lover that the terrible eyes of Leyob would
compel it.
The next morning she dragged herself from, the
cabin door before the day had fairly come. AS she
wondered amlessy through the trees toward the noun
tain, she heard a strange rapping and scratching 70
her trained woodland ear there something I'm
canny in the sound Cautiously She encircled a tree
from which the noise amanated. She suuenly
tpon the pet magpie The bird was holding something
IN his beak which he evidently trying to tear or
break, pecltng and pulling it, and every now and
then knocking II against the trunk Of tree. Covered
with dirt from recent burying it was, >ert'eless
the girl recognized it, for twice had she pifeIed from
IT'S rlghful owner 1t was the buckskin bag that
tanned Pete Riyes gold nuggets She gave faint cry
OF Joy winch the quick ears of the thevng bird de-
after him Il too heavy for him to fly With The
girl soon ponnced upon him and fought him until she
recovered The bag. Then she hid her face and cried
freedom
She started climb up the mountain when she heard
Leyob come out of the cabin useless to try to
60 now, for he was evidently hunting her. Where
should She conceal the money! On limb above her
sat the magpie watching with his wicked eyes and cali
ng "Aluck-a-muck cha-co, tillcum Good come
friend). He would dig il out uncover it wherever
She should hide it She could not conceal it in her
,othes-Leyob was always dragging her about and the
rag would inevitably fall What Should She do With
-eyob coming and the magpie watching? She saw
follow near the trunk Of tree and taking stick. she
lug so much deeper that she thought the bird could
lot remove the earth AT the last She placed
N top
Leyob came toward her through the trees The day
vas dawnmg Across the amber horizon belated
ight bird was Hying homeward Leyob took the girl
y the hand and dragged her through the waking world
nd into the cabin His patience was at an end he was
nad with jealousy Pulling the girl to the window he
ooked again for signs Of blood The fire within Leyobs
east had reached white heat; he spoke quietly and
gently.
4 shall kill you to-dayl" he said. Tomorrow it is
is turn!"
All day long she pleaded with him. tried her coouery
red her tears; but She only succeeded in putting off
he time
With sunset the wind mmenced to blow 1t came
rom the mountains, raging; it shook the calm Jared
n the tame OF the lamp. Leyob tied her hands and
eet and propped her against the wall He could not
Mss his aim in any event-but it did not suit him thar
he should run screaming about the room at the last
She fastened upon him her terrified eyes. saying over
md over thickly and slowly
,ut with the knfe'
The man raised his gun; at the same moment there
aine tapping at the window inSistent
ing loudly between the gusts of the storm then the
oice of the magpe shreked raucously "Muck-a-
nuck"
Leyob superstitiously lowered his weapon The bird
lad not visited the cabin since his was evicted
he opened the door and the bird futtered across
he floor to the girl He ran forward and backward IN
strange, excited manner. eyob looked questoningly
It her, then he united her feet, and graspng her i'm
risoned hands, he followed the magpe into the outer
world
The night possessed the earth Through the swav;no
me bougfs the red moon rising and the needles
atchng the weird glitter, shone like golden fringes
he Wnd-tossed mountains mourned with mighty Voice
S they rose, purple and splendid beneath the coming
ght
Once or twice the mrd broke into maniacal calling
hat was caught by the wind and carried onward
Ncross their way lay fallen tree, and the maggie
umped upon it. rendng the air with its screams
ndeT the prone trunk his hands thrust into the hole
herein the girl had buried the gold Law the maeoe's
laster. Leyob. with his great strength rolled tbs
rec from him. He turned the mans face up to the
loonght-he was dead
The girl stood with her hands tied and held over her
cad, grasping the limb of tree behind her Sb.
azed silently horror and anguish freezing the mowers
her brain. Alter ALL she had killed him Tbs bois