The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-04-03
IAD|AN'S revenge,
Old Lame Eear and a HaIf-Breed
Suuaw Start Lots Of Trouble.
exLouIsE MERRIFlELD.

ev LOUISE MERRIFiELO.
The only thing is this: When Al
worked at the Wolverine ranch last
wear this Indian used to drift around
every SO often after odd jobs to see
him through q spree up at Sundance
One day he struck a pony on the nose
with his fist, and AL kicked him out
0: the corral"
Well. he deserved It. didn't he?"
asked Mona, Indignantly.
The tall young rancher grinned
doubtfully. THAT amt tho point He'll
shoot Al on sight. They all do. An
Indian never forgives IN insult"
Mona stood on the same spot after
he had ridden OF. Behind her the
rough sandstone buttes rose in Jagged
outline. She loved the little squat
scrub pine trees scattered here and
there over them. Far below rolled the
river, its current parted here and
there by huge submerged trunks OF
trees. Sometimes a few bare limbs
stuck out OF the water like protesting
hands. The rambling row of ranch
buildings In the valley looked like
shingle houses built by children at
this distance Through the clear
morning air came a sound OF whistling.
Nobody but AL would whistle the
"Nocturnc in + Flat" at seven a. IN.
on Wyoming ranch. She closed
her eyes and smiled. biting her lip.
He had whistled il last night. all the
long dreamy ride home together, when
the two ponies almost touched tanks
SO near they were.
She had spent two years at the
Wolverine ranch. making it her head
quarters 1t had been such home
like place to a city bred girl She
had grown to care for every member
of the happy homesteader family. big
Rucky Rogers and Aunt Nanette, his
pretty. middle aged wife, and Dave.
their only son There was one more.
shy eyed, dimpling girl of seventeen.
and someway Mona never could get
acquainted with her She had told
Aunt Nanette Of il once, and was told
not to mind bit
Her own Ia nor me- don't under
stand her. clld so you certainly
cant. She ;!ways been like half
tanned panfher, tell her pa. Once
Davey he brol sht one of the crceturs
down to tame and he tied it up out
yOnder, and it seemed mild enough.
Good deal like an overgrown kitten,
you know, and enc day 1t gave jump
onto Davey's shoulder. and chawed a
chunk right out Course Kit amt
my own child. or Id have more to
say"
why. thought" began Mona
then stopped
AL Sloane stopped just outside the
kitchen door. smiling his foot on the
sill. And Aunt Nanctc rambled
straight ahead without seeing him.
Land no. | should hope not She
amt got drop of Wilkinson blood in
her. Her pa used to work over TO.
wards the mission school above the
reservation, ,carS ago. and there was
sort of half-brecd girl there. Oh, he
married her all right enough. and she
was good girl and knew lot too
Meant to be teacher to her own
folks some day. guess, only pa stop
ped that. He : terribly persuasive. you
know"
And do YOU mean that Kits half
Indian. Aunt Nanette?" Mona leaned
forward. so interested she forgot the
figure in the doorway.
More like a quarter. guess. Her
mas pa was white too Besides, child,
our Indians aren't like some folkses
They's got their regular home grants,
and all settled down respectable and
Christian as can be Only pa says
she'd never stay satisfied She wanted
to go back to her own folks, and she
died little after the baby came
was working at the post then. house.
keeper for Mrs Captain Frisbee. and
pa had to come over now and then. !
He'd bring his little bhe-eyed pap.
poose along. and 1t just pulled my
heart strings seeing him try to take /
care of her We was married about a !
year after. Amt never been sorry
. single day. neither" /,
Does Kit know" asked Sloane,
Il never heard all that yarn before,
Aunt Nanette." !,
Then you 60 and forget It, boy"
Aunt Nanette's tone was serious.
mo. she don't know, and her pa don't
want her to. But. land, can see the
lnjun coming out H. her stronger
every day. can't you, All"
Mona remembered how AL had
shifted ground. and lodged the ques.
ton. That had happened her first
year at the ranch. Often then. when
she had gone for her rides alone, or
for long walks up over the range. she