The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1913-02-27
TANNING A
SHREW
By ELIZABETH WEED

well, what are you goin' to do
about it?'
az dunno. II l could git the gal to
marry me I'd be In fiery furnace toi
the rest Of my life. II let her alone
I'll be goin' around like whipped
rooster. It's six for one and half Il
dozen for the other"
"Why don't you git her down and
pummel her for awhile? Mebbe that
would take some O. the cussedneSS
outen her"
I'D like to see the man that could
git It out of her that away"
"You mought scare her"
This plan seemed to set the other
thinking. They were two backwoodS
men sitting by a campfire. Rogers
was the man who loved the shrew, and
Baxter was the friend who was adviS
ing him. Evidently in his last sug
gestion the latter had struck some
thing that warranted consideration.
What dye think would scare her.
"Injuns."
"Mebbe," said the other after some
thought. How'd you work itT'
WAL, you mought git some on 'em
often the reservation to put on their
war paint and come down on the gals
home. The neighbors mought be told
about ii. They'd chime in with the
plan, for she's terror to the hull lot
Of 'em. / think | know q redskin-
Arapahoe Jim. they call him-whO
would carry out the plan for jug
firewater"
The result Of this dialogue was that
one night soon after it occurred those
living near Tom Mcclure, the father
Of Madge Mcclure. began to talk OF
trouble on the reservation and express
ed fear that the Indians might break
away. Tom didn't take much stock
in the reports, but so many persons
talked with Madge about 1t that she
believed they were In earnest. Let
'em come" she said. iii be ready
for EN-"
One night when her father was away
Madge heard q distant whoopng and
saw the light of what she supposed
were burning houses. though they
were really bonfres. She locked all
the doors and, getting down two rifles
that hung on the wall. made prepare
lions for defense. The whoops came
nearer, and finally. looking out through
a window, she saw a sight capable OF
striking terror into the stoutest heart.
Half dozen Indians carrying lighted
brands were coming down the road
AS they drew nearer their war paint.
In the glare Of the burning wood. was
doubly savage looking. But they
didn't come as near as they had in
tended. for Madge sent a bullet In
among them. which altered the situa
ton. 1t tore the blanket Of one and
scraped the leg Of another. Baxter
was among them. dressed and = ted
as q redskin. Rogers. who was wait
ing a short distance up the road. was
to join them when they had got Madgt
scared and do the heroic by saving
her from their tomahawks. He was
to fire some shots in among them. anC
ut every shot a redskiD was to drop
When most Of them were put out OF
the fight the rest were to take to theil
heels and Rogers was to appear t.
Madge as her deliverer. She was ex
pected to be so badly scared and re
ceive such evidence OF Rogers power
that thereafter he would lead her lik'
a lamb.
This initiative of Madge's somewha
checked the enthusiasm of the Indians
but Baxter said to them, We'll MAKE
1t a bar'l," and led his braves on, ant
under the additional incentive the,
were ready to take the risk. But the,
straightway began their Indian tao
tics, crawling and lodging so tina
Madge was not able to locate them
Nevertheless an occasional shot CAM
from her fortress. usually followed b.
a yelp from some redskin who wa
either grazed or winged.
But they were too many for her. ant
while she was watchiN the front o
the house Baxter and an Indian tool
It In the rear and. getting on the roof
dropped down the chimney. Baxter 20
lead in his arm. but they captured tn
girl.
Trifing incidents often turn ger
erals original intentions, and the spi'
tied defense requiring the Indians t
skulk spoiled the plan. Rogers. NJ
knowing what to 90, rushed in. swor
blue streak at the savages. buSsii
not hurt any Of them. Madge. who's
eye was full of fire and who was pant
ing with fury, seeing that his adver
was of no advantage to her, let out o
him.
"why don't you go for 'em" sh
shrieked.
go for 'emr' repeated Rogers, lik
an actor who had forgotten his lines.
Il do believe you're one on EN-"
Baxter didn't know what to do G
say. Neither did ArapahOe Jim nC
the supers in the performance. Wheti
er Madge caught on to the fact thu
, there was q game In it all or gathere
courage from the inactivity Of her en-,
mics, she caught up broom and b.
gan to lay about her like fury. Bal
ter, who had a blank cartridge in b
t rife. fired it at her, but 1t only serve
? to enrage her. The Indians. not relisl
5 ing the broom beating, one by one g
out and away. Their leaders followe'
-