The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-07-10

.ua-ss-- 1852
Girty said a religious teacher, whom
the tribe loved more than a chief"
| crossed the narrow room twice. en-
deavoring to sum up the evidence
clearly.
A poor pretense for war, surely" |
said at last, but might be sufficient
to Indian mind"
More than one war, even among
civilized nations, has been started on
less, he answered soberly. Besides,
1t is my judgment all those devils want
is an excuse. They may have manu-
factured this out of whole cloth to
me It don't look reasonable. But you
nave ali the facts now, Hayward, and
can understand what to say and do.
Those red devils know our weakness,
and are wild to break loose. If l
send back formal letter by the hands
OF their messenger, denying any knowl
edge of this medicine man of theirs,
and expressing regret at his disap
pearance, they will consider it lie
know Indian nature; they have got
to be bluffed at their own game. Show
fear, and they are after you at once,
the whole pack in full cry, face them
boldly, and they hesitate If you go
straight to them, through the woods
to their council fire, an officer of this
garrison, in uniform, they will inter.
pref your coming as a sign that we
are not afraid Of their threats"
Then am to talk boldly; threaten,
if necessary"
With discretion-yes. 1t is our only
chance to avert war The scheme may
not work. but if it even results in de.
lay, it will be worth the effort"
When do ! start?"
AT dusk tonight. Come here first
for final instructions, and letter to
Hamilton. You will go up the Mus,
klngum to the forks by boat, and then
straight through the woods. There
must be no lettering on the march"
There will be none, sir; and what
about Girty?"
Il will hold him On some pretext un,
til morning. Your party will have fiji,
teen hours start"
There seemed nothing more, and,
after waiting a moment In silence, ]
saluted.
Very well, sir; that is all?"
"All at present"
turned toward the door, then hest.
tated as memory suddenly returned.
Pardon me, general" l said impul
siyely, but met a young woman in
the room yonder. Might inquire who
she may be-"
He stared at me with open mouth,
then laughed.
THE witch! never knew she was
in there, Hayward, or I should never
have exposed you to such danger
Said she anything about herself?"
Only her name-Rene D'Auvray."
Huh! that does not sound much
like the one she gave me, though by
my soul, I've forgotten it; twas jus,
as Frenchitled, and | never dared to
speak it aloud. How came she to tell
your"
That's the odd part of it, sir. Sh.
knew me, called me Monsieur Hay
ward and insisted | would remember
her when she named herself. Then
she did, but it was no name | ever
heard before, nor have / ever seen thu
face; I'd swear to that"
And she is not the sort to be for
gotten easily, If they raise such flow
ers in the Illinois country, would
like service there. The tale is, as
repeated by the soldiers who talked
with the boatmen, that she seeks hel
father, who left this Kaskaskia a yea,
since with Vigo, on a journey up the
Ohio. She stops at each settlement
to inquire, and the girl has money
French and English gold in plenty
Yet, ii this be the truth, there is small
hunting done. Once only was she al
the village for an hour; nor has she
spoken yet of departure. She puzzle,
me with her pert speech, and French
talk, for she pretends little under
standing of English. But that my wife
likes her should have sent the huss,
on her way before now
But general" ] asked, still lingen
ing, how came she to know ny
name?"
Perhaps you spoke it first in he,
hearing"
Not |, sir; We spoke OF other mat
ters." q
To Re CONTINUED