The state herald., 1914-10-02

friend, II the message be SO important
Hamilton did not dispatch an officer?'
He had no choice. None volunteer.
ed for the task. and l was the selec-
tion OF the tribes. You question mo az
and more. you have the look Of It
You're not a woodsman, you say; then
l make a guess-youre a soldier"
II am" / returned quietly. AN en-
sign in the regular service"
Manner"
Joseph Hayward OF Fort Harmar."
''The gods be praised! Now is the
way made clear. You were travelling
thither7"
II am to be there tomorrow"
In ample time for my purpose. l
recall your name, Master Hayward, as
spoken by the Delawares. You were
at Chillicothe last springT" =
81 attended the council"
The very man, and now you can
serve me well. II may journey with
your"
Il am not overly fond OF white men
who turn Indian" said coldly. How
ever III see you safe to the fort gates
II you play no forest tricks on the
way. And now you might tell me who
It is am to companion with"
He grinned, showing his teeth. and
my eyes noted how firmly he held his
gun.
"A pledge is q pledge, Master Hay
ward" he answered, insolently. II am
called Simon Girty."
! involuntarily took step back
ward. staring into the mans face.
That he was renegade OF some sort,
! had realized from the first, yet 1t
had never once occurred to me that he
could be that bloody scoundrel, Girty.
There flashed across my mind the
stories had heard OF his atrocities:
his leadership OF Indians In midnight
forays; his malignant cruelty: the
heartlessness with which he watched
victims burning at the stake; his out
RACES on helpless women and children;
the fiendish acts of savagery with
which his brutal name was connected
along the border. And this was the
man-this cowardly-eyed bastard, who
stood there grinning into my face, evil
IDENTIFY amused at my undisguised ex-
preston OF horror. Protect, and guide
him! My first inclination was to strike
the man down In his tracks. kill him
as would venomous snake He
read all this In my eyes. in the stiffen-
ing OF my muscles.
mo. no. Master Hayward" he sneer-
ed, bringing his rife forward, don't
let the name frighten you. The half
you've heard OF me are lies. I'm not
so bad when all is told. and there is
more than one borderman who can re.
call my mercy. Kenton escaped the
stake through me. and there are white
women and children awaiting ransom
in Detroit because | interceded for
them. Now play fair. above board
see'" and he dropped his gun on the
grass. and held out his empty hands.
1T is easy to kill me. yet you will not
you are a soldier"
stood irresolute. hesitating. half
tempted still to come to blows. yet his
net disarmed me. Beast though he
might be ! could not kill him In cold
blood; | was no murderer. yet II was
n struggle TO resist
Now listen. Simon Glrty." man.
aged TO say. at last. There is no
friendship between US. now nor at any
time. | hold you murderous rene.
gade. white savage. to be shown less
mercy than an Indian dog. But leave
Others TO deal with you as you de-
serve. As you say, ! am n soldier. and
will act like one. have pledged you
my word OF guidance to Fort Harmar.
will keep the pledge TO the letter. but
no more. Beyond the gate you pro-
coed Mt your own risk, for lift no
hand TO protect you from just ven.
geancc. dospise you too much to
fear you. Pick up your rife. That is
all: now we win break our fast. and
go"
Convinced hs was that 6irty aetu.
hlly desired to reach the fort. although
somewhat Hkcptical ms TO his purpose
! felt no fear OF trcachcry, was OF too
great value to m, fellow TO warrant
an attack. 30. without hesitation. l
led the way, permitting him TO follow
or not. an he pleased. had II In my
mind to question him. but rcfrained
What would be tho usa1 The fellow
would only lie. in all probability. and
ono word would lead TO another. lilo
would have TO be explicit enough once
h. confronted linrmar. and my duty
merely consisted In delivering him
safely at tho gaten Of tho fort
Il was noon when We came TO tho
olearings, Uttered with stumpH. but
yielding view Of the distant river. and
tho scattered log houses OF Marietta.
Men wero At work In the fcldr, but
avoided thono m much pa possible. nj.
though they paused In their labor and
stared auHpioiouHly nj us m We ad.
vaneedi However was woil known.
my aisc making mo notable. and aH
our courHa was toward tho town. no