Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-05-07

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" l
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-
featured this out Of whole cloth; to
me 1t don't look reasonable. But you
have all the facts now, Hayward, and
can understand what to say and do.
Those red devils know our weakness,
and are wild to break loose. II |
send back a formal letter by the hands
OF. their messenger, denying any knowl-
edge of this medicine man of theirs,
n expressing regret at his disap-
pearance, they will consider it a 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,
II necessary"
With discretion-yes. 1t is our only
chance to avert war. The scheme may
not work, but II 1t even results in de-
lay, it will be worth the effort"
When do l start?"
AT dusk tonight. Come here first
for final instructions, and a letter to
Hamilton. You will go up the Mus
kingum 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 I'M
til morning. Your party will have if.
teen hours start"
There seemed nothing more, and,
after waiting a moment in silence, |
saluted.
Very we'll, sir; that is all?"
"All at present"
turned toward the door, then hest
tated. as memory suddenly returned.
Pardon. me, general" l said impul-
sively. but l met a young woman in
the room yonder. Might l inquire who
she may be?"
He stared at me with open mouth,
then laughed.
The witch! l never knew she was
in there, Hayward, or / 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 m she gave me, though by
my soul. I've forgotten it; twas Just
as Frenchifed, and / never dared to
speak 1t aloud. How came she to tell
you?"
That's the odd part Of it, sir. She
knew me, called me Monsieur Hay
ward and insisted l would remember
her when she named herself. Then
she did, but 1t was no name | ever
heard before, nor have ! ever seer the
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, l would
like service there. The tale is, as
repeated by the soldiers who talked
with the boatmen, that she seeks her
father, who left this Kaskaskia a year
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 at
the village for an hour; nor has she
spoken yet of departure. She puzzles
me with her pert speech, and French
talk, for she pretends little under.
standing Of English. But that my wife
likes her l should have sent the hussy
on her way before now"
But, general" l asked, still linger.
ing, how came she to know my
name?"
Perhaps you spoke 1t first in her
hearing"
mot l. sir; we spoke of other mat.
ters."