The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-11-19

The Flames Already Licking tho Fa-
sots at His Feet.
slowly forward. A yard from me she
stopped, hesitatins, not even yet thor
cughly convinced of my identity.
Isis it really you. Joseph Hay
ward?" her lips faltsred. Tell me, l
beg you, for-for l was never so fright
cned in my life"
There 10 nothing for you to fear.
mademoiselle. said quickly. regret
full enough to have startled her so. Il
am Joseph Hayward, the American. IT
was but to save you l played this
part"
She BARRED her lace in her hands,
sobbins hystertoally. her slender form
trembling.
"Oh, am glad-glad!" she managed
to whisper. Il am not superstitious.
not weak; but this was no real, 20
dreadful, that all thought left me. Oh,
how could you. how could you do
that?"
1T was all that was left for me to
do" l explained, my heart throbbing,
as l drew her hands from before her
face, and looked into her eyes. "You
must not blame mo, mademoiselle.
could not fight alone against them all.
l was crazed with despair when l first
thought of this. It was as though God
inspired me to the attempt"
My eyes looking beyond her saw
Girty on his knees, reaching for his
rifle in the dirt. Then he arose to his
feet. his face showing hard and ugly
in the firelight.
whats all this mad play about"
he calculated roughly. Come now,
speak up thar. or I'll try what lead kin
do. Are ye ghost, er man? Burn me
If I'm afraid O. either!"
Your courage has been tested" I
returned in humor. But you might
as we'll lower the gun Girty. There is
no occasion to shoot at me-" l stepped
out into fuller view. do you know me
now?"
He stared, uncertain, into my clay
streaked face. his eyes narrowed into
mere Sits.
Maybe I do. an maybe 1 DON'T" he
NNAAAAsSSN ~ AUOS VOcSAAdSOAys OF 10
like the lad who guided me into Har-
mar, but yer a sight for all that. II
yez had yer face washed, an more
hair shown could Judge better.
What's all this play-actin' about any.
how? Though t wasn't much play in
1t for me. reckon" pointing to Brady,
when got here. A inmate more, an
the man would have been sheeted in
fame"
l stepped toward him, amused to see
the man shrink back. halt startled still
at my weird decoration. and dropped
a hand heavily on his shoulder.
Does that feel like the grip Of a
phantom. you fool?" l asked sharply.
III 1t does I'll shut down tighter still
for your benefit. My tale can wait its
telling until we be we'll out of here,
There will be time enough then to sat.
isfy your curiosity. Those fellows may
get over their fright aud come back"
what fellowsr
"A mixed band of Miamis, O1ibwas
ard Shawnees- mostly Shawnees with
chief named Sis-e-te-wah!"
Huh! So it was those devils? The
same gang left at the foot of the
island. But there were no Shawnees
with them then. Sis-e-te-wah, did you
say? know the rascal. but never be-
fore did I hear of him being bold
enough for such deed. What stirred
him to it,"
There was a white man with them"
"Ah! Now>we have the truth red.
coat? and his eyes were On my jacket.
He wore one-stolen no doubtful
was no soldier. Mademoiselle knew
the man, a ruffian called Jules LAD
PIN"
He sased into my face a minute and
laughed. slapping his knee in sudden
merriment.
Lord! But that's a good one, boyi
BY the Lord Harry! t was a fine Joke
But maybe we better move. friend. for