Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-05-20

While Jesse LOT the moment knew
not what to do or which way to
turn.
Fortunately the affair had been
witnessed by Eowah who, following
the robber in a casual way, learned
where he deposited the gun when he
reached his wickiup. To be depriv-
ed of his rifle was to Jesse very
serious matter, for without it he
could have little hope of rescuing
Frances and making his way in
safety back to DEBORAH.
If he succeeded in getting away
from the camp he had Jim Cobb to
fear, who, as soon as their absence
was discovered would, he believed,
be upon their trial.
Never would he have surrender
ed the rifle without a struggle had
he suspected the purpose of the In
dian in asking for it; but once out
of his hands there was no opportu-
nifty to reposess himself of it with
out struggle, which he well knew
would be utterly hopeless, for with
the powerful Sioux against him he
would have small chance; therefore
after an earnest protest to which
Cut-Nose paid not the slightest at
I tention, he quietly submitted re-
solving that he would reposess him
self of it at any risk before he left
the camp.
1t was the gun that had been pre-
scented to him by Olaf Federsen and
was the more highly valued on that
account; under no circumstances
therefore would he have parted with
it except under compulsion.
Now Jim Cobb who had conceal
ed himself behind nearby tree,
and had witnessed the incident,
could not contain himself when he
saw the red-skin walk away with
Jesse's gun, but bursting into loud
made off with the taunt which he
flung back as he disappeared among
the teepees-
'Ho. Ho! a brave defender of
injured innocence, you are Jess Bad
leigh, to give up your gun without
making any effort to hold on 20 it.
Frances Armstrong must be awful
proud of you. Ho! Ho! ha. ha."
If Jim Cobb mad seen the look of
scorn Jesse turned upon him he
would have shrivelled under it for
at heart he was a veritable coward
and feared Jesse more than he
would have cared to have known
As it was, he took himself off
chuckling immensely over the Incl
!, dent because it rendered Jesse so
much the less dangerous in the
/ dyent of a collision with himself,
which he felt must come before long.
/ When Eowah returned to the tee
pee she found Frances most eager
to be informed of everything that
had occurred during her absence, es-
pecially if anything had happened
to Jesse. The Indian girl told her
of all that had taken place between
| Cut-Nose and her friend also of the
arrangements she had made with
him for their escape from the camp,
as soon as it would be safe for
them to make the attempt by avoid
| ing under cover of darkness the pry-
| ing eyes Of Jim Cobb; and then she
declared with many earnest pro-
testations Of affection, spoken part
ly in the Sioux tongue and partly in
broken English, how much it griev-
ed her to part with her sister, the
White Lily, so soon after their
meeting with each other.
That night the hour of nine had
scarcely arrived when Cut-Nose en-
ed the wigwam of Little Crow,
in response to a summons from the
Sioux chief who had cited him with
others to assemble for the purpose
of discussing plans for mighty
hunt of the tribe down Root river,
the next day. Now there was really
no necessity for this council, as all
the details of the proposed hunt
could easily have been arranged in
short time in the morning, which
would doubtless have been done,
had it not been that Little Grow, in
formed by Eowah of the forcible
theft of Jesse's rife and the medi-
tated escape of Frances that night
with her lover, determined to open
the way for them by calling Cut
Nose from his wickiup and lessening
the chances for the discovery of the
fight.
Although the presence of Jesse in
the camp made necessary much
greater vigilance on the part of Jim
Cobb, that young man so far yielded
to the persuasions of the young
braves and the witchery of the
dark-skinned maidens as to be pres
ent and participate that same eve