Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-10-08


mind.
He had 30 greatly depended on tn.
effect that would have been produced
by his triumphal return with the
baby that he was bitter with anger
Early in the afternoon he was al
Tshemauk Post in the chiefs tent.
"Is the child found 2" he asked
eagerly.
Old Nimissuts came out, shaking
his head dolefully.
"The child is utterly lost" he
said. "It may be dead by this time.
| Others have returned from up the
river, where they searched a long
time to the south-but they found
nothing"
Some Indians had gathered around
them. Curran suddenly thought Of a
way to obtain at least some graft
tude from Ameou.
"You must all seek againw he
cried. "The child must be found
One hundred dollars-which is two
hundred skins-I will give to the
man who brings that baby back to
the poor, suffering mother! See that
you all hunt until Ameou has her
child again"
In justice to the Indians it must be
said that every one had searched and
hunted already to the best Of his
ability. Yet the proffered money
started them again. Some sailed
forth through, the woods, while 9TH
ers, taking few provisions with
them, padded away to the north and
the south.
Ameou came out of the tent so
broken in body and mind that she
was a pitiful sight
Curran's offer to the Indians i'm
pressed her as a kindness to herself.
She put out her hand weakly, and
the man grasped it while she thank
ed him in a low, sobbing voice.
Curran patted her shoulder, as II
it, probably being quite unconscious
Of his action.
Don't despair" he said. AT any
the little uash. There surely is much
hope yet, for the child cannot be
dead. Scarface had surely no rea-
son to kill it, but only to play trick
for which he will be terribly pun
ished unless he himself brings little
Yellow Hair home"
Curran was a fine actor, playing
his part with consummate skill. HIS
voice was expressing deepest sympa-
thy. While the Indians had never
liked him, many Of them began to be
greatly impressed in his favor until
Mashkaugan, who had also come
near, suddenly burst out in short,
rasping laugh that caused a chill to
&c down the agents spine.
Curran turned on the hunchback
savagely, but met heinous, staring
eyes, before which his own, in spite
Of all effort, gave way and turned to
the ground. But Mashkaugan moved
quietly away, and Curran, much dis
turbed, returned to the post building.
With shaking hand he poured drink
from his bottle.
1t irked his soul to think that the
hunchback, who had always been at
his beck and call, was now appar-
emily turning against him.
OF course there was no danger
that he would speak, for he could
hardly do so without telling how he
had pushed Lorimer into the White
Rapids.
Yet the man might be going in
sane, and then, of course, there was
no saying what he would do.
While these unpleasant thoughts
were disturbing the agents mind
and caused him again to resort to
his fiery drink, Mashkaugan returned
to his shack. He sat on his bunk,
also a prey Of appalling emotions.
Even those Indians of the north
who have come under the influence Of
missionaries retain some trace Of an
cient beliefs. With the great major
ity it is more than a trace. To them
there are spirits in the plumed, wav
ing grasses, in the trees of the for
est, in the waters, the mountains and
the rocks.
The roar of thunder and the flash
Of lightning are manifestations Of
the spirits power. The fishes and
the fowls and every four-footed
thing is also the abode of spirits, Of
which some are good, but most are
evil.
Mashkaugan: made silent and SOM
Der by his deformity and Stunned by
many, owing to doubtful reputa-
ton for honesty, was more inclined
than many others to belief in the
evil spirits that moved all things of
heaven and earth.
Hitherto he had been guilty only
of illegal dealings. These had left
him as calm as any animal whose be-
havior is but the following Of an in
born instinct. Now, however, he be-
lieved himself guilty of murder for
the promise of large reward.
The face he had seen in the rapids
always seemed to be near him. He
beheld it nightly in dreams from
which he awoke covered with cold
sweat and trembling.
He could not get rid of it. Even
in the deep woods it had turned to
him CHASTITY and terrifying, and
made him shiver. He harbored deep
resentment toward the man who put
him in such plight.
81 am surely doomed to terrible
punishment" he told himself. ut is
coming. No man can feel as I do
unless spirits of evil are about him
and torturing him always"
The man looked about him as If
dreading the presence of some fiend
hidden in his shack who might at
any moment rend his limbs asunder
with clawe and fangs.
Then 1t was that an idea came to
him TO make retribution in some way
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