Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-08-06

MANsFIELD MIRROR
He stared at her 90 long. hat still
in hand. that !, thought he did not hear.
An oficer touched him on the shoulder
and spoke word.
"Ah. yes. certainly-St Clair. At
once. sir. but I don't envy you your
reception. BY Jove, l lost my wits
seeing such . woman as that here
In this hole. Someone send Masters
here"
He came quickly. a youngish lad,
with white hair and eyebrows. but
intelligent face, who never took his
eyes of Rene, Oldham spoke
brusquely.
Take this oflcer and the-the lady
to General st. Clair at nce Tell But
Ter l say 1t IL important. that he be
given immediate interview. Here, wait!
get the lady q horse somewhere. Cap
tain, a he take yoursr
with pleasure. sir; l win fetch the
animal"
They watched US depart until We had
crossed the ridge, Masters and ! trudg-
ing through the snow at the horses
head. Rene had drawn up her blanket,
but ! could see her eyes watching me,
when I glanced around at her. 1t wal
not long, however. until we came out
Of the forest, into a bit Of lowland near
the river. where a dozen tents. grimy
and dirty looking. stood on the bank.
There were soldiers everywhere, gath.
cred about the camp fires. with a few
guards patrolling beats along the for
est edge. Masters led the way through
the motley crowd up to the central
tent. There was delay there. Rene sit
ting motionless in the saddle, and l
waiting impatiently beside her. At
last Masters came back.
He will see you, SIR"
Very we'll: are there any women In
campf"
"A few. sir; 'non-com' wives mostly,
washerwomen and cooks; they are In
those two tents there-the officers
kitchens"
Take the lady over there. and leave
her in good hands. Rene"
She looked down at me.
"Yes, monsieur"
"This soldier will take you to some
women who will take cart Of you until
l come. You will wait for me-"
"Yes. monsieur"
I waited until they started. and then
advanced to the tent. A tall, slender
man, in q ~colonels uniform, pointed
the way within, and I stepped through
the narrow opening. The interior was
plain-a bearskin stretched on the
ground, two officers on campstools
against the canvas: a sentry beside
the open Zap standing motionless; q
rude table Of n unplaned board, and
behind 1t, seated, st. Clair. He was
a spare man. with broad shoulders and
prominent nose. wearing q long queue
Of thick, gray hair, which was plainly
visible below his three-cornered hat.
He was attired In blanket coat, with
hood dangling down his back. I had
met him once, but 1t was clear he
retained no recollection Of me. as he
surveyed me coldly across the table.
well, sir" he snapped. Colonel
Oldham says you bring news. Who
are you'll"
Ensign Hayward Of Fort Harmar,"
I answered. bringing my hand up in
salute. q" was sent with q message to
the Wyandots."
The stern lines of his face broke
into q grim smile.
"Ah, yes, l recall that. One of Har-
mars fool notions. Told him as much
when I got back. Well, your peace
offering didn't do much good. did 1t?
/ hear there is hell brewing in those
north woods"
TT Is already brewed, sir. The
tribes have got together to crush you.
They rendezvopsed on the Maumee."
Huh! that is a ways away. No
great danger from that source till we're
ready. What tribes we're there, do
you know"
Il saw them. sir; Wyandots, Potta-
wattomies, Shawnees, Delawares and
Miamis. There wer4 also some ojib-
was, and a sprinkling Of others,
mostly young warriors"
who heads the conspiracy"
Little Turtle, Of the Miamis, but
there are Englishmen with them also;
Hamilton himself was there"
"The cursed hound; 80 you were
there, with them. hey? A prisoner"
Yes, general; a scout named Ste
phen Brady and /. We got away by
means of a canoe on the river"
Where is Brady? know the old
coon"
"He died. sir. and l came on alone"
No one spoke, and / went on.
ut was a hard journey, and there
we're many delays on the way. came
as quickly as / could. sir, but l don't
think the savages are far behind"
"Oh, don't you. indeed" sarcastic
ally. 1T was not advice l was asking.
and as to what is in front Of us my
own scouts keep me posted. You're
young, and easily frightened. I hap
pen to know there isn't a hostile In.
dian within fifty miles Of us-not a
bloody one. I don't care what they
do up on the Maumee. Well 60 on
to the Miami towns tomorrow, raze
them, and be back to the Ohio before
that bunch gets started. I doubt II
there is a shot fired. It's all q big
bluff, sir; we've got them frightened
half to death. I wrote Washington so
q month ago."
CTo BE coNTINuED.)