The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-15

When the schoolmarm made her de-
mand this story came to Stag-Houhu 5
mind. 1t seemed the quickest way 10
earn 81 900 of which he knew, anu ne
determined to make the attempt ne
went into the north and traded MS
trinkets with the Canadian indians iol
all the priced trophies with which tney
would part. and when they would sen
no more he went into the mountains
and hunted. The tusks he got there
represented hardships which "ouiu
have killed most men; but the hard-
ships were past; Stag-Hound thought
smilingly of the future. He counted
the teeth again and his eyes shone'
Then he crept into his blanket.
Sleep would not come to stag
Hounds eyes, and he wondered at his
wakefulness. He was not hungry, ne
was not cold and what besides could
keep a man awake? The wind brought
a cry, and he sat up, alert. 1t was
only the plaintive whine of the cat in
the canyon, and he lay down lmpa-
tiently.
An hour passed, and still he had not
closed his eyes. Suddenly the horses
lifted their heads and snorted. He
heard the f1oundering of some animal
upon the frozen crust-perhaps hun
cry mountain lion coming to investi-
gate.
Stag-Hound's hand slipped to his
rifle, and he waited for the shifting of
the brute at the door.
My Gar, Oh my GAR" 1t was a
human voice gasping in agony. Stag
Hound sprang from his bunk and
hurled aside the log which propped the
door. A man fumbling at the side of
the cabin gave thick, inarticulate cry
and dropped unconscious.
Stag Hound carried him to his bunk
and covered him with blankets. To re
kindle the fire was moments work.
When the dried brush lighted the
cabin he went to look at the man in
the bunk.
Percy Dubois. the horse-thief." An
expression of dislike followed Stag
Hounds exclamation of amazement.
Percy Dubois, the French-andlndia
breed" who stole mems wives with
his suave tongue and handsome eyes,
Percy Dubois had robbed his cache
once upon time But Stag Hound cut
the boots from Dubois feet and rubbed
the marble-like face with snow till he
opened his eyes and screamed with
the pain of returning circulation. Percy
Dubois would rustic no more horses
his feet and hands were dead.
Il go for hunt mountain sheep
he said Il get off trail on re pass.
Pack-horse, saddle-horse, slip off re
mountain and slip to pieces on re rock
tree, four hundred feet down. by Gar.
No grub, no blanket, l walk, walk and
freeze." in his pain the half-breed wept
at the recollection of his sufferings.
Never mind, pard." said Stag
Hound, gently. Tomorrow I'll fix you
up comfortably here and strike out to
the Agency for help. Wen fetch you
out easy. Just keep a stiff upper
lip"
With the first faint light Of morning
Stag-Hound rode from the cabin. There
was one blanket tied behind his sad
die and a bit of jerked meat in his
pocket. He forced his horse down the
dangerous mountain trail and out upon
the trackless prairie. That night he
shivered beneath clump of willows
in a coulee which already sheltered
two or three half-starved cattle.
On the third day the sun was down
when Stag-Hound's exhausted horse
staggered over the slushy road which
led into the Agency. The chinook had
come at last.
There were lights and laughter in
Shapes, the Indian traders, store.
which. in the absence of saloons, was
the general gathering place for the
Indians, breeds, and whites of the
reservation. When Stag Hound threw
the reins over his horses head, he
could have cried at hearing the voices
OF his kind again. He opened the door
and stood before them, gaunt. haggard
his clothes in rags.
There was moments silence, then
great shout went up. They dragged
MIN forward and crowded about him
Even the faces of the Indians about
the stove wore looks of friendliness
An, 1t was good to be home again,
Inc welcome. the warmth, the com.
radeship made the blood run fast in
his veins. 1t was good, all good. but
he trembled in his eagerness to hear
of Her. He was vaguely SURPRISED
that her name was not on every
tongue. as it was ever in his heart
They told him the news eagerly; of
Dad Symonds, who froze on the Koot.
mai pass; of Hen" Barnes. sent over
the road again for rustling: of the
parties from st Paul who had bond.
ed the Bridal Chamber mine; of Pete
McDevitt. who married the souaw and
came to the Agency each Thursday
with her grub" ticket and the school.
marin from Cut Bank
Stag-Hound could not breathe: his
very heart stood still-"She married
Percy Dubois. the -. and they live
IN the shack on the Greasewood
Flats"
The blood left Stag Hounds face and
the world went rorud. He grasped the
counter hard to steady himself He
drew a sobb;ng breath that hurt him
then the blood came in a crimson flood
Where have you been?" asked
sharpe, the trader. first to break the
surprised silence.
'Been?' cried Stag Hound. hoarse,v
ve been maxim fool of nv.