The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-21

which he had borne in front of him on penetrating the cove. It was the child for whose sake Willock had separated himself from his kind.
 At first Willock thought he was dreaming The Indian made a sign to the little girl to remain with the horse, then he glided forward, holding some what ostentatiously, filled pipe in his extended hand.
 Was it you that left a pipe and tobacco on my stove two years ago?" Willock asked abruptly.
 "Yes. You got it? We will smoke" He seated himself gravely on the ground.
 Wiliock went into the ca bin and brought out the clay pipe. They smok- ed. Willock cast covert glances toward the girl. She stood slim and straight, her face rigid, her eyes fixed on the horse. Her limbs were bare and blanket that descended to her knees seemed her only garment. The face of the sleeping child of five was the same, however, as this of the seven-year-o maid, except that it had grown more beautiful.
 Willock was wonderfully moved, so much so that his manner, was harsh, his voice gruff in the extreme.
 ''Where'd you find her?'
 ''Not been lost. Her safe all time Sometime in one village-here, then there, two, three-move her about Safe all time. never forget. There she is. You take her?'' @z~ < ''sYes, I'll take her. Where's her. daddy P.
 ''Him great man.,
 "Well-go ahead; tell the rest of it.''
 Him settle among my. tribe; him never leave our country. Big country, fat country, very rich. Him change name-everything him one of us. Marry my daughter. That girl not his daughter-daughter of dead woman. Keep her away from him all time so him never see white man, white wom- an, white child, forget white people, be good Indian. The girl make him think of dead woman. When man marry again, not good to remember dead woman"
 He rose, straight as an arrow and turned his grim face toward the horse
 ''I see. And you don't want to tell me where he is. because you want him to forget he is a white man?''
 "Him always live with my people; him marry my daughter"
 4'Tell me this, is he far away?' '"'Very far. Many days. You never find him. You stay here, keep girl and me and my people your friends. You come after ihim-not your friends"
 ''Why, bless your heart, I never want to see that man again. Your daughter is welcome to him, but Pm afraid she's got a bad bargain. This girls just as I'd have her-unencumbered. I'm aw- full glad you come, pardner."
 He strode forward and addressed the girl, Are you willing to stay with me, little one?''
 She shrank back from the wild fig ure- During his two years of hiding in the mountains Willock had cared noth-, ing for his personal appearance. His garments on disintegratingx had been replaced by. skins, thus giving an ag- pect of assorted colors and materials rather remarkab ble.
 He was greatly disconcerted by her attitude. .'I guess I've been so much with myself that I ain't noticed my outside as a man ought. Won't you make your home with me, child?'' He held out his rough hand appea11ng1y.
 She retreated farther, saying with disapprovaI, Much hairw
 Willock laid his hand on his breast, returning, Much heartr'
 Him white, said the Indian, swing ing himself upon his horse. Him save your life. Some time me come visit, come eat, come stay with you.''
 As he wheeled about she held out her arms toward him, crying wildly: Don't go! Don't leave me! Him much hairY'
 The Indian dashed away without turning his head
 Good Lord, honey,'' exclaimed Will lock, at his wits, ends, don't cry! I can't do nothing if you cry. Won't you come look at your new home?'
 Hole in the groundT'I cried the girl desperately. '1 want my tepee. Am a prairie dog?'
 No, honey, you ain't- You and me is both white, and we ought to live to- gether. It ain't right for you to live with red people that kills and burns your own kith and Hn.''
 She-1ooked at him repellently through her streaming tears. Big hairr' she cried. Big hairr'
 And must I cut it of? I'll make my head as smooth as wonder bald headed mountain peak if it'll keep you from crying
 Her sobbing grew less violent. De spite his ferocious aspect, no fear could remain in her heart at sight of that distressed countenance, at sound of those concfliatory tones.
 I'm going to do whatever you say,~, honey, and you're going to be the queen of the cove. Amt you never been lonesome among all them red dev- ills? Ain't you missed your-poor nam my as died crossing the plains? It Ras me that buried her. Ain't you .4ever knowed how 1t felt to want to lay your head on somebody's shoulder and slip your little arms about his neck and go to sleep like an angel whatever was happening around? I guess 50! Well. that's me too. Here I've been for two long year never seeing nothing but wild animals or prowling savages