Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-02-19


The idol isn't there any longer Drake
continued.
but a white man who lives with the
natives hinted that they had taken 1t
up the river into the hills"
With this slight clew both Drake
and Wilkerson toiled unweariedly un-
til they had established the fact that
the idol had indeed been sent into an.
other part OF the country for safe keep
ing
Then they prepared to follow. hav.
ing found out that Dorr and Faver-
sham had vanished and were suppos-
ed also 10 have gone hillward
Mrs. Darnell most unwilllngiy con
Sented to stay behind. but yielded
when Drake set before her the diff
culties and perils OF the road they
must take.
Both men promised TO be gone only
so long as would be needful to recover
the idol. and TO both separately she
made II plain that she had gone as far
as she would in helping them.
The two men found a couple OF half
bloOds TO their liking and by judicious
expenditure Of money managed 30 get
together a small band TO accompany
them into the hills
IL was impressed upon them that the
trip was dangerous and that the hill
men frequently dropped what small
pretense they offered OF peaceableness
and warrcd on friend aud foe alike.
IL WIS through these also that they
learned more specifically the route
taken 10y the priests in charge OF the
idol
Equipped al last. they started forth
and for two days kept pretty closely
to the river. which wound about
through the hills. mounting slowly TO
its source in the muuntuius.
Several times they heard of Faver.
sham and porr. hut Wlkers0n refus
ed 70 turn aside or delay once on the
t-ail ~ the Idol And NJ last they
came within view Of tie little caval-
o,de which was escOrtins the god to
place OF safety.
Vile as were the men be had hired
WilkerSon dared not trust them too
far. lie knew that they were super,
stitious. and he feared that when Il
came to a battle between ayar.ce and
inborn terror OF the Supernatural he
would be left in the lurch.
So he warned Drake not to appear
too anxious and by no means to let
their followers know that they intend
ed 10 seize the imoge and take IL away
with them
But II the papers are In that IDOL"
Drake protested. we ought to be able
to get them and replace the old image.
with nobody tot the worse"
That may be possible" was the re-
sponse. "On the other hand. the plans
may be concealed so that It will take
time 10 find them"
They discussed a dozen plans and
dnally decided that the next night the
TWO Of them. accompanied only by
ihelr guide. should make the trial.
"Bnt suppOsing they have the image. /
where shall we find it," questioned
Drake. They have a lot OF stun In
their packs, and you may be sure they
have concealed the idol well. Unless
they feared its being stolen again they
wouldn't be going 10 all this pains"
We'll find II all right" was Wilker-
sons sole response.
The evening came when they were
10 put their scheme 20 the test Their |
own little company made camp and !
after supper gradually went 70 sleep.
Ii was 10 O'Clock when Wilkersop
nodded 10 Drake. and they quit their
places by the dying Ere.
Outside OF the circle they met the
man who was 10 guide them. aud one
glance at his brutal face showed VII |
kerson that he was once more con
fronted with a problem.
The man made no bones OF demand
Ing large extra sum in compensa-
uon for his risks and inumated with
extreme plainness tsat In case his ex. /
orbitant blackmail was not paid he
would not only not accompany them.
but put 1t out OF their power 20 90
alone
For an hour Wilkerson bargained
and haggleds but al TO no purpose. At