The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1915-10-22
CHAPTER ~.
A Mysterious Guest.

~ gloom sufficiently to distin-
guisll small objects. he saw
the proof. but even before that the air
seemed tingling with some strange per-
sonality. He stood like Il statue. gaz.
ing fixedly. His alert eyes. always on
guard, had assured him that the cove
was deserted. There was no use to
look behind him. Whoever had been
there must have scaled the mountain
and had either crossed to the plain on
the north or was hiding behind the
rocks. What held his eyes to the
stove was a heap of tobacco and a
clay pipe beside it.
After a few minutes Of immobility
he entered, placed the meat on a box
and departed softly, closing the door
behind him. Casting apprehensive
glances along the mountainside. he
stole toward it ard made his way up
the gully. Not pausing at the crevice.
he went on to the outer northern ridge
of the range and. lying fiat among
some high rocks. looked down.
He counted seventeen men near the
spot from which he had removed the
wagon. Fifteen We're on horseback.
and two riderless horses explained the
presence of the two on foot. All of
them had drawn up in a circle about
the heap of stones that covered the
woman's burial place. OF the seven
teen. sixteen were Indians. painted
and adorned for the warpath. The re-
..~:l.. ,>,- 10 ,r,1.D c%nn1 nf fhn 1Nn0 n
of stones beside the chief. was a white
man, and at the first glance Wilcox
recognized him. He was the dead wo-
mans husband, Henry Gledware.
Bricks mind was perplexed with
vain questionings. Was it Gledware
who had visited his dugout or the In
dams? Did the pipe and tobacco indi.
cate a peace Offering? What was the
relationship between Gledware and
these Indians? Was he their prisoner,
and were they about to burn him upon
the heap Of stones? He did not seem
alarmed. Had he made friends with
the chief by promising to conduct him
to the deserted wagon? If so, what
would they think in regard to the wag
on's disappearance? Had the dugout
persuaded them that there was no
other retreat in the mountains?
While Brick watched in agitated sus-
pense several Indians leaped to the
ground at a signal from the chief and
advanced toward the white man. The
chief turned his back upon the com.
pany and started toward the noun.
tain, his face turned toward Bricks
place Of observation. He began climb
ing upward, the red feather in his hail
cleaning against the green of the ce
dars. Brick had but to remain where
he was to reach forth his hand pres
emily and seize the warrior. but in thai
case those ON the plain would COM
swarming up the ascent for vengeance
Brick darted from his post. sweep
like a dipping swallow across the ra
vine and. snatching up the rope ladder
ried down into the granite chamber
Having removed the ladder, he crep
to the extremity Of the excavation ant
with his back against the wall and hi
gun held in readiness awaited the com
ing Of the chief. After the lapse o
many minutes he grew treasured. Th
Indian. thinking the dugout his onl,
home, had passed the crevice with0u
the slightest suspicion.
However. lest In thrusting forth hi
head he call attention to his home l
the rock. he kept In retreat the rest o
that day. Nor did he venture fort
that night.
One bright warm afternoon In Oct<
her two years later Brick wilcox "a
smoking his pipe before the open doc
Of his dugout. In repose he Away
sat when In the cov with his face t.
ward the natural roadway. 1t wa
thus he hoped to prevent surprise frol
Mimical hOrsemen. and 1t was thu
that on this particular afternoon b
detected a shadow creeping over til
reddish brown stone passage.
At first glimpse of that shadow of
feathered head Wilcox flung himse
down the dirt steps leading to the ope
door. Now. lying fiat, he directed tt
barrel Of his gun over the edge of IL
level ground. covering an approachir
horseman. AS only one Indian can
into view and as this Indian was arr
ed in a n as astounding as
was Irresistible, Wilcox rose to h
height Of six feet three, lowered h
weapon and advanced to meet him.
When he was near, the Indian-tl
same chief from whom Wilcox ha
fed on the day Of his intended hous
notwithstanding lightly to the grou1
and lifted from the horse that defen.
which he had borne in front Of him c
penetrating the cove. 1t was the Chi,
for whose sake Wilcox had separate
himself from his kind.