Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-05-21

cs1tnred ey
cloak; the chief BY his side--a fine.
upright man With Ions gray beard: be-
hird, three MOngars. their rifles al
ready 70 their shoulders The chief
wheeled up his horse as he came with
in twenty PAGES 0f the little party.
White, 8nglish,~ he shouted
Why DO you seek dsath here9-
he waited for no reply. but turned
70 his men. Three Of them dashed for.
ward. their rifles. which were fitted
with an odd sort Of bAycnet. drawn
hack for the lunEe Suddenly Craig.
who had been little in the rear. gal
loped. shouting into the line OF FIRE.
-Siop,~ he ordered. Chief. these
people are my friends Chief. the
wort,-
The chief raised his arm promptly.
The men lowered their rifles. Craig
gailoped back TO his hosts side. The
chief listened TO him and nodded
graveiy. Presently he rode up TO the
little party. He saluted the professor
gravsly and talked TO him In his own
languages. The professor turned to the
others,
The chief apologies for not reoog-
mixing me- he announced. 1t seems
that Craig had told him that he had
come 10 the desert for shelter. and be
imagined az once. when he gave the
order for the attack upon Us. that We
we're his enemies. He says that we
are welcome to go with him TO his
e1campuent"
Craig turned slowly towards them.
L vas a strange meeting.
1t is necessary he told them.
that you should pretend to be my
friends. The chief has ordered two OF
his men 10 dismount- Their ponies are
for the young ladies. There will De
horses for you among the captured
ones from the caravan yonder"
They al turned towards the chief.
who remained a little on the outside
OF the circle The professor raised
his hat and spoke few words IN the
NcnEar language. then he turned &c
The others
Il have accepted the invitation o,
the CHIEF" he announced. We had
better start
This may not De Delmonico's.~
Laura remarked. a few hours later
with a little SIGH of coatentment.
but believe ne that gost-stew and
sheTbst tasted better than any
rhF~Ee- ana rEs~--~,.s..~-.. u. ,,-.- ,,.-.,s
They moved 70 the opening OF the
tent and sat IoOking ont across the
sileu, desert Laura took the Gap OF
I the canvas n her hand
What 90 all these marks nean?'
she asked
Th..y are cabalistic signs the
1 professor replied. part OF the Ian
guAge OF the tribe They indicate
T that this IS The guest tent. and there
are a few little maxils traced upon
Il, eXtollilg the virtues OF Hospitality
Lenora leaned forward 10 where a
little group OF Mongars were talkins
together
4 wish tha, beautiful girl would
/ come and let rs see her again" shs
uurmured
she the professor explained. is
the chiefs daughter. Feerta. whose
life Craig saved
And from the way she looks At
hin" Laura observed. I should say
she hadn't forgotten Il. either"
The professor held up a warning
finger. The girl herself had gl.ded
10 their side out OF the shadows. She
faced the professor. The rest OF the
/ party she seemed TO ignore. She
7 spoke slowly and Ia halting English.
Ny father wishes 70 know that
yo- are sztishedF- she said You
have no further wants7-
None" the professor assured her
we are very grateful for his hos
pltality. Feerda"
Won't you talk 10 Us for a little
time,~ Lenora begged, leaning for
I ward
I The girl turned suddenly to the
! professor and spoke 10 him In her
own language. She pointed TO the
signs upon the tent. drew her finger
along one OF the sentences. flashed a
fierce glance at them all and disap-
peared
Seems 10 me that We are not ex-
actly popular with the young lady"
! Quest remarked What was she say
ing. professor"
she suspects u.s." the professor
said slowly. "of wishing 10 bring evil
TO Craig She pointed 70 a sentence
1pon the tent Roughly Il means 'Grat-
ltude Is the debt Of hospitality lam
very much afraid that the young lady
must have been listening 70 our coz-
iVersation.T