The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-11-18

would step into the " and listen
he'd give his reason for dong it before
1t was done. So ! went across the room
from him to save time. hoping / could
persuade him to change his mind. ! beg
ged for Mr.. Gledware's life
Red Feather shook his head No, he
said, l could not save him. for he would
be dead in two or three minutes. And
then he bent over Mr.. Gledware, who all
this time was afraid to move or to make a
sound l hurried to remind him that he
hadn't told me his reason for wanting to
kill the man.
Then Red Feather said that when that
man rode with me among the Indians
Red Feathers daughter had taken u fan.
cy to him. and Mr.. Gledware had mar
ried her. and l had been kept away from
him so he'd forget me and not turn his
thoughts toward his own peoplss and they
had taught me that my name was Wilcox,
because they were going to take me to
you. Brick. Isn't it wonderful? That day
you found the deserted wagon and buried
my mother Red Feather was watching you
from the mountain, and he wouldn't kill
you because you made that grave and
knelt down to talk to the Great Spirit
Afterward. when he rode home and found
that his daughter and Mr.. Gledware were
to be married, he made up his mind that
II you succeeded in keeping hidden from
Red Kimball and his band you would be
the one to take care of me. And when
two years had passed and you were still
safe he brought me to you! What a glad
day that was,
When Red Feathers daughter wanted
Mr.. Gledware's life saved 1t was SO. And
Red Feather gave them q great stretch
OF land. and Mr.. Gledware got to be i'm
portant in the tribe: he made himself one
Of them. and they thought him greater
than their own chief. At the end of a
few years there was the great agita ton
over the boomers coming to the Oklahoma
country and much talk Of the land being
thrown open. The Indians didn't want 1t
done, and they Joined together to send
some one to Washington to address con-
gress on the subject. Mr.. Gledware was
such an orator that they thought him ir-
resistible. so they selected him and. for
his fee, they collected over $4,000 Think
Of it!
OF course he didn't so near Washing
ton. 1t was the time Of Kansas City's
great boom. He went there and bought
up city lots and sold out at the right
time, and that's why he's rich today. In
the meantime. the Indians didn't know
what had become Of him. and Red Feath-
er's daughter died from shame over her
desertion-just pined away and hid herself
from her people till she was starved to
death. That's why Red Feather meant to
kill MIR Gledware.
When he had finished Red Feather bent
over Mr.. Gledware and said to him: me
speak all true? Tell Lahoma-me speak
all true?'
And the man whispered feebly: 1T is
all true. Don't kill me! For Gods sake,
don't kill me! Save me- Lahoma my
chlId.''
I begged him not to kill the man. Red
Feather said to me: You hear how he
treat my daughter! You my friend. La
homa. You know all that and yet you
tell me not kill him!'
II say not kill him."
Then you hate my daughter?''
MY mother could marry him, Red
Feather. and can beg for his life'
He shook his head. No, Lahoma he
die! He leave my daughter to die, and
this hand do to him what he do to her!"
l never felt SO helpless. so horribly
weak and useless. There / was, only q
few yards away and the man was my
stepfather, and his enemy was our friend.
And not far away stood the mans big
house filled with guests-among them
strong men who could have overpowered
dozens of Indians. But what could do 2!
Then 1 had a thought. Let him live,
Red Feather" I said. but strip him of
all his i'll got property. Turn him loose
in the world without penny; it'll be
punishment enough. You can't bring back
your daughter by killing him, but you
can make him give up all he has in re-
turn for stealing the money from your
tribe
I don't know why thought of that and
/ don't know why 1t made instant appeal
to Red Feathers mind. l saw at once
that he was going to consent. All he
said was. TALK to him. But l knew
what he meant.
So crossed the room and looked down
at the man. Mr.. Gledware." I said, ''are
you willing to give up all your posses
sions in order to save your life?"
"Oh, yes" he gasped. "A thousand
times: yes! God bless you, Lahoma!'
You will deed all your property away
from you? And surrender all that you
own-money. bonds, stocks. etc.?''
My God; yes, yes Save met
I looked at Red Feather "Shall he
make it all over to your"
Red Feather shook his head. Me no,
want his money. Let him give all to Red
Flower. the daughter him not see since
he stole our money and desert his wife,
''Yes, yes, yes" moaned Mr.. Gledware
I'll give everything to her-I'll make ovel
everything to her in the morning, so helr
me God! If you spare my life she shall
have everything.'
All this time Red Feather had never
moved his knee from the mans breast
Now he rose and pointed toward the east
THE morning will come" he said solemn
ly. IF you keep your word-well. II
you try fool Red Feather-if you keel
back one piece Of money, one clod OF
EARTH He wheeled about so suddenly
with his drawn knife that / thought HI
| was plunging it into the mans heart L
shot down like lightning. but stopped
| short just before the edge of the blade
| touched the miserable coward.
| Mr.. Gledware sobbed and gasped anc
choked, swearing that he would keep hi
word and assuring us that. if he broke it
| death would be too good for him. Eu
what he will do when he thinks himse
! safe-that's another thing! ! know hi!
| life is as secure as mine il he is true t
his promise. But If he breaks it-well
we know Red Feather
| I'm going to leave here in the morning
| I'm coming back where there's room
| enough to turn around in. and air enough
to breathe, where men speak the trutl
because they don't care who's who. ant
| shoot quick and straight when they hav
to. People have made the big world a
| 1t is-well. they are welcome to II. bu
| God has made the cove as 1t is. and it
for me and Brick and Bill Good night.
| LAHOMA.