Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-12-09
IT. FREDERICK COUNTY, MD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER g. 1915

personnel OF frontier drama, car
ried the very poor rest of the daily
tent entertainment.
She had been toasted and cheered
and made love to by the rude rustlers
and miners, but she was as stone, as
Ice to fulsome praise, and in her for
bidding eyes there was ever a far
away glow, as though her thoughts
were with some dusky lover she could
not forget
Arden sketched Ziatina, unnoticed,
in one of her most graceful poses.
He made studio for two days of his
little, obscure room at the settlement
tavern. The canvas finished, was a
somewhat fo,id, but very recogniza-
Bile portrait of the star of the circus.
Arden went after Jim. lie had not
mounted the canvas, but carried it
on roller. He sought out Jim at
his usual haunts.
Hes gone" was the report he got
from the proprietor of the principal
gaming place of the settlement.
Gone, when? Where?" questioned
the disappointed Arden.
Last night-clcaned out, and made
for the mines to get new stake
Arden took the portrait back to his
room, and showed it in his kit, and for
got all about it,
He had money enough as it was to
buy a horse, but he made the mistake
of starting of on the trail alone and
unguided. He blundered in following
it, got lost in a desolate wilderness.
For six days he had no sight of habi-
tation or human being. The morning
of the seventh he was awakened from
a sound sleep on a bed of green in
ravne to the accompaniment of say
age yclls.
Half.a-dozCn dusky warriors sur
rounded him. Their ferceness was
emphasized by the way in which they
brandished knives, rifles and toma-
hawks at him. His horse had been
appropriated by one savage, another
was ransacking his travelling kit.
His despoiler passed around to his
ly he came to the rolled.up portrait.
1t came loose in his hand, and he
stared agape at the picture of the half
breed circus star
Arden had noticed a stalwart young
brave who seemed to be the leader OF
the party. He had certain princely
and dignified mien and took no part
in the pilfefing going on. Just at
this junCture, however as two of the
savages in turn, with mocking laugh
ter drew each knife and poised it
for a fling, as If to see how near they
could Craze the ear of the bound and
helpless Arden, this young Indian
rushed forward with a tumultuous
cry.
He halted the two sanguinary
braves with a gesture. He snatched
the portrait from the hand of the man
who held it. He stared at it, his face
betraying the most sentient emotions.
He waved his companions away, he
relaxed the bonds securing Arden.
Then in an animated pantomime he
at tlIt HDi u at, IS 'IOp9Su illo
hands upon his heart as though seek
ing to express mute vivid alteration
for the fair halfbreed girl it counter
feited
Not word of his jargon could Ar
den understand but he guessed out
the riddle from the expressive panto.
mime of the young brave. Ziatina had
been his love, they had quarreled, he
had sought her vainly.
If Arden could lead him to the van
ished girl he should be enriched, and
the young chief led him from the spot
into a deep cave and showed him
vast treasure house of gold gathered
up by the tribe for their leader. He
summoned member of his tribe. A
horse was brought. Two stout buck
skin bags were filled with gold and
slung across the back of the animal.
"Ziatina,' he said simply, indicating
that if Arden should lead him to his
lost love the gold should be his.
Arden Vaile's eyes rightened-they
expressed more than hope and cour-
age-assuranc positive. For to find
Ziatina was an easy task, and the re-
ward for the same meant the start
of fortune, and therefore, Bettina.