The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-03-23

like this; she. too. was free of Its hid
den paths. Hour after hour they
threaded the familiar way, and pres
emily the forest lightened. fell away
let them at the steep shore of the
siletz river, gurgling along in the
darkness. swift and shallow.
Fields and pastures lay here upon
right and left and cabins stood squat In
the shadows. This was the headquar
ters of the reservation. Through the
small settlement. up lane and across
a woods-lot went the trio. and pres
emily Siletz drew rein where a sorry
shack crouched forlornly beneath a
mammoth fir. The sound brought to
its door a bent figure that came and
stood at Black Bolts head like
shadow.
Siletz spoke in jargon. slid down.
trailed the reins on the earth and en-
tered the little house.
An hour later she stood against its
closed door. facing a dusky circle OF
squatting figures. her trim form
straight in the lamplight. her shirt
open a bit at the throat. ber slim
hands eloquent in quiet gestures.
Near the pine table that held the
ftful light stood old Kolawmie.
splendid illustration OF the white
mans ways.
He might have been fifty years OF
age. he might have been a hundred.
Pure blood OF chiefs ran in his veins,
and he had memories OF the time when
the Oregon country reached from the
Sacramento. About him gathered a
silent circle. young men who could
speak good English and write essays
on the evolution of man, older ones
who accepted the modern modes with
reservations, and few like himself of
the ancient time.
| To them Siletz was speaking.
Trouble has fallen upon the Night
Wind" she said sweetly, "and she
comes to her friends for help. Sandry
at the camp is deserted by his men.
The camp fails, the work is stopped,
the engines are silent at their posts.
and a big contract that means much
Is ready to be lost-and Hampden OF
the Yellow Pines laughs in glee. for he
has done this thing. Men there are
not in the country-and to go to Port
land means loss of time on the great
contract. Therefore Sandry sits with
his head in his hands. thus"
With swift art she bent her dark
head forward upon her palms. dropped
| oil i'm nd Ma
spair loomed before the dusky circle
For which the heart of Sletz sick
ems. for she is Sandry's woman"
There was silence for space. The
girl was an artist.
She would help him Therefore
she comes to her friends. whose hearts
are large with friendship. though their
letz need not work. Will they give
the free gift of labor for the Nigh,
Winds man?"
II was a heart-speech. II was in Jar
gon and II was successful, for with
the early dawn. blue-gray with mist
and sun'shot with crimson. Sandry
who had not slept. standing with fur
rowed brows on the office step. heard
sounds OF hoofs at the valleys head
He looked and beheld a cavalcade OF
horsemen, riding with ease on their
ragged ponies. and led by Siletz upon
Black Bolt. who still stepped proudly
after his day-and.night's journey
while Coosnah rolled with swinging
ears at his side.
Here" said the girl as she rode up
they will work for the big contract
And she slid down with a little sigh
of weariness before Sandry could Of
fer his arms.
GOSH" said Daily TO himself In the
shadow Of the office. the Siwashesl'
"Mr. Sandry." he said to the owner
when the long tables were filed In
every place with the best OF the van
ishing tribe that Siletz could pick
I'm kickin myself that didn't think
of the Indians myself. though Lord
knows II we can whip 'em in line, tor
1t would take the devil himself &c
make a Siwash work"
But IL did not take his majesty. Il
took only the word of Kolawmie. who
had given command which a quiet
half-breed who seemed the leader o
the crew artlessly repeated to Sandry
I'VE will work till the contracts
saved" he said; lin giving to you VIC
give to Sletz. who is your woman.
And Sandry. astounded beyond meas
ure, opened his mouth and closed Il
without speech.
And II was work indeed for all. San
dry himself. as he had grimly threat
ened once, learned how" and tended
hook. Collins took Hastings place a
the roading donkey. selecting a slim
brown boy as fireman. while the fore
man proved his worth a dozen time!
over, by being everywhere at once
by filing things down to the mos
rigid system, by planning. executing
, finishing. with the hand and mind o
, an artist
II would have been contrary to hu
! man pafura Gandsv had ~. foI.