The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-04-10
CHAPTER !.
The Mesaaue

Il half dozen square miles Of
tangled woodland that lay at
tho back OF the Telfair barony
along tho Tallapoosa river.
Abruptly Jack halted. gun half
raised, trying 10 peer thru the Hun-
soaked bushes OF tho moist glade.
lie had heard no sound. yet tho In
stinct OF ono born and brought up
almost within siGht OF the frontier
told him that something was
watching him from the under
growth. II might be bear or a
wolf or panther. for mono OF
these were rare In Alabama in tho
year 1914.
From behind an oak an Indian
stepped out Fastened In his scalp
lock wero feathers of the white
headed eagle. showing that he Was
a chief
"Neeanai- he said. 'Triendf-
fnstinctiveiy Jack threw up his
hand. "NscsnAi" he echoed. The
tongue was that OF tho shawnees.
Jack had not heard II since the
last remnant OF the Shawnee tribe
had gone northward 10 Join their
brethren on tho Ohio.
"Secana." he repeated. What
does my brother here. far from his
own people,"
In response the savage smiled
Il seek tho young chief Toifair."
ha said. He whom tho 6hawnses
Of the South raised up as T.pws
The who speaks with . straight
tonguel. Knowest thou him.
brother-"
Jack stared IN good earnest Il
as Jack Telfnir.- he said. hsltingiy.
dragging the ahawne. words from
his reluctant memory. Ten yesrs
ago the -equaw Msthowaka adopted
me at tho council fire Of tho Pan.
Their clan"
From his pouch the chief drew
n belt OF beautiful whito vampum.
WIN my brother iisten'- no asked.
Jack nodded. "nrotherl |
listen" he answered.
1t IL we'll. Many years ago a
chief Of tho elder branch Of my
brothers house was the friend OF
Tecumseh. Ten yesrs ago the
white chief Travelled tho long trail
TO tho land OF his fathers But be.
fore he died he saif TO Tecumseh:
,nrotherl To you leave my one
child. Care for her a. you would
your own. Perhaps IN Gays 10 come
men OF my own house may seek
her. saying that 20 her belong
much land and gold. n they como
from the braneh OF mr. house liv.
fa - a
home OF tho shswnees. let her 20
With them. But II they como from
ths branch OF my house that dweils
In England DO no, let her 20. The
men OF that branch. the branch OF
the chief Bri,o. are wicked. n they
com. for her. then 20 you seek out
fny brothers IN the sonth and tell
them that they may take her and
protect her. II thsY fail you, then
let her live with you forever
Since the chief died tea years
have passed. and the maid has
grown straight and tall In the lodge
OF Tecumseh. Now the chief Brito
has como. wearing the redcoas OF
tho English warriors. Therefore
Tscumseh sends his belt 10 his
younger brother. and says 10 him !,
Como quickly. The maid 10 of
your house: come and take her
from my lodge q, wapskonstA and
SEQ that she gets all that In hers "
= Jack took tho belt eagerly. To
: 20 TO the lodge OF Tecumseh 10
BRING back a kinsvoman 20 whom
had descended Erea, estates and
against whom foes we're plotting.
What boy OF FL would not Jump at
the chancei
And 10 20 10 ohio-ths very
4 nams was a challenge. The Ohio
Of 1914 was not tho Ohio OF today.
. Within II rovcd bears. deer. buf.
falo. psnthers. venomous snakes.
y renesades. murderers. Indians--the
bravest and most wariike that the
" land had yet known.
With swelling heart Jack Grnsped
. the proffercd. belt.
Il viii find the maid at wapa.
=" koneta1" he questioned.
III my brother comes quickly.
My brother knows that war II in
the air II my brother IL slow ie,
him inquire OF Col. Johnson a,
Upper PiquA The maiden Ia known
as Alagwa 1.-THE Starr. Has my
brother more TO ask"
= Jack shook his head. The Shaw.
nee bowed slightly: then he turned
IN on his heel and melted noisslessly
= into tho unferbrush.
Jack stared after him wondering.
~. Then he stared at tho belt in
his hand. 30 quickly the chief had
\ come and gone that Jack needed
the sight OF something material 10
convince himself that he had not
been dreaming.
III Not tho least amazing part OF the
| chiefs coming had been the mes.
sage he had brought. Jack had
heard OF Deleroche Telfair only
vaguely. When his Huguenot fore.
fathers had fed from France. a
century and quarter before. one
branch had stopped in England and
another branch had come to
America.
ii Tho American branch. at least.
= had not broken off all connection
with the elder titled branch OF the
family. which had remained I'm
" France. A hundred years had
e slipped by ana then the Terror had
Is driven the Count Telfair and his
y younger brother. Delaroche. from
q France. Tho count had stayed In
London, but Delaroche had crossed
- to America with a number OF his
e countrymen and had founded CALI.
- polls. on the banks Of tho Ohio. the
second city in the state.
= And now he was deadl His
~ daughter had been brought up by
the great chief Tscumseh and was