The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-04-11

coming back as quick as | can.
Alagwa understood not more
than half of what she heard, but
she gathered its purport. Jacks
words settled his identity once
for all.
Jacks voice broke in on her
thoughts. There's Girty's Town
just ahead" he remarked.
Girty's Town! The words
struck the girl like blow. For
the first time she realized that
the wagon was taking her, not
toward the camps of the white
men for which she had set out,
but away from them.
The road grew smoother and
she realized that the wagon was
within the village. A moment
later it halted and the pad of run
ming feet and the murmur of
voices arose about 1t. Jacks
voice arose, telling of what had
happened and expressing his re-
greet, but presenting the facts so
as to screen the living murderer
and lay the blame on the dead
man.
A small hole in the canvas
cover of the wagon was close to
! her face. She glanced toward the
man on the box and saw that he
was covering back, listening with
/ strained ears to Jacks words and
paying no attention TO her move
! m @ Ittnonrlxr che ,nAUnH All
! her eye was at the hole.
For a moment there was ST.
lence, then an Indian-Alagwa
knew him as Blue Jacket, friend
of the whites-stepped forward.
My brother speaks WE'LL he
said. Far be it from me to
doubt my brothers word. But
stay and speak with a straight
tongue to our father, Col. john
SON"
Jack shook his head. 81 cannot
stay" he answered. Il must
hurry to Fort Wayne. But | will
leave a letter for Col. Johnson.
If you will take it to him all will
be we'll"
Jack took a notebook from his
pocket and wrote an account of
the tragedy of the morning on
two of its pages. These he tore
out and handed to Blue Jacket.
This will make all safe!' he
said.
The chief took it with grave
thanks. "All shall be as my
brother says" he promised.
Jack nodded. 1T is WE'LL he
said. Now one other thing !
would ask. | come hitler at the
request of Tecumseh. to take
council with him concerning a
great matter. Will you bear him
word that | am called away on
duty, but will return in five
days."
The chief shook his head. 81
cannot. Tecumseh has gone north
with many braves"
"Humph," Jacks face fell. He
had counted on finding Tecumseh
and receiving the girl from his
hands.
Let my brother listen," he
said. "A month ago Tecumseh
sent me this belt'-Jack held
out the belt-''and he called up
on me to come to Wapakoneta
and receive there at his hands a
white maiden, Alagwa by name, a
kinswoman of my own. Knows
my brother of this maiden.
i Rlue Jacket bowed. 81 knew
her." he said.
Jack resumed. For her l
come" he said. But | find Te-
cumseh gone. Know you where
he has placed the maiden
THE maiden was at Wapako-
meta in Tecumseh's lodge yester-
day." he said. Il would say that
she was there still but that an
other white chief wearing a red
! coat came to me an hour ago from
| Wapakoneta asking tidings OF
her."
| "A white chief? In a red coat?'
Jack gasped. The redcoat officer
could be only Brito, but that he
should dare to come down from
Canada in the existing state of in
ternational affairs took Jacks
breath away. Ibid he find her?'
he asked. "Where is hep
He has not found her. He is
still here" Blue Jacket pointed.
HE comes!" he finished.
Advancing through the Indian
village came a big man in the
uniform of a British officer. AS
he drew near his eyes singled out
Jack.
"Ah!" he said, hating. "You
have news of the girl, fellow?
Let me have 1t at once!"
| Jack flushed holly. But he
must not play the boor before
this fashionable cousin Of his.
your pardon, sir!" he said,
deliberately, "but to whom have
I the honor of speaking?'
| Capt. Brito started. well!
Inn ID" he exclaimed, laugh
ing shortly. eff the fellow doesn't
take himself seriously! Come!
My good man; l haven't time for
nonsense. Where lis the girl?"
Jack met his eyes squarely.
First, you will please to answer
my question:" he said. "Who are
you?"
A snarl curled Capt. Brito's
lips, and his breath quickened a
| little. "Damnation!" he began.
Then he caught himself up.
| r-t.l- Ahtl1 and tho