Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-01-20
/. COoXHEHT OF DOO0 MEAD AND COI19NNY

one. tDO. was VI Tue IOTcSl DH d HlBh'
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
left 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
woods-lot went the trio, and pres
emily Siletz drew rein where sorry
shack crouched forlornly beneath
mammoth fir. The sound brought TO
its door a bent figure that came aud
stood at Black Bolts head like
shadow
Sietz 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 shir,
open a bit at the throat, her slim
hands eloquent in quiet gestures.
Near the pine table that held the
titfu light stood old Koawmie, a
splendid illustration OF the white
mans ways.
He might have been fifty years OF
age, he might have been hundred
Pure blood of chiefs ran in his veins
and he had memories of the time when
the Oregon country reached from the
northern sound to the valley OF 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, land 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 al 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
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 dart
her slim shoulders, and instantly De
SPAR doomed before the dmsky 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 heart:
are large with friendship. though thel,
hands are soft with leisure The 81
letz need not work win they give
the free gift of labor for the Nigh
Winds man.
1t was heartspcech. II was in lar
gon and ii was successful. for witt
the early dawn. blue-gray with mis-
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 valley head
He looked and beheld a cavalCade o.
horsemen, riding with ease on their
ragged ponies. and led by Siletz upon
Black Bolt, who still stepped proudly
after his day.and nights 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 little sigh
of WEAKNESS before Sandry could OF
fer his arms
GOSH" said Daily to himself in the
shadow Of the office, the Siwashes! T.
Mr. Sandry," he said to the owner
when the long tables were filled IL
every place with the best of the van
ishing tribe that Siletz could pick
I'm kickin myself that didn't thinl
of the Indians myself, though Lore
knows IL we can whip EN- in line. to-
it would take the devil himself Il
make Siwash work"
But il did not take his majesty.
took only the word of Koawmie. whit
had gwen a command which a Quie
half.breed who seemed the leader o
the crew artlessly repeated to Sandry
I'VE will work till the contract
saved, he said; lin giving to you W
give to Sletz, who is your woman.
And Sandry. astounded beyond meas
ure, opened his mouth and closed /
without speech.
And it was work indeed for all Sar
dry himself. as he had grimly threat
ened once. learned how" and tende
hook. Collins took Hastings place a
the reading donkey selecting slim
brown boy as fireman, while the fore
man proved his worth a dozen time
over. by being everywhere at once
by fling things down to the mos
rigid system. by planning. executing
: finishing. with the hand and mind G
! an artist