The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-04-20

teTus Cue ucdNy SudUUWS duu NANAOiy
white snow; the cold that stung his
face and hands and the aching weari-
ness that numbed his muscles. 1t had
been like a nightmare to him, dream
that set his head to throbbing. and in
which the only real thing was the stall
wart bulk Of MACPHERSON encouraging
him forward-and then-the little shoe!
He reused himself with B start, realiz-
ing that the Scotchman was answering
his question.
ut might haze been fifteen minutes
mayhap more, when we COON to her
little footprints in the snow. Then"
he paused moment and his voice
softened, 1--WE found her wee slipper in
q snow bank. A bit further we found
t'other one-and the snow began tae be
flecked wi draps of blood. But l
should say it was mair than half an
\ hour before we COON upon the lassie
hersel, lying in faint like"
WAS she consciOus?'
mae, and we could ma bring her to,
SO we wrappit her in DOR coats and
took her back to the guide wife"
"Will you tell US please in what con-
tlition Miss Page was when 1-when
you-arrived at your house with herr
MACPHERSON frowned at the memory
and deeper note crept into his tones
as he said slowly:
"She was nae conscious, and her
clothes We're tairn to pieces and hangin'
in ribands. Such clothes as she had
on, puir lassie! Her feeties were cut
wi the ice and the stones, and there
was a terrible wound Oh her forehead
and an i'll faured queer bruise on one
shoulder"
WAS your wife alone in the house
when you returned!'
Nae, there was maybe half dozen
men frae the town. who had heard Of
the lassie and had COON to help the
search. They set up shout when
they saw us, and l had one OF them
fire his revolver to tell the others Miss
Page was wi u.s.
did they show any emotion at the
sight of Miss Pages condition." asked
Langdon and little shudder shook
Mrs. Page, who alone of all those pres
ent knew of the tragedy to which that
, CulOlloH leu. NAuN lNio oh %
voice, too. was grim as he said:
Il wouldna call it emotion but there
was guide bit of murmurin' against
those who had driven 50 sweet a lassie
distractit and sent her to maybe her
death in the snow. The murmurin'
grew louder when they saw the hurt
and there We're cries to know who had
done it. When Mr.. Langdon told them.
the murmurS grew louder and finally
one of the lads cried out in u loud voice,
This town has ma room for wifebeat-
be hung
A stir of excitement swept through
the courtroom, for MACPHERSON. with
out gesture, with no more than a
rising infection of his voice, had
brought before them vision Of the
snowy night and the little house from
= whose doorway the lamplight streamed
out, mellOwing the snow to gold, and
touching with its fingers of light, the
grim faces of that group of men stirred
= to the deep anger of the mob at the
u thought of Dan Pages brutality.
did the other men make any
Il threats:"
/ AYE. Another one of them criet
II cot, KILN is too good fer Dan Page
Il He should be horsewhipped out o
II town. At that, my wife COON up t.
II me and says, For the lassie's sake
III don't let them be takin' the law int
II their Don hands or therell be murde
Il done this nicht' So cried Dim;
kn1 In nj Tod.
we've law and a gaol in this town
Il Somebody get the sheriff."
II "Did they heed your
II cOuldna tell at the time, becaus
just then cutter comes dashin' Dol
with twa men in it, and one shout
Il DOT. Have you found Mary Pager AM
II they all answers. Yes. she's found
Then he says, I'm James Pollock-he
fiance-and I have come to take be
hOme.'"
WAS Miss Page still unconscious?
The question came sharply. MacPher
son shook his head.
mae. she was conscious. and whel
she heerd him she gave a cry of NC
no. no! and dragged herser up fron
where she lay and chung to Mr.. Lang
don. At that the man Pollock pushi
= by me and cried. Mary! Mary-I hav
-. come to take you home.'"
did Miss Page answer himY'
mae. she just shookit her head, an,
IN Mr.. Langdon said, Miss Page is no
IN going home yet But Mr.. Pollock wa
n. sair angry and shouted. What tn
ne devil have you got to do with it
1T Haven't you made trouble enoughy
IA did Mr.. Pollock make any move to
v ward Miss Pager?
e. AYE. He tOOkit q quick step for
ward like he would carry her of bu
q the guide wife stoppit him. Yen n
a. move the puir lassie till she is warn
th and restit.' she said. and put her arm
at ABBOTT her and tOOkit her into the bed
L. holv> ~