Gilpin observer., 1916-05-25


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 upor
right and left and cabins stood squat ir
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 9
mammoth fir. The sound brought tc
its door bent figure that came and
stood at Black Bolts head like 9
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. her slim
hands eloquent in quiet gestures
Near the pine table that held the
fitful light stood old Kolawmie, q
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
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 at their posts.
and 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 coursry-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
her slim shoulders. and instantly De.
spair loomed before the dusky circle.
For which the heart of S'letz sick.
ems, for she is Sandry's woman"
There was silence for a space. The
girl was an artist.
She would help him. Therefore
she comes to her friends. whose hearts
are large with friendship. though their
hands are soft with leisure. The 81.
letz need not work. VIII they give
the free gift of labor for the Night
Winds man?"
II was heart-speech. ii was In lar.
gon and 1t was successful. for with
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 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 journev.
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 SiwashesI''
MIR. 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. for
1t would take the devil himself to
make a Siwash work."
But II did not take his majesty. Il
took only the word of Kolawmie. who
had given a command which quiet
half-breed who seemed the leader OF
the crew artlessly repeated to Sandry
I'VE will work till the contract q
saved" he said; "in giving to you we
give to Sletz. who is your woman.
And Sandry. astounded beyond meas.
ure, opened his mouth and closed II
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 at
the roading donkey. selecting a slim,
brown boy as fireman. while the fore.
man proved his worth a dozen times
over, by being everywhere at once,
by filing things down to the most
rigid system. by planning. executing,
finishing. with the hand and mind OF
an artist.
1t would have been contrary to hu.
man nature II Sandry had not felt q
thrill OF triumph when he next ran