Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-07-04

lowed his friend into the apartment
| assigned to him In one Of the cabins
Of the little post. He wore his usual
travelling garb, but now, for some
strange reason, he seemed to lack his
usual immaculate neatness. Instead
| Of the formal dress Of his Office he
wore an old. stained, faded uniform
coat, its pocket bullying with papers
This he kept at the head Of his bed
when at length he flung himself down
| almost in the delirium Of fever.
He lay here for two days, restless
sleepless. But at length, having in the
meantime scarcely tasted food, he rose
and declared that he must 60 on.
Major" said he, II can ride now
Have you horses for the journey?'
"Are you sure, governor, that yom
strength Is sufficient" Nicely hesitated
as he looked at the wasted form before
him. at the hollow eye. the fevered
face.
1T is not a question Of my personal
convenience, major" said Meriwether
Lewis. "Time presses for me. must
go on!''
"At least you shall not 60 alone"
said Major Nicely. "YOu should have
some escort Doubtless you have some
important papers?'
Meriwether Lewis nodded.
my, servant has arranged every
thing, fancy. Can you get an extra
man or two? The Natchez Trace is
none too SAFE"
That military road, as they both
knew, was indeed no more than
horse path cut through the trackless
forest which lay across the states Of
Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Its reputation was not good. Many
trader passing north from New Orleans
with coin, many settler passing west
with pack horses and household effects,
had disappeared on this wilderness
road and left no sign. It was custom
airy for parties Of any consequence to
ride in companies of some force.
It was considerable cavalcade
therefore which presently set forth
from Chickasaw Bluffs on the long ride
eastward to cross the Alleghenies.
which meant some days or weeks spent
in the saddle. Apprehension sat upon
all even as they started out. Their
eyes rested upon the wasted form OF
their leader, the delirium of whose fe-
yer seemed still to hold him. He NUT
tered to himself as he rode. resented
the near approach Of any travelling
companion, demanded to be alone.
They looked at him in silence.
"He talks to himself all the time"
said one of the party, new man hired
by Nicely at the army post. He rode
with Peria now, and none but Peria
knew that he had come from the long
barge which had chung to the COVER
nor's craft all the way down the river
and which, unknown to Lewis himself,
had tied up and waited at Chickasaw
Bluffs. He was a stranger to Nicely
and to all the others, but seemed ready
enough to take pay for service along
the Trace, declaring that he himself
was intending to go that way. He was
a man well dressed, apparently Of edu-
cation and Of some means. He rode
armed
-"What is wrong with the governor.
think you?" inquired this man once
more Of Peria, Lewis servant.
1T is his way" shrugged Peria.
1--WE leave him alone. His hand is
heavy when he is angry"
HE rides always with his rifle across
his saddle?"
always on the trail"
LOADED. I presume? And his pis-
tolsY'
"You may we'll suppose that" said
Peria.
"Oh, WELL" said the new member Of
the party, "'tis just as well to be safe.
I lifted his saddle bags and the desk,
or trunk. whatever you call 1t, that IS
on the pack horse yonder. Heavy.
eh?"
Naturally" grinned Peria.
They looked at one another. And
thereafter the two, as was well noted,
conversed often and more intimately
together as the journey progressed.
"Now, it's an odd thing about his
coat" volunteered the stranger later In
that same day. HE always keeps 1t
on-that ragged old uniform. Was it
a uniform. do you believe? Can't the
governor Of the new territory wear
coat that shows its quality? This ones
dozen years old, you might say"
HE always wears it on the trail"
said Peria. AT home he watches it as
If 1t held some treasure"
Treasurer the shifty eyes of the
new man flashed in sudden interest.
What treasure? Papers. perhaps
bills, documents, money? His pocket
bulges at the side. Something there
yes, eh?"
"Rushw said Peria. "You do not
know that man, the governor. he has
the eye Of hawk, the ear Of fox.
You can keep nothing from him. He
fears nothing in the world. and in his
moods you'd best leave him alone.
Don't let him suspect, orr And Peria
shook his head.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Little Picture.
= ~