Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-05-16
CHAPTER XIII.
Captain William Clark.

VI The two young men gripped
hands as the great bateau
swung inshore ut the Point of Rocks
on the Kentucky side Of the Ohio
They needed not to do more, these two
The face of each told the other what
he felt. Their mutual devotion. their
generosity and unselfishness. their un.
tagging unity of purpose, their perfect
manly comradeship-what wonder so
many have called the story of these
two more romantic than romance It.
self!
1T has been long since we met.
WILL" said Meriwether Lewis. II have
been eating my heart out up at Pitts
burgh. l got your letter, and glad
enough l was to have it. I had been
fearing that would have to 60 on
alone. Now l feel as if we already
had succeeded. cannot tell you-but
don't need to try"
"And you, Merne," rejoined William
Clark Captain William Clark, II you
please, border fighter, leader Of men.
one Of family Of leaders of men, tall,
gauht, red headed, blue eyed. smiling.
himself a splendid figure Of man
"you, Merne, are great man now. "a
nous there in Washington, Mr.. JEFF
ferson's right hand man. We hear of
you often across the mountains.
have been waiting for you here. as
anxious as yourself"
'"The water Is low" complained
Lewis. land thousand things have
delayed us. Are you ready to start?"
I'm ten minutes-in five minutes. !
will have my boy York 60 up and get
my rife and my bags"
"Your brother. General Clark. how ia
hep
William Clark shrugged with a smile
which had half as much sorrow as
mirth in 1t.
1.-THE truth is. Merne. the generals
heart is broken. He thinks that his
country has forgotten him."
Forgotten him? From Detroit to
New Orleans we owe it all to George
Rogers Clark. 1t was he who opened
the river from Pittsburgh to New Or
leans. He'll not need. now. to be an
ally of France again. Once more
member Of your family will be III at
the finding Of a vast new country"
"Merne. I've sold my farm. l got
$4,000 for my place. and so am OF
with you.> not with much Of 1t left in
my pockets, but with clean bill and
good conscience and some of the
family debts paid. I care not how far
we 20 or when we come back l
thank Mr.. Jefferson for taking me on
with you. tbs the gladdest time in all
my life"
1--WE are share and share alike. WILL"
said his friend Lewis soberly. '"Tell
me. can we get beyond the Mississippi
this fall, do you Think
Doubtful" said Clark. "The Span
ish of the valley are not very well
reconciled to this Louisiana sale. and
neither are the French They have
been holding all that country in part
nership, each people AFRAID or the otn-
er and both showing their teeth to US.
But l hear the commission Is doing
well at St. Louis. and I presume the
transfer will be made this fall or win
ter. After that they cannot stop US
from going on"
"What sort of men have you In your
party. Merne?'
"Only good ones. | think. Young
Shannon and an army sergeant by the
name of Gass-Patrick Gass. They
should be very good men. brought
on Collins from Maryland and Pete
Weiser from Pennsylvania. also good
stuff, think. McNeal, Potts, Gibson
II got those around Carlisle. We need
more men,"
Il have picked out a few here" said