The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-10-27

man anu the OOS. JaSPdE huIue DSHC
his head down to Jacques for an in
slant and rubbed his side kindly; then
he said, with a tired accent, tits all
right, dog; it's all rightP
Jaspar Hume did not sleep well at
first that night, but at length oblivion
came. He walked to feel Jacques tug
ging at his blankets. 1t was noon.
Late Carscallen and Cioud-in-the-Sky
were still sleeping -inanimate bundles
among the dogs. In an hour they were
on their way again, and toward sunset
they had reached the foot of Manitou
Mountain. Abruptly from the plain
rose this mighty mound, blue and white
upon a black base. A few struggling
pines grew near its foot, defying lat
Itude, as the mountain itself defed the
calculations of geographers and geol-
ogists. A halt was called. Late Car
scallen and Cloud-in-the-Sky looked at
the chief. His eyes were scanning the
mountain closely. Suddenly he paused.
Five hundred feet up there Is a great
round hole in the solid rock, and from
this hole there comes a feeble cloud
OF smoked Jaspar Hume's hand points
where his eyes are fixed. The other
two see. Cloud-in-the-Sky gives a
wild whoop, such a whoop as only an
Indian can give, and from the noun
tain there comes, a moment after, a
faint replica of the sound. 1t Is not an
echo, for there appears at the mouth
OF the cave an Indian, who sees them
and makes feeble signs for them to
come. In few moments they are at
the cave. AS Jaspar Hume enters,
Cloud-in-the-Sky and the stalwart but
emaciated Indian who had beckoned
to them speak to each other in the
Chinook language, the iargon common to
all Indians of the West.
Jaspar Hume saw form reclining
on a great bundle OF pine branches,
and he knew what Rose Lepage had
prayed for had come to pass. By the
Pickering light of a handful of fire he
saw Varre Bepage-ratheF what was
left OF him-a shadow of energy,
heap of nerveless bones. His eyes were
shut, but as Jaspar Hume, with q
culver of memory and sympathy at
MS heart, stood for an instant and
looked at the man whom he had cher
ished as friend and found an enemy
the pale lips of Varre Lepage moved
and weak voice said, Who's
there?"
"a friend"
ga friend! Come-near-me-frien
Jaspar Hume made motion to Late
Carscallen, who was heating some
liquor at the fire, and he came near
and stopped and lifted up the sick
mans head, and took his hand
You have come-to save me-to
save mel" said the weak voice again.
Yes; 1 have come to save you"
This voice was strong and clear and
true.
81 seem-to -heard-your
voice before-somewhere before
seem to-have-" But he had tainted
-Jaspar Hume poured a little liquor
down the sick mans throat, and Late
Carscallen chafed the delicate hand
in health, it was ike that of little
child now. When breath came agar
Jaspar Hume whispered to his helper
Take Cloud-in-the-Sky and get wood
bring fresh branches; clear one of ths
sleds, and we viii start back with hin
In the early morning
Late Carscallen, looking at TIT
skeleton-hke figure, said, "He vii
never get there
YES" said Jaspar Hume; che vii
get there"
But he is dying"
He goes with me to Fort Providence
"Ay, to Providence he goes, but no
with you,' said Late CarscaIlen sadl,
, but doggedfy
A. s1--L-I T..- IL