The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-01-08

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Of the land that once belonged to his
own people. He divided the estate and
sold Max half. Then he married a
white girl. built a house and should
have been happy. But they say he has
a daughter seventeen or eighteen years
old he's crazy about, and since the gold
has been discovered he's, making all
kinds of trouble. Claims d wrong sur
vey and all that. So here's where
come in. It's my pleasant duty to stand
up and tell this Indian that he'd better
get of and keep moving.
SEPTEMBER II.
Things are getting interesting at the
mine. Max has a new foreman, Justice
Belvardos, a Mexican. They struck a
rich new vein and they r importing
another gang to work it. This morning
one of the canvas bags Max keeps his
dust in was stolen. While reconnoiter.
ing on the ridge today I caught q
glimpse of the Indian girl hurrying
away through the scrub oaks. / won
der If Indian George knows anything
Of the missing bag.
SEPTEMBER Is.
Another bag gone Belvardos blames
the Indian, and strangely enough I saw
the girl again. I'm going to investigate
tomorrow. Note-The girl Is pretty,
I got a closer view of her this time. I'd
like to see her again.
SEPTEMBER 16.
Snooped around all day and didn't
see a thing until on my way home,
Across a wild ravine l spied smoke
among the trees. Field glasses showed
a small tent or wigwam. Almost dark,
SO l came home. I'm going tomorrow,
SEPTEMBER rs.
It's a week since I've written any
thing in my diary, but events happened
so quick and fast that day and wound
up by my getting hurt that l haven't
been able to hold a pen. I'm better now,
and But I'll 60 back. Found tent,
No one answered my polite knock, 50
lifted the latch and walked in. There
were two cots nicely made and covered
with Indian blankets, a board floor with
a blanket for a rug, a table, two willow
chairs and f1xings everywhere that no
man would think Of.
This was a sort Of rest room for
daughter. Then the gold bags occurred
to me. II daughter had taken them,
perhaps they were secreted here.
would search! The floor seemed to be
the most likely place, so in a second
was down on my knees rolling back
the rug and feeling for a loose board,
Suddenly there was a crack Of a gun
and I felt a sharp pain In my left side.
When I regained my senses 1t was
sunset and I was lying on n Of the
cots in the little Indian tent all ban
:daged up and feeling hot and thirsty.
Then the pretty Indian girl came ip.
She gave me a cup of water and held
my head while l drank. "How do you
feel now7" she asked in the richest,
sweetest voice you ever heard.
"Just great!" I found voice to say,
and l felt like adding, II wouldn't
mind staying this way forever"
"Who shot me2" I asked.
She sobered. "Im not sure, for !
didn't see," she answered. "You'd bet
ter ask Erma."
"Who Is Erma7"
"Erma Blackjack. My friend"
$50 there are two of your / thought
you were George Blackrock's daugh-
ter"
She laughed. "No, I'm Margaret
Mills. Erma and l were schoolmates."
Mills! ! was puzzled. Then I re-
membered Midas Mills. But l was more
puzzled than ever. This girl was GER
tainly an Indian with her complexion,
eyes and hair.
Seeing my perplexity, she laughed
again and, selling a handkerchief,
dabbed some white creamy stuff on 1t
and began rubbing at her face. It
came away brown, leaving the skin be-
meath as soft and white al a rose petal.
"It's hickory STAIN" she explained.
A branch cracked outside and In an
instant the real Indian girl was in the
tent
"It's the Mexican" she said with sup
pressed excitement. Il saw where he
put 1t"
Well, to make 1t short, the Mexican
was stealing the gold and he was hid
ing It in the woods neal the tent. He
thought l suspected him, followed me
and shot me. II it hadn't been for Mar
garet Mills l should have died.
It all ended by Max and the Indian
coming to an agreement. The survey
ors found the mine to be On the line.
80 they decided to make It a partner
ship affair.". SoNdid Margaret and I, for
We are to be married this winter.
Copyright ls1A By the Mcclure Nsws-
payer 6yndieats4