Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-10-10
,m Page u
snt, cautious keOKuK.


y existed deadly hatred be-
these two, and that Keokuk's
desire for peace with the whites alone
postponed an outbreak. Already tales
reached u of encroaching settlers adj
vancing a. 'lg the valley, and Of saw
age, retail ting raids which could only
terminate i. armed encounters That
-leokuk could continue to control his
people no longer seemed probable to
tlTle, for the Hawk was evidently the
stronger character of the two, pos
sessed the larger following and made
no attempt to conceal the depth of his
hatred for all things American.
Down below where sat q little riv-
er steamboat was tied to the wharf,
fjiIsgv stern-wheeler, with the word
Warrior" painted across the pilot
house. My eyes and thoughts turned
that way. Standing alone together
ear the stern were heavlly-built
ian with white hair and beard. and
Ounger, rather slender fellow, with
dipped, black mustache. Both were
unusually we'll dressed, the latter ex-
ceedingly natty and fashionable in at
tire. rather overly so, | thought while
the former wore long coat and high
white stock. Involuntarily / had placed
them in my mind as river gamblers,
tut was still observing their move
n1entS with some. curiosity when Cap
tain ThrockmOrton crossed the gang
flank and began ascending the steep
tiaff. The path to be followed led di-
Tectly past where I was sitting and,
recognizing me, he stopped to ex-
change greetings.
"What! have you finished your days
work already, lieutenant?" he ex-
Claimed pleasantly. mine has only
\ just begun"
$50 observe. 1t was garrison talk
Last night that the Warrior was to de-
part at daylight"
'That was the plan. However, the
~Wanderer went north during the
night" he explained, land brought
mail from below, so we are being held
for the return letters. 1 am going up
to the office now"
My eyes returned to the scene be-
low.
"You have some passengers aboard"
"a few; picked up several. at the
lead mines, besides those aboard from
Prairie du Chen"
Evidently all of your passengers
are not miners, captain" 1 ventured.
'Those two standing there at the
stern, for instance
He turned and looked. "No," he
said; that big man is Judge Beau
caire, from Missouri. He has plan
tation just above st. Louis, an old
French grant OF course you know the
younger one"
Never saw him before"
"Then you have never Travelled
much on the lower river. That's Joe
Kirby"
Joe Kirby?"
Certainly; you must have heard of
him. First time / ever knew Of his
drifting so far north, as there are not
many pickings up here. Have rather
suspected he might be laying for Beau
caire, but the two haven't touched a
card coming down."
"He is a gambler, then?"
"a thoroughbred; works between
st. Louis and New Orleans. l can't
just figure out yet what he Is doing up
here. asked him fiat out, but he only
laughed, and he isn't the sort Of man
you get very friendly with, some say
he has Indian blood In him, so I drop
ped it. He and the Judge seem pretty
thick, and they may be playing in their
rooms. See you again before we
leave; am going up now to have talk
with the major"
My eyes followed as he disappeared
within the open gates, q squatty
strongly built figure, the blue smoke
from his pipe circling in cloud above
his head. Then turned idly to gaze
once again down the river and observe
the groups lettering below.
...E ..1e<A.