The Monmouth inquirer., 1920-04-29

The Indian nodded stolidly.
He will be at the ford. Lon Is driv-
ing alone in a buggy. That is so no
one will think he has the money. Sears
will get IT,"
The power of speech was moment
arily paralyzed in the other, and he
only stood there. trembling.
"Walt--he makes me go to smoke
and dance tonight" the Indian
growled. "He said If will not he will
take my payment. He did not want
me to be anywhere else. because he
wanted people to see me.
"He is afraid of you, wau-pun'
tuck; he thinks you guess too much.
II don't like to dance at smokes"
he grumbled. "That is all right for
the old men who have never been
away to school. Not for mel"
He stood silent, brooding over his
humiliation, while the man before him
struggled to see way out.
Sears at liberty-awaiting coldly for
that man who drove alone toward
Crooked Ford on Rock Creek!
And Ruth Mitchell! What OF her?
What part had she played in this bald
tragedy? A dull ache surged through
him with the wonder.
But his sense of proportion erled
out for action. His tortured soul
might find rest later; now mans
life-to pass by the thousands in dol
Iars-was endangered, threatened by
that sinister rider whose movements
had absolved him of all obligation!
"How do you know Gilbright will
come across Crooked Ford?" he whis-
pered to the Indian, interrupting the
muttered maiedictions for Kennedy.
"Walt. he found out at the agency
some way-I don't know" Little
Foot shrugged his shoulders; then
added: "It is the only way he can
come with a buggy"
Crooked Ford was the crossing full
forty miles to the north-and now 1t
was after nine In the evening.
Listen to me. Little Foot; do you
want to be free from Kennedy"
Hardy gripped the others arm again
to better impress him with his intent
ness.
"Sure-but / can't"
eyes, you can! Listen!" He looked
about to make sure of their being
alone. "You can stop this robbery!"
"Oh-h-no! No: Walt Kennedy. he
would kill me then!"
But Walt Kennedy will be cared
for by the time you see him again"
the doctor whispered. He's violat-
ing the law In your case; he is ma
king threats that he never can fulfil!
You help me in this nights work, Lit
tie Foot. and you'll be doing great
thing; for you are the only man in this
reservation who can help me-"
Again he had touched vanity.
"You are the only man who can
help us get rid of Sears, and your
horse is the only horse in Oklahoma
that can do the trick. Why, Little
Foot, they'll talk about you and Streak
for years if you'll only helr me to-
night"
He felt the boys gaze on him and
knew that an eager light had begun
to shoulder in those black eyes.
How, wau-pun-tuck?"
"Rids to Crooked Ford, get around
it some way. and stop Gilbright!
Think what they'll say about you
and about Streak; think, Fred!"
He put his hands on the Indians
shoulders and shook him gently.
H1hax E,0NS FOIdaa hfc. arY1ns
with an exaggerated swagger. The
drink in him, his fear OF Kennedy, an
ger aroused by the enforced dancing
that night, all fomented.
"The men here say I'm only Indian
boy-and no good" he said boast
fully. I'VE will show them, wau-pun-
tuck!"
And at that Hardy wanted to shout
aloud.
when shall / go?" the boy asked.
"Now; you haven't a minute to
spare. It's ten o'clock now; and Gil
bright may come across the creek at
dawn. You haven't much time, Little
Foot"
The Indian started to move away
at trot, going around the house to-
ward the little stable where he kept
the great horse. Hardy followed and
smiled gleefully when he heard
shriH whinnying.
Little Foot called something softly,
fumbled with the gate fastening, and
next instant was inside drawing a
bride over the horses splendid head.
The boy was on fire with his pur-
pose now. He was the actor, the cen
ter OF attraction. and nothing was
dearer to his native heart. The same
impulse it was that prompted his
fathers to atreak their faces and
deck themselves in eagle feathers.
ut will be sixty miles, wau-pun-
tuck!" he muttsred, reaching for the
saddle-blAnAsG. II DO not dare keep
to the ROAD, because Bart might be
there and step me. ] can go around,
cross the creek below Crooked Ford,
and circle back to the road again.
"It is long ride. 6treak''-to the
horse-shat ~s can make it."
With fizs proud boast he threw the
L. aue1.