The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-02-26

le plunge on the very edge of the
iff. and half carried her, strug'
ling and sobbing, back to the test
Hthin the girl dropped in q weep
lg r>eap, and with her faoe covered
nd the woman turned TO Erskine'
gonized.
Il told her" she whispered, "and
le was going to kill herself. You
re my son"
Still sleepless at following dawn,
lie boy rode FREELY into the woods
I sunset he came in, gaunt with
rooding and hunger, His mother,
atching from her wigwam, under
.ood and grew fearful. Quickly she
allied him, and he rose and went
her bewildered; she was smiling.
II have decided" he said. You
nd she must leave here and SO with
le."
His mother pretended much dis
leasure. "She will not leave, and
will not leave her'-her lips trem-
led-"and / would have gone long
so but"
"I understand, interrupted Frs
Inc, but you will go now with
our SON."
The pyor woman had to scowl.
mo. and you must not tell them.
hey will never let me go, and they
ill use me TO keep you here. You
lust go at once. Some day" She
urned abruptly and went into her
ent. Erskine wheeled and went to
Id Kahtoo.
IT am a soldier and must obey
ne big chiefs commands, as must
ou."
"I shall live" said the old man
yearily, until you come again.
Erskine nodded and went for his
orse. Black Wolf watched him with
Malignant satisfaction, but said moth
lg-nor did Crooked Lightning Frs
inc turned once as he rode away
lis mother was standing outside her
yigwam. Mournfully she waved her
and. Behind her and within the
snt he could see Early Morn with
9th hands at her breast.
XIX.
Dawned 1881.
The war was coming into Virginia
last. Virginia falling would thrust
great wedge through the center OF
he Confederacy, feed the British
rmies and end the fight. Even the
reat Washington was near despair,
nd in foreign help his sole hope lay.
.lready the traitor. Arnold, had TAX
Richmond. burned warehouses. and
eturned, but little harassed, TO Ports
louth.
CORVALLIS was coming on. Tarle'
on's white rangers We're bedeviling
ne land, and II was at this time that
.rskine Dale once more rode Fire
~ to the river James.
The boy had been two years in the
lids. When he left the Shawnee
errible winter of '79-of deep snow
nd hunger and cold. When he
cached Kaskaskia. Captain Clark had
one to Kentucky. and Erskine found
ad news. Hamilton and Hay had
AIKEN Vincenncs There Captain
felms Creoles. as soon as they saw
ne redcoats. slipped away from him
D surrender their arms to the Brit.
sh. and thus deserted by all. he and
ne two or three Americans with him
ad 10 give up the fort.
The two years in the Wilderness
ad left their mark on Erskine. He
as tall. lean, swarthy. gaunt, and
ct he was not all woodsman, FOR his
orn inheritance rs gentleman had
cen more than emphasized by his
ssoclation with Clark and certain
reole officers In the northwest. who
al improved his French and graft.
led one pet wish Of his lie since
is last visit to the James-ihey
ad taught him TO fence
His mother he had not seen again.
Ut he had learned that she was alive
nd not yet blind. OF Early Morn
9 had heard nothing at all.
once traveller had brought word
Dane Grey Grey was in Philadel.
hia and prominent in the gay doings
that city.
After the battle OF Piqua, ErsNne
iut forth for old Jerome Sanders
ort. He found the hard days Of
rant over. There was not only corn
! plenty but wheat, potatoes. pump.
ins. turnips, melons
Honor Sanders and Polly Conrad
I'D married, but when Erslline bade
.yda Noe good.by she told him TO
AIRY her love to Dave Yandell
There We're many, many travellers
n the Wilderness Road now. and
'olonel Dale's prophecy was coming
rue. The settlers We're pouring in
nd the long, long trail was now no
Jnesome way.
At WILLIAMSBURG Erskiue learned
1any things Colonel Dale. now
,eneral. was still with Washington
nd Harry was with him. Hugh was
nth the Virginia militia and Dave
nth Lafayette.
Turletons legion Of rangers in their
,hilte uniforms were scourglng Nir.
inia as they had scourged the Caro-.
Inas. Through the James river
ountry they had gone with fire and
word.
Barbara's mother was dead. Her
eighbors had moved to safety. but
Barbara. he heard, stlll lived with
Id Nanny and Ephraim at Red
)aks, unless that. too. had been re-
entity put to the torch. Where,
hen, would he find her7
Xxx.
Down the river Erskine rode with
sad heart. At the place whore he
ad fought with Grey he pulled Fire.
ly to a sudden halt. There was the
'oundary Of Red Oaks and there
tarted a desolation that ran as far
= his eye could reach.
Red Oaks had not been spared.
nd he put Flrefly to n fast gallop.
Soon over n distant clump Of trees
q could see the chimneys OF Bar.