The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-09-14
Illustrated by RHLivinSstone

| playing the cOurtter with exquisite i'm
pudence and doing 1t Welt Harry
seemed like to burst with restrained
merriment. and Barbara was sorely
put to 1t to keep her poise The great
| dinner bell from behind the house
| doomed its summons to the woods and
/ fields.
"Come on" called Harry. II imagine
you're hungry, cousin"
Il am" said Erskine. 1--WE had
nothing to eat since-since early
morn" Barbafa's eyes flashed upward
and Grey was plainly startled. Was
there a slight stress on those two
words7 Erskine's face was as express
sionless as bronze. Harry had bolted
into the hall.
Mrs. Dale was visiting down the
river, 80 Barbara sat In her mothers
place, with Erskine at her right, Grey
to her left, Hugh next to him, and
Harry at the head. Harry did not wait
long.
Nov, you White Arrow, you Big
Chief, tell US the story. Where have
you been, what have you been doing,
and what do you mean to dof I've
heard a good deal, but want It ALL"
Grey began to look uncomfortable,
and 80, In truth, did Barbara.
What have you heard?" asked Ers-
kline quietly.
Never mind" interposed Barbara
quickly; "you tell u.s."
Wel1," began Erskine slowly, "you
remember that day we met some In.
Vans who told me that old Kahtoo,
my foster-father, was Ill, and that he
wanted to see me before he diedf I
went exactly as would have gone had
white men given the same message
from Colonel Dale, and even for bet.
ter reasons. A bad prophet was stir.
ring up trouble In the tribe against
the old chief. An enemy of mine.
Crooked Lightning, was helping him.
He wanted his son, Black Wolf, as
chief, and the old chief wanted me.
l heard the Indians were going to Join
the British. 1 didn't want to be chief,
out l did want influence in the tribe,
30 stayed. There was a white wom-
an In the camp and an Indian girl
named Early Morn. told the old chief
that 1 would fight with the whites
against the Indians and with the
whites against them both. Crooked
Lightning overheard me, and you can
imagine what use he made Of what
said. took the wampum belt for the
old chief to the powwow between the
Indians and the British, and I found
1 could do nothing. I met Mr.. Grey
there" He bowed slightly to Dane
then ok
was told that he was there In the
Interest Of an English fur company.
When found could do nothing with
the Indians, I told the council what
l had told the old chief" He paused.
Barbara's face was pale and she was
breathing hard. She had not looked at
Grey, but Harry had been watching
him covertly and he did not look COM
Portable. Erskine paused.
What" shouted Harry. "You told
both that you would fight with the
whites against BOTH What'd they do
to your"
Erskine smiled.
well, here 1 am. I jumped over
the heads Of the outer ring and ran.
Firehy heard me calling him. had
left his halter loose. He broke away.
l jumped on him. and you know moth.
Ing can catch Firefy."
Didn't they shoot at your
"Of course" Again he paused.
"Well," said Harry impatiently,
'that isn't the end"
Il went back to the camp. Crooked
Lightning followed me and they tied
me and were going to burn me at the
stake"
Good heavens" breathed Barbara.
How'd you get away2",
"The Indian girl, Early Morn, slipped
under the tent and cut me loose The
white woman got my gun, and Firefiy
you know nothing can catch Firefiy.r
The silence was intense. Hugh looked
dazed Barbara was on the point OF
tears. Harry was triumphant and Grey
was painfully flushed.
And you want to know what I am
going to do now2 Erskine went on.
I'm going with Capt. George Rogers
Clark-with what command are Won.
Mr.. Grey?"
That's secret" he smiled coolly.
I'll let you know later" and Barbara,
"ith an inward sigh OF relief rose
quickly, but would not leave them be-
hind.
But the white womanr questioned
Harry. "Why doesn't she feave the
Tndians2"
EARLY MOrn-a half-breed-is her
daughter" said Erskine simply.
OH" and Harry questioned no
further.
EARLY Morn was the best-looking
Indian girl I ever saw" said Erskine.
and the bravest." For the first time
Grey glanced at Barbara. "She saved
my life," Erskine went on sravely,
and mine Is hers whenever she needs
It." Harry reached over and gripped
his hand.
AS yet not one word had been said
OF Grey's misdoing, but Barbara's cool