Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-18

SuaVe, DOlU young was W.
liberately leading Hugh into all the
leave the girls side until she was Ia
ken home. Erskine. too. left then and
Invent back to che tavern and, up to his
room. Then with his knife In his belt
he went down again and waited on
the porch. Already guests were com
ing back from the party and 1t was
not long before he saw Hugh and Dane
Grey half-stumbling up the steps.
Erskine rose. Grey confronted h lad
duly for a moment and then straiEht-
ened. la i
Here's anuzzer one wants to fight"
he said thickly. MY young friend,
l will oblige you anywhere with any
thing, at any time-except tonight.
You must regard that as a great hon
or. for / am not accustomed to fight
with savages."
And he waved the boy away with
such an insolent gesture that the lad,
knowing no other desire with an enc
my than to kill him. snatched his
knife from his belt. He heard a cry
of surprise and horror from Hugh
and a huge hand caught his appraised
wrist. 80
Put it back" said Dave sternly.
The dazcd boy obeyed and Dave led
him upstairs.
Dave talked to the lad about the
enormity of his offense. but to Dave
he was inclined to defend himself and
his action. Next morning, however,
when the party started hack to Red
Oaks, Erskine felt a difference IN the
atmosphere that made him uneasy.
Barbara alone seemed unchanged. and
he was quick to guess that she had
not been told OF the incident. Hugh
was distinctly distant and surly for
another reason as we'll. He had want
ed to ask young Grey to become one
of the party and his father had de-
cisively forbidden him-for another
reason, too. than his influence over
Hugh: Grey and his family were To-
ries and in high favor with Lord Dun
more.
As vet Dave had made no explana-
ton or excuse for his young friend,
but he soon made up his mind that it
would be wise to offer the best extern
uation as soon as possible; which was
simply that h lad knew. no better,
had not yet had the chance to learn,
and on the age Of impulse had acted
the Indians, whose code alone he
knew.
The matter came to a head shortly
after their arrival at Red Oaks when
Dale. Harry. Hugh and Dave
were on the front porch. The boy was
standing behind the box-hedge near
the steps and Barbara had just ap-
peared in the doorway.
We'll. what was the trouble" Col
onel Dale had just asked.
He tried to stab Grey unarmed
and without warning" said Hugh
shortly.
At that moment the boy caught
sight of Barbara. Her eyes, filled with
scorn, me- his in one long. sad. with
ering look, and she turned n~oiselessly
back into the house. Noiselessly. too.
he melted into the garden, slipped
down to the river bank and dropped
to the ground. He knew at East what
he had done. Nothing was said to him
when he came back to the house and
that night he scarcely opened his lips.
In silence he went to bed and next
morning he WIS gone.
The mystery was explained when
Barbara told how the boy, too, must
have overheard Hugh.
He's hurt" said Dave, land he's
gone home"
ION foot?" asked Colonel Dale in
credulously.
HE can trot all day and make al
most as good time as a horse"
why. he'll starve." /
He could get there on. roots and
herbs and wild honey, but he'll have
fresh meat every day. Still, I'll have
to try to overtake him. 1 must go, any
how"
And he asked for his horse and
went to get ready for the journey. Ten
minutes later Hugh and Harry rushed
joyously into his room.
We're going with you," they cried,
and Dave was greatly pleased. An
lyast moment FREELY was led in. sad
died and bridled. and with a leading
halter around his neck.
Harry" said Colonel Dale. carry
your cousin my apologies and give
him FREELY On. condition that he ride
him back some day. Tell him this
home is his"-the speaker halted. hut
went on gravely and firmly-'when-
ever he pleases."
And give him my love-" said Bar
bara, holding back her tears.
At the river-gate they turned to
wave a last goodby and disappeared
over in the wilderness ahead of them
had cooked a squirrel he had shot
had cooked a squirrel that he had
shot for his breakfast and was gnaw-
ing it to the bones. Soon. he rose and
at a trot sped on toward his home
beyond the Cumberland. And with
him. etched with acid on the steel OF
his brain, sped two images-Barbara's
face as he last saw it and the face of
young Dane Grey.
The boys tracks were easily to be
seer in the sandy road. and from
Dave judged that. he must have
loft I'm - hoforo n o1,I;~L$ -
travelling rapidly. At sunset Dave
knew they were not far behind him,
but when darkness hid the lads
tracks Dave stopped for the night.
Again Erskine got the start by going
on. before day, and it was the middle
of the forenoon before Dave, missing
the tracks for a hundred yards, came
back to where a little stream crossed
the road and dismounted, leading his
horse and scrutinizing the ground.
Hes seen us tracking him and he's
doubled on us and is tracking us. |
expect he's looking at US from some-
where around here" And he halloed
at the top Of his voice, which rank
down the forestLaisles. A war-whoop
answered almost in their care that
made the blood leap in both the boys.
Even Dave wheeled with cooked
rifle, and the lad stepped from be-
hind q bush scarcely ten feet behind
them.
Well, by gum" shouted Dave,
fooled US, after all."4
- faint grin of triumph was on the
lads lips. but in his eyes was a wait
ing inquiry directed at Harry and
Hugh. They sprang worward, both Of
them with their hands ~outstretched:
Were sorry!'
A few minutes later Hugh was
transferring his saddle from Firefly
to his own horse. which had gone a