The Adair County news., 1922-08-29

bHS Sqod"B 1dIneTeo dno nSTS "STS
Grunts of Recognition and Greeting
When the Boy Pulled Up In Their
Midst.
gathered and there were, grunts Of
recognition and greeting when the boy
pulled up In their midst. The flaps Of
the chiefs tent parted and his foster
mother started toward him with a sud-
den stream of tears and turned quick
ly back. The old chiefs keen black
eyes were waiting for her and he
spoke before she could open her lips:
"White Arrow 1t is well. Here-at
Once?
Erskine had swung from his horse
and followed. The old chief measured
him from head to foot slowly and his
face grew content:
"ShOw me the hOrsew
The boy threw back the flaps of the
tent and with a gesture bade an In
dian to lead Firef1y to and fro. The
horse even thrust his beautiful head
over his masters shoulder and looked
within, snorting gently. Kahtoo
waved dismissal:
you must ride north soon to carry
the white wampum and a peace talk.
And when you go you must hurry back,
for when the sun is highest on the
day after you return, my spirit will
pass"
And thereupon he turned his face
and went back into sleep.
Just before sunset rifie-shOts sound
ed in the distance-the hunters were
coming in and the accompanying
whoops meant great success. Each of
three bucks carried a deer over his
shoulders, and foremost of the three
was Crooked Lightning, who barely
paused when he saw Erskine, and
then with an insOlent glare and grunt
passed him and tossed his deer at the
feet of the squaws. The boys hand
slipped toward the handle of his tOma-
hawk, but some swift instinct kept him
still. The savage must have had good
reason for such open defiance, for the
lad began to feel that many others
shared in his hostility and he began
to wonder and speculate
Quickly the feast was prepared and
the boy ate apart-his fOster-mOther
bringing him fOOd-but he could hear
the story of the days hunting and the
illusions to the prOwess of Crooked
Lightning's son, Black Wolf, who was
Erskine's age, and he knew they were
but slurs, against himself.
mood 1ryoc Oy, ho 6ro
and as its light leaped upward the lad
saw an aged Indian emerge from one
of two tents that sat apart on little
rise-saw him lift both hands toward
the stars for moment and then re,
turn within.
''Who Is that p he asked.
''The new prophet" said his mother
HE has been but one moon here and
has much power over our young men,
An armfuI of pine fagots was tossed
on the blaze, and in a whittier leap of
| light he saw the face of a woman at
the other tent-saw her face and for
a moment met her eyes before she
shrank back-and neither face nor
eyes belonged to an Indian. Startled,
he caught his mother by the wrist and
all but cried out:
"And thatY' The old woman hesi-
tated and scowled:
"a paleface. KahtOo bought her
and adopted her but"-the old woman
gave a little cultural cluck of tri-
umph-"she dies tomorrow. Kahtoo
will burn her."
"Burn herr burst out the boy.
''The palefaces have killed many OF
Kahtoo's kin!"
A little later when he was passing
near the white woman's tent girl saE
in front of it pounding corn in NOR
tar. She looked up at him and, star
ing, smiled. She had the skin of the
half-breed, and he stopped, startled by
that fact and her beauty-and went
quickly on. At cid Kahtoo's lodge be
could not help turning to look at her
again, and this time she rose quickly
and slipped within the tent He turned
to find his foster-mother watching him.
''Who is that grip The old woman
locked displeased-
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