The Adair County news., 1922-09-05
..CsolSe on called Harry. Il l15afl6e

there a slight stress on those two
words? Erskine's face was as express
sionless as bronze. Harry had bolted
into the hall.
Mrs. Dale was visiting down the
river, so 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.
"Now, 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 do? I've
heard good deal, but want 1t ALL"
Grey began to look uncomfortable,
and so, in truth, did Barbara.
"What have you heard?" asked Frs
kline quietly.
Never mind" interposed Barbara
quickly; you tell u.s."
We'll" began Erskine slowly, you
remember that day we met some In
dians who told me that old KahtOO,
my foster-father, was i'll, and that he
wanted to see me before he died? l
went exactly as 1 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.
heard the Indians were going to join
the British. didn't want to be chief,
but did want influence in the tribe,
so 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 I
said. took the wampum belt for the
old chief to the powwow between the
Indians and the British, and 1 found
I could do nothing. 1 met Mr.. Grey
there" He bowed slightly to Dane
and then looked at him steadily. II
was told that he was there in the
interest of an English fur company.
When 1 found could do nothing with
the Indians, told the council what
had told the old chief" He paused
Barbara's face was pale and she was
breathing hard. She had not looked al
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 d.
to you?"
Erskine smiled.
swell, here l am. jumped oVel
the heads of the outer ring and ran
left his halter Loose. He broke away
1 jumped on him, and you know moth
ing can catch Firefy"
''Didn't they shoot at yOuT"
.. "Of course" Again he paused.
"Well," said Harry impatiently
"that isn't the end"
81 went back to the camp. CroOke,
Lightning followed me and they tiet
> me and were going to burn me at tn,
stake"
Good heavens!'' breathed Barbara
How'd you get away?'
'The Indian girl, Early Morn, Slippe
under the tent and cut me loose. TIL
> white woman got my gun, and Firefl
:, you know nothing can catch Firefly.
i The silence was intense. Hugh locke
dazed, Barbara was on the point O
tears, Harry was triumphant, and Gre
: was painfully flushed.
: And you want to know what 1 al
= going to do nOw?' Erskine went OF
< I'm going with Capt. George Roger
d Clark-with what command are yol
e Mr.. Grey?'
s "That's a secret" he smiled COOL,
s ''Pll let YOU know later" and Barbar;
with an inward sigh of relief, ros
e quickly, but would not leave them b,
o hind.
But the white woman?" questiOne
Harry "Why doesn't she leave tt
Indians?"
'Early Morn-a half-breed-is ht
daughter" said Erskine simply.
"Oh!" and Harry questioned I
further.
} early Morn was the best-lookir
| Indian girl ever saw" said Erskin
Il ''and the bravest." For the first tin
L Grey glanced at Barbara. "She save
| my life" Erskine went on gravel
| ''and mine is hers whenever she neeC
it," Harry reached over and grippe
his hand.
II As yet not one word had been sal
NJ of Grey's misdoing, but Barbara's CO
Al disdain made him shamed and hot, an
n in her eyes was the sorrow of her i
justice to Erskine. In the hallway 81
| excused herself with courtesy, Hus
n went to the stables, Harry disappeare
for a moment, and the two were lie
alone. With smoldering fire ErskiI
"A turned to Grey. =
u st seems you have been amusiI
q yourself with my kinspeople at my e
"A pense." Grey drew himself up
vi naughty silence Erskine went on:
A 81 have known some liars who we
! not towards"
"You forget yourself"
"No-nor you"
'You remember promise / mat
Won OnceY'