Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-22

ad he did toward this dandy mine.
ing up that beautiful broad path.
WithIA little grunt he turned back
along the path. FREELY whinnied tc
him and nipped at him with playful
rastlessness as though eager to DO or
his way to the barn. and he stood
amile with one arm across his sad-
die. Once he reached upward to un-
tie the reins, and with another grunt
strobe back and ven rapidly up the
path. Grey and Barbara had disap-
peared, but a tall youth who sat be.
hind one OF the big pillars saw him
coming and rose. b~ewildered, but not
for long. Each recognized the other
swiftly, and Hugh. came with std
courtesy forward. Erskine smiled:
you don't know me?" Hugh
bowed:
"Quite WE'LL" The woodsman drew
himself up with quick breath-pahns
without. flaming within-but before
he could speak there was a quick
the hall and Harry sprang out.
and he leaped down the steps with
both hands outstretched. You here!
You-you old 1ndian-how did you
get here?" He caught Erskine by
both hands and then foil to shaking
him by the shoulders. where's your
horse?" And then he noticed the
boys pale and embarrassed face and
his eyes shifting to Hugh. who stood.
still cold. still courteous, and he
checked some hot outburst at his lips.
I'm. glad you've come. and I'm
your horse? :"
Il left him hitched at the land
ing" Erskine had to answer, and
Harry looked puzzled:
The landing! Why, what" He
wheeled and shouted to a darby:
Put Master Erskine's horse in the
barn and feed him. And he led Frs
kline within-to tho same room where
he had slept before, and poured out
some water in a bowl.
Take your time" he said. and he
went back to the porch. Erskine could
hear and see him through the lat
ticed blinds
Hugh" said the lad in a low, cold
voice, Il am lost here, and II you
don't like this o can take tnat
path"
You are right" was the answer;
but you wait until Uncle Harry gets
home.''
The matter was quite plain to Frs
kline within. The presence of Dane
Grey made it plain, and as Erskine
dipped both hands into the cold water
he made up his mind to an under
standing with the young gentleman
that would be complete and final.
And SO he was ready when he and
Harry were on the porch again and
Barbara and Grey amarged from the
ros bushes and came slowly up the
path. Harry looked worried. but Frs
kline sat still. with a faint smile at
his mouth and in his eyes. Barbara
saw him first, and she did not rush
forward. Instead. she stopped, with
wide eyes, a stifed cry. and lifting
one hand toward her heart. Grey
saw, too. flushed rather painfully. and
Gained himself. Erskine had sprung
down the steps.
why. have / changed so much? ?"
either" His voice was gay.
friendly, even anectionate, but his
eyes danced. with strange lights that
puzzled the girl.
"Of course I knew you,' she fall
tered. paling a little. but gathering
herself rather haughtily-a fact that
Erskine seemed not to notice. "You
took me by surprise and you have
changed-but I don't know how
much, The significance Of this, too,
seemed to pass Erskine by. for he
bent over Barbara's hand and kissed
it.
"Never to you, my dear cousin"
he said calamity. and then he bowed
to Dane Grey, not Offering to shake
hands.
'Of course l know Mr.. Grey To
say hat tive gentleman was dumb
founded is to put it mildly-this wild
Indian playing the courtier with ex-
quisite impudence and doing it well!
Harry seemed like to burst with re-
strained merriment, and Barbara was
sorely put to it 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 i'm
agine you're hungry. cousin"
Il am" said Erskine. I've had
nothing to. eat since-since early
morn" Barbara's eyes flashed up
ward, n Grey was plainly startled.
Was there a slight stress on those
two words? Erskine's face was as
expressionless as bronze. Harry had
bo.ted into the hall.
Mrs. Dale. was visiting down the
river. so Barbara sat in her moth
er's place, with Erskine at her right,
trey 70 mar lelt' nu6H next TO HlIH.
and Harry at the head. Harry did
not wait long.
Nov. you White Arrow. you Big
you been, what have you been doing,
and what do you mean to do? I've
heard a good deal, but l want it ALL"
Grey began to look uncomfortable,
and 50, in truth, did Barbara.
What have you heard?" asked
Erskine quietly.
Never mind interposed Barbara
quickly; you tell U.S."
well" began Erskine slowly, you
that day We met some In
dams who told me that old Kahtoo.
wanted to see me before he died? I
went exactly as I would have gone
had white men given the same mes
sage from Colonel Dale. and even for
better reasons. A bad prophet vas
stirring up trouble In the tribe
against the old chief. An enemy Of
mine, Crooked Lightning, was help
ing him. He wanted his son. Black
Wolf. az chief. and the old chief
wanted me. I heard the Indians were
going to join the British. I didn't
nuence in the tribe, SC I stayed. There
was a white woman in the camp ana
an Indian girl named Early Morn.
I told the old chief that I would
fight with the whites against the In
dams Inc with the whites against
them both. Crooked Lightning over
heard me, and you can imagine what
use he made OF what I said. I took
the wampum belt for the old chief
to the powwow between the Indians
and the British. and I found I could
- ~~kk&~~ Y~A< Hvyfr~Ax, 49, u