Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-06-12

IL. Dinsdale beheld man gestieulat-
ing and talking loudly. Twenty or
thirty silent men composed his audi
ence. Dinsdale entered.
"We're coming to vigilantes, same's
they did in Montana" declared heav-
| ily bearded miner. "Can't make me
believe all these dead men found in
the gulches was killed by Indians"
There was an uneasy stirring and
an exchange of suspicious glances. 1t
was well known that road-agents en-
tered Deadwood City at times to pro-
cure supplies. Within month fight
had started in front of the Grand Cen
trail, resulting from victim recog-
nizing robber The robber had es-
capped in running fight. That others
stayed in town between holdups was
commonly believed
The Montana man was impressed
! by the silence his speech had caused
and glared defiantly around for mo-
ment. Then he began to weaken, and
to work clear Of the group. A jeer-
| ing laugh accelerated his retreat.
Bandy Allen, recently silenced by Col
orado Charley, pointed a finger at the
miner, now making for the door, and
denounced:
"That fool and others are stalkin'
like lunies.' Hitching up his belt ag-
gressively and staring stonily at the
men, he continued: 9Th agents amt
makil' day wages. What we oughter
do Is to comb tn gulches for reds an
forgit tn agents till tn really 'portant
job Is well finished
Allen was not pleasing to look at,
but the vital need of protection from
the Sioux won him many mods of ap-
prevail Finding his listeners in SYM
pathy, he hooked his thumbs In his
belt and began: "Give me fifty we'll
armed men an: I'll agree to clear out
all tn redskins from the Belle Fourche
to Red Canyon crick. TIL job needs
men who know tn critters an amt
afraid of 'em. Here's thousands of
folks huddled up like sheep in this
gulch. shiverin' an skeered because
small bands of painted Sioux skunks
is wipin' out every miner they catch
by hisself."
Excuse me-" broke In shrill voice,
but the Sioux amt painting their
faces this season. l was their pris-
oner bit ago, and know. They
paint the top of their heads, where
they part their hair, but not their
faces. It's mighty queer"
Hold yer zap, yer fool idiot r.
roared Allen, turning to glare malev-
olently at the speaker.
"Well, Scissors ought to know
quietly interposed bystander. HE
was their prisoner. They took HIM to
be big medicine and let him live, and
he saw things"
Il was wakan witshasha, mystery
man." proudly recited the man called
Scissors. ANY one might get to be
pejihuta witshasha, common grass
root man, but was wakan. Before
they could cut off my arms I pulled
out my little scissors and made a pic
ture of their chief. They thought ii
was magic. It was magic. None of
you fellers ever see it done before.
It's an art. Always could do it. ]
can go anywhere In these hills and If
the Indians see my scissors they won't
hurt me. Can't remember when /
couldn't do It. See here"
He whipped out pair OF scissors
and a piece Of paper, and, squirting
at Bandy Allen, began cutting the
paper with marvellous rapidity. He
held the scissors In one position, work
ing the blades, and turning the paper
back and forth and in half-circles In
most bewildering manner.
"The Sioux call me Two Knives
Talking each scissors blade is a knife
to them, you know" he explained in
singsong voice as he whirled the
paper.
Dinsdale studied him with much
sympathy. He was a slight, washed
out looking specimen, and his face
was vacuous. He had all the appear
ances Of one mentally unbalanced.
Allen lowered at him wrathfully, I'M
decided whether to remain as an ac-
commodation to the artist or to with
draw. The men suddenly raised a
shout of laughter, and Scissors trium-
phantly held up the result of his skill.
It was an exceedingly clever carica-
ture of Allen with the long, ragged
hair and bow legs grotesQuely accentu-
ated.
"Give me four bits for it?" asked
Scissors, ruf1ing his thin yellow hair
and tentatively offering the picture
to Allen.
Roaring an oath, Allen ran his eyes
NORTHUMBERLAND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.