Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-07-24
W U!

sors. "And I'm wakan" AS he spoke
he began shooting the cards back and
forth until they seemed to fly from
hand to hand of their own volition,
and finished by opening them in big
fan. With a flourish he showed them
toward Crazy Horse and requested him
to draw one. The chief scowled and
seemed disinclined to participate in
the demonstration. But the warriors
were like children in their eagerness
to behold the completion of the mys-
terry, and he darted his fingers toward
an end of the fan.
But even more rapidly did the trick
ster's fingers, concealed by the opened
deck, convey to the danger point the
card he desired to force upon the
chief Crazy Horse had no suspicion
that his choice had been influenced
In any way by the white man, but
when he observed he had drawn the
three of hearts he was deeply irritat-
ed. He cast the card on the ground
and eyed it malevolently. But Scis-
sOrs was not done. He asked the chief
to show the paper he was still hold
ing in his left hand. Crazy Horse un-
willingly smoothed out the paper and
beheld, in a perpendicular line. three
hearts.
'Washte-helo! I" he muttered, staring
thoughtfully at the piece of paper.
Thus far it was obvious that Two
Knives Talking could bring to- light
anything Sorrel Horse sought to hide,
and, could even foretell-as evidenced
by the paper-just what the medicine
man would attempt to conceal Sorrel
Horse felt his reputation slipping. He
stared off at the Black hills, conjuring
help from Mato Tipi, the Grizzly Bear
lodge, where Tunkan's power dwelt.
Dinsdale's spirits mounted as he be-
held his friends legerdemain surpass-
ing that of the req coniurer; and
despite his anxiety over their situa-
ton he could not refrain from specu-
lating on his companions cunning. He
did not believe that any one in Dead
wood City suspected the picture-man's
adeptness. And he wondered in how
many other ways would Scissors prove
to be a surprise.
Sorrel Horse now proceeded with
his next trick. He drew short knife
and stabbed it into the ground several
times to prove it was a genuine blade.
Then throwing back his head and open
ing his mouth he began, apparently,
forcing the knife down his throat
This in itself was sufficient to evoke
low chorus Of applause, mixed with
grunts Of wonder. But the medicine
man had yet to appear at his magical
best. Dropping on his side he groaned.
He appeared to be very ill, and thin
voice that seemed to float in the air,
begged for lighted pipe.
One was brought and placed beside
him on the robe. He stuffed the bowl
! in his mouth and blew the smoke
! through the stem, then he inhaled it.
AS he kept this up for a dozen whiffs
the perspiration stood out on his sharp
| features and his copper skin took on
| the color of ashes Dinsdale believed
he was dying. Scissors smiled com
placently and watched closely Sud
denly tossing the pipe aside and clutch
| ing hand to his naked ribs he plucked
forth the knife, and his physical APP
pearance quickly became normal.
"Washte-helor" exclaimed Crazy
Horse.
Initiating his chest Sorrel Horse
haughtily asked:
What does the white medicine say
to that2'
1T says this" answered Scissors,
snatching up the knife. A guard
lunged forward to pluck 1t from his
hand and found 1t empty. Crazy Horse
called out for the man to desist Now
undisturbed Scissors made the. knife
appear and disappear with bewilder-
| ing rapidity. He seemed to pull it
from his ear, his leg, and to spit it
| from his mouth 1t vanished for The
last time only to appear from over
his right shoulder whirling rapidly and
striking on its point in the wolf robe
near the foot Of SoTrel Horse.
! Before the medicine man could es-
say more of his magic the white man
| held up small square Of paper in lis
! left hand Then he waved his scissors
above his head, while the nimble fin
| gers of the left hand folded the paper
several times Then advancing the pa
per toward Crazy Horse he daintily
! shipped off protruding corner Open
ing the paper he revealed that the
one movement Of the blades cut out
a perfect star of five points. Until
the simple trick was explained it must
remain big mystery to the wonder
! iLg spectators, and mystery is always
wakan, therefore q medicine.
Especially did IT appeal to Crazy
Horse, inasmuch as the star reminded
him Of General Crook, or Three Stars.
And how Gould one stroke of the two
blades cut it out? His face was SOM
Der as he turned to Sorrel Horse and
asked:
"Is there more medicineY
Sorrel Horse, now desperate in his
desire to prove the superiority of his
magic, replied
Let Shunca-luta and the white man
be tied fast and placed in lodge to-
gether We will see whose medicine
comes first to take off the rawhide."
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