The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-04-17

of his friends In America only as Col.
Benjamin Hare-a royal commissioner
who had come to the colonies 70 In
spect and report upon the defenses OF
his majesty. He wore the uniform OF
a colonel of the Kings guard. There
is an old letter of John Irons which
says that he was a splendid figure of
a man, tall and well proportional and
about forty, with dark eyes, his hair
and mustache just beginning to show
gray.
II shall not try here to measure my
gratitude" he said to Mr.. Irons. Il
will see you tomorrow"
you owe me nothing" Irons an
swered. 1.-THE rescue Of your wife and
daughter is due to the resourceful and
famous scout-Solomon Binkus."
Dear old rough-barked hickory
man" the colonel exclaimed. 81 hope
to see him soon"
He went at once with his wife and
daughter to rooms In the fort. That
evening he satisfied himself as to the
character and standing Of John Irons,
learning that he was a patriot of large
influence and considerable means
The latter family and that of Peter
Bones were well quartered in tents
with a part of the Ffty-ffth regiment
then at Fort Stanwix. Next morning
Jack went to breakfast with Colonel
Hare and his wife and daughter In
their rooms, after which the colonel In
vited the boy to take a walk with him
out to the little settlement Of Mill
river. Jack, being ~overawed, was
rather slow In declaring himself and
the colonel presently remarked:
"You and my daughter seem to have
got well acquainted"
Eyes, sir; but not as well as I could
wish" Jack answered. "Our journey
ended too soon. I love your daughter,
sir, and l hope you will let me tell her
and ask her to be my wife sometime"
you are both too young" said the
colonel. Besides you have known
each other not quite three days and /
have known you not "a many hours.
We are deeply grateful to you, but II
is better for you and for her that this
matter should not be hurried. After a
year has passed, II you think you still
care to see each other, I will ask you
to come to England. 1 think you are
a fine, manly, brave chap, but really
you will admit that I have a right to
know you better before my daughter
engages to marry you"
Jack freely admitted that the re-
quest was well founded, albeit he de-
clared, frankly, that he would like to
be got acquainted with as soon as pos
sible.
I'VE must take the first ship back
to England" said the colonel. you
are both young and in a matter Of this
kind there should be no haste. If
your affection is real, it will be zone
the worse for a little keeping"
Solomon Binkus and Peter and Israel
and John Bones and some settlers
north of Horse valley arrived next day
with the captured Indians, who, under
a military guard, were sent on to the
Great Father at Johnson castle.
Colonel Hare was astonished that
neither Solomon Binkus nor John
Irons nor his son would accept any gift
for the great service they had done
him.
81 owe you more than / can ever
pay" he said to the faithful Binkus.
Money would not be good enough for
your reward"
Solomon stepped close to the great
and said in a low tone:
'"Them young 'uns has growed kind
o. lovesick an l wouldn't wonder. /
don't ask only one thing. Don't make
mistake bout this ere boy. In the
bush we have a way o. pickin' out men.
see how they STAN up to danger
an hard work an goin' hungry. Jack
is a regular herman. l know 'em when
l see 'em, which-it's a sure fact-Tve
seen all kinds. He's got brains an
courage, an a tough arm an a good
heart. He'd die fer a friend any day.
Ye KANT do no more. So don't make
mistake bout him. He amt nc
hemlock bow. l cacalate there amt
better man-timber nowhere-no,
sir, not nowhere in this world-call 1t
king er lord err duke er any name We
like. So, sir, if We feel like dom
fer me-which I didn't never
expect 1t, when l done what I did-Tll
say be good to the boy. You'd
have to be 'shamed o. him"
He's a likely lad" said Colonel
Hare. "And l am rather impressed by
your words, although they present a
view that Is new to me. We shall be
returning soon and l dare say they
will presently forget each other, but
if not, and he becomes a good man
good a man as his father-let US
say-and she should wish to marry
him, I would gladly put her hand in
At Fort Stanwix, John Irons sold his
farm and house and stock to Peter
Bones and decided to move his family