Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1925-08-12

Lorlmer earnestly "I think it will
be better for you to keep it for her.
She might not realize it's impor-
tance."
Gust as you say. It's only a kind
Of fool thing, anyway, and won't
ever be needed" said Curran light
ly.
you keep it with the books" said
Lorimer hurriedly. give wasted a
good deal of time and ought to be
on my way"
They FASTENED to the landing once
more, where Lorimer had to shake
hands and receive good wishes.
Then the young man entered the ca
noe, taking the bow, and dipped his
new spruce paddle in the stream.
Mashkaugan jumped in the stern,
1.-the as a great cat, Justify shaking
one foot that had been in the wa
ter, for every drop and every grain
of sand that lodges between the
ribs increases weight on the port
ages. After hard months usage a
canoe may increase ten pounds in
weight or more.
Lorimer and Mashkargan turned
when they had reached the middle Of
the current and waved their caps.
Ameou remained on the bank even
after the boat had disappeared
around the point. Other indian wo-
men came to her and spoke gentle
words of sympathy-for they under
stood. She smiled at them without
trusting herself to speak, and they
noticed that her eyes were bright
with tears that did not fall, so
bravely did she hold them back.
The young wife returned to the
post and began to gather up all of
her clothing and blankets and other
belongings and carried them to her
fathers tent. The old mans eyes
glinted in approval
Curran had been busy in the store
room, which was separate from the
dwelling, but returned in time to see
Ameou carrying out the last armful.
~ onder what she's up to-" he
commented. Looks as if she was
robbing the house and taking every
thing out to that old rascal, her
father"
He walked over to the tent and
waited until Ameou came out again.
"Why didn't you get Cyprien to
help you?" he asked.
ut was not much" she answered,
looking straight into his eyes. "Only
my blankets and my clothe for no v
/ live in my fathers tent until Vel
low Hair, husband, comes back
to me"
What do you want to do that
for?" he asked sharply.
"Eshi lakala tutagants,' she re-
piled softly in the words that signi-
fed it was the custom of her people.
"You know you can always have
al the grub you want from the
store" he said, trying to speak
pleasantly. "I'll look after you all
right. Come to me for anything
you want"
81 know what l may take" she
answered quietly. "Uapishiu has
given me the full tale of what | may
take"
Curran turned on his heels to con-
ceal his vexation. Of course the girl
would help herself without asking
him. 1t really looked as if she had
made up her mind from the very
first to have nothing to do with him.
He knew where there was an old
paddock that he might use. By lock-
in1 up the storeroom she would be
compelled to come to him for every
thing she needed He searched for
1t, but had no sooner found the thing
than he threw it aside. 1t would not
do
He was now in a wilderness where
the greatest crime known to man is
roobing a cache. Never, since Tshe-
muak Post had been established had
ANYTHING ever been under lock and
key; nothing, even to the value of
penny, had ever been stolen.
These Indians were yet quite ig
norant of many of the ways of civil
ization, but Curran knew that in
some matters they were just like
children, and prone to anger which
they would show by departing to
other posts-even. into James Bay,
for to such rovers one or two hum
dred miles, more or less, matters
little.
Posts that had been very prosper
GUS were deserted with remarkable
suddenness, having been abandoned
bv trading Indians for causes that
might appear absolutely futile. The
mere statement by some buck that
the white Ian was locking up his
goods because he feared that some
one was a thief might have sufficed
to send them all away.
On every possible occasion Currah
did his best to be as courteous as
possible to the young woman; out
for days at time she seldom aap-
peared, remaining With the tent
which he could not enter without IN
vitation from the old manor dlsap-
pearing into The woods to snare rap
bits or patridges, or gather heros
for sickness. -, -
Often he came and sat with, OLD
Nimissuts on big log that had oeen
rolled close to the campfire before
the tent, and asked the ancient chieI
to share his plug OF tobacco, WIZ TSn
old man was sparing of words. he
gave brief answers to all questions,
while his scanned face remained IKE
a craven image.
As the days wore on the agent
began to get nervous. At times ne
watched the river intently for some
L Cd Il.