Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-10-15

Ruby sne discovered to her horror.
was teaching Gin to speak Usage. A
difficult language to the white, he
seemed to have natural aptitude
for 1t. She came upon them. their
heads close together over the kitchen
table. laughing and talking and sing
ing Rather, Ruby Big Elk was sing
ing song with curious rhythm,
and Ito Sabra's ear. at least) no
melody. Gin was trying to follow the
strange guttnrals. slurs. and accents,
his eyes fixed on Ruby's face, his own
expression utterly absorbed, rapt.
what are you doing? What II
this?'
The Indian girls face took on Its
customary expression of proud dis
dain. She rose. Teach UNI song"
she said; which was queer. for she
spoke English perfectly.
well, | must say, Cimarron Cravat /
When you know your father is expect
Ing you down at the office. She
stopped. Her quick eye had leaped to
the table where lay the little round
peyote disk or mescal button which
is the hashish OF the Indian.
She had heard about 1t: knew how
prevalent among the Indian tribes
from Nebraska down To Mexico had
become the habit Of eating this little
ht,ff -
plant. In shape disk about An inch
and half in diameter and quarter
Of an inch thick, the mescal or peyote
gave the eater strange feeling Of
lightness. dlspelled pain and fatigue,
caused visions of marvellous beauty
and grandeur. The use of II had be-
come an Indian religious rite.
Like fury Sabra advanced to the
table, snatched up the little round hut
ton of soft green.
'Peyote.' She whirled on Gin.
what are you doing with this thingT
Gins eyes cast down sullenly His
hands in his pockets. he leaned against
the wall. very limp, very bored, very
infuriating and insolent.
'Ruby WAS just teaching me one OF
I the Mescal ceremony songs Darned
interesting. It's the last song. They
sing 1t at sunrise when they're just
about all In. Goes like this"
To Sabra's horror he began an eerie
song as he stood there leaning against
the kitchen wall, his eyes half closed.
stop IT, screamed Sabra With
the gesture OF tragedy queen she
mnfioned him out OF the kitchen. He
obeyed with very bad grace. his going
more annoying, In its manner, than his
staying. Sabra followed him, silently.
Suddenly she realized she hated his
walk, and knew why. He walked with
queer little springing gait. on the
very soIes OF his feet. It came over
her that It always had annoyed her.
She remembered that some one had
laughingly told her what Pete pitchlyn.
the old Indian scout, iounging on his
street corner. had said about young
Gin:
Every time see that Young Cimar-
ron Cravat a-comin' down the street /
expect to hear a twig snap. Walks
like story-book Injun.'
In the privacy Of the sitting room
Sabra confronted her son, the bit OF
peyote still crushed In her hand.
$50 you've come to this I'm
ashamed OF you r
Come to what?"
She opened her hand to show the
button OF pulpy green crushed In her
palm. "peyote. A son Of mine. I'd
rather see you dead"
''Oh. for heavens sake, nom, don't
get Biblical. like dad. To hear you \
person would think you'd found me
drugged In Chinese opium den.'
Il think I'd almost rather
ITS nothing but miserable little
piece OF cactus. And what was | do
ing but sitting in the kitchen listening
to Ruby tell how her father"
Il should think man OF almost
eighteen could find something better
to do than sit In a kitchen In the
middle of the day talking to an In
dian GIRL Where's your pridel'
Ito be continued