Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-09-17

room, without a glance lat the negro
boy covering in the kitchen. Doc
tor Valiant followed her. Az she
poured 1 drink Of Yancey's store of
whisky, almost untouched since he had
LEFT, she heard Valliant's voice, very
Rentle. and then the sound of Isaiah's
blubberine. All the primness In her
was outraged Her firm mouth took
on q still strniEhter line. Valiant
took the child back to the Indian girls
bed and placed It by her eide. He
stumbled with WEAKNESS as he en-
tered the dining room where Sahra
stood at the table. AS he reached for
the drink Sabra raw that his hand
shook little as Yancey's used to do
in that same gesture. She must not
think OF that. She must not think of
that.
"There's no use talking now. doctor,
about what the Osages do or don't do
that you say Is so pure. The bahy's
born. ! shall send for the old man
what's his name big Knee Az soon
NJ Arita can be moved he mnrt tike
her home, As for Isaiah I've notion
to send him back to Kansas, as
wanted to do years ago, only he
begged 50 10 stay, and Yancey LET him.
And now this"
Doctor Valiant had swallowed the
whisky at guln-had thrown It down
Ia tel onAt x{p n
relieve pain. He poured another glass.
His face was tired and drawn. 1t was
late. His nerves were not what they
had been, what with drink, overwork.
and countless nights without sleep as
he rode the country on his black horse.
He swallowed his second drink His
face seemed less drawn. his hand
steadier, his whole bearing more alert.
Now listen. Sabra You don't under
stand. You don't understand the
Osages. This is serious. The Osages
have kept the tribe absolutely free Of
negro blood. This Is bad business.
Her patience was at nm end. What
of it? And how do you know How
do vou Enaw2"
Because they remove any member
OF tile tribe that has had to do with
81 negro.
"Remove.r
XIII. BY torture"
She stared at him. He was drunk,
OF course. You're talking nonsense
she said crisply. She was very angry.
Don't let this get around. They
might blame you. The Osages. They
might I'll just 90 and take another
look at her.
The girl was sleeping. Sabra felt a
pang OF pity as she gazed down at
her. "Go to bed-off with you." said
Doctor Valiant to Isaiah. The boys
face was wet, pulpy with tears and
sweat and fright. He walked slackly,
n though exhausted.
wait" Sabra cut him some bread
from the loaf. sliced piece Of meat
left from supper. Here. Eat this
Everything will be all right In the
morning"
The. news got round. Perhaps Doc
tor Valiant talked In drink. Doubt
less the girl who came in to help her.
Perhaps Isaiah, who after a nights
exhausted sleep had suddenly become
proudly paternal and boasted loudly
about the house land no doubt out OF
IT. OF the size. beauty, and intelligence
OF the little lump OF dusky flesh that
lay beside Arita's bed In the very era
die that had held Donna when an In
FAINT. Arita was frantic to get up.
They had to keep her in bed by main
force. She had not spoken 4 dozen
words since the birth OF the child.
On the fourth day following the
childg birth Sabra came into AritA's
room early In the morning and she
was not there. The infant was not
there. Their beds had been slept In
and now were empty. She ran straight
into the yard where Isaiah's little hut
stood. He was not there. She Ques-
toned the girl who now helped with
the housework and who slept on
IuuNil Ill Tic uiuillk tOoA ch~ had
] heard nothing, seen nothing. The
three had vanished In the night.
Well, Sabra thought, philosophically.
they have gone or. Isaiah can make
out, somehow. Perhaps he can even
ret Job as printer somewhere. He
was handy. quick. bright He had
some money. for she had given him.
In these later years. little weekly
y wage. and he had earned quarter
here, a half dollar there. Enough,
perhaps. to take them by train back
to Kansas. Certainly they had not
gone to Arita's people. for Big Knee,
questioned. denied all knowledge OF his
daughter, OF her child. Of the black
boy. They could make nothing OF him.
His sQuaw. stout, silent, only shook
her head: pretended that she neither
spoke nor understood English.
Then the rumor rose, spread. re-
ceivsd credenca. 1t was started by
Pete Pitchlyn. the old Indian guide
and plainsmans who was married to
Cherokee, and who had even been
adopted int the Cherokee tribA- He
lad rot the tory from = Cherokee