The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-05-04
Startled, the girl turned toward her

companion.
what is it?" she asked.
Probably a hunter" Scott answered.
He knew it was his friend.
The two turned to retrace their steps
to the village of ~skin-covered dwell
ings. As they topped a slight rise and
| glanced into the gentle valley that
dropped before them, they saw a figure
| standing alone in the silent hollow.
Scott hesitated. It was Osborne.
The girls companion knew Osborne
would resent his subterfuge Of the
morning. For a moment he halted.
The Indian girl continued moving for
ward for a few steps before she noticed
her companion no longer walked beside
her.
She turned and faced him. He stood
gazing at the barely recognizable figure
in the valley below.
With sudden determination to face
the issue, Scott took a few quick strides
to her side.
Its Osborne" he said. HE wanted
to go hunting today. I decided I would
rather walk with you"
The girl smiled, but made no re-
Spouse.
Silently, they made their way down
the gentle slope. They did not resume
their conversation. The spirit OF
friendship that had inspired their talk
during their afternoon together was
broken.
When they were within mailing dis
lance Of Osborne, Scott raised his hand
in a gesture of recognition and shouted.
Osborne did not return his greeting.
Scott and the girl ceased walking to-
ward him. For almost a minute Os-
borne looked at them before he moved.
And then it was to turn and walk away
without a word.
The Indian girl betrayed no emotion
Stoically she covered any concern she
might have felt. Scott began a hurried,
stilted conversation, but soon he al
lowed it to die because she made no
response.
When he had escorted her to her
fathers lodge, he paused q moment
beside the open door skin.
1--WE will go again tomorrow" he
asked.
The girl shook her head.
mo more" she said, smiling gently.
Scott started to protest-to plead his
cause. But again she nodded her head
negatively. Then she disappeared in
side the tepee.
The white man, his love for the girl
famed higher by the rebuff and the
knowledge that his partner, too, loved
her, made a movement to follow.
A bronzed, black-haired figure barred
his way.
CO." said the chief of the tribe,
pointing toward the white mans cabin.
Scott turned away. He knew there
was no appeal.
For several hours he wandered along
the banks of the river. Before he
realized it, night had fallen. He was
hungry. He followed the moon-tinted
waters until he was opposite the cabin.
The door was open. He could see Os-
borne reclining in the rooms only
chair. He faced the door. Across his
knees lay the shotgun he had carried
that afternoon.
Scott hesitated a long time. His
buckskin shod feet made no sound as
they glided over the dried grass mat
ting that covered the ground.
As he stepped within the area of
light reflected from the small fire
within the cabin, Osborne leaped from
his chair and brought his gun to the
firing position.
Scott halted. Fear held him motion
less.
Osborne swung the gun to bear d.
rectly on his partners breast. His
finger curled slowly around the trig-
ger. AS he felt the touch of the cold,
curved steel, small beads Of p~erspiration
broke out on his forehead. " -
Then suddenly, he dropped the gun.
It fell, Gathering, to the floor. he COW
cred his eyes with his hands and turned
In face the fireDlaca.