Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1941-01-23

soon after the massacre. They had
drugged Corkran to keep him ig-
norant of what was to happen; but
now here came many white men.
Mary thought any small Indictment
might touch them into bloody mad
ness again; bring the war clubs out
of hiding, set them swinging. 1t
would be important, when the Ven
turer came in, to warn Richard and
the others against asking questions.
All the others had disappeared;
but laramie stayed with Mary,
squatting on the platform, waiting
her commands. She babe him watch
and tell her when the Venturer an
chored.
In the late afternoon Jarambo re-
ported that boat from the Venturer
was rowing toward the mouth Of the
bay. It would be night, Jarambo
said, before the whaleboat came into
the roads; and she told him to build
a fire on the shore for a beacon
at the landing place, and to help
them at the landing.
When sudden dark descended,
Mary brought one Of the whale oil
lamps and lighted the wick and set
it here by Georges bed. laramie
went to tend the beacon fire, and
she was alone.
She heard shod feet come up the
path toward the house; and she rose
and went from her husbands side
through the big central room to the
door. In darkness there she met a
man, and thought him her uncle,
and cried: "Uncle Toni" and went
into his arms, clinging to him. But
she knew as she kissed him and felt
his lips that this was not her uncle,
and she pressed back, peering up
at him.
tits all right, Mary. Don't you
know me? I'm Peter Corr" Before
she could free herself, he kissed her
again, his beard rough against her
cheek and chin.
"Peter?" she cried. ooh, I'm glad
you've comet" Then she saw some
one behind him, tall and slender,
and she asked, trying to see in the
half light: "Who is it?" Then, see
ing more clearly: "Why, it's Tom
my!" Her voice broke, her eyes
filled with happy weeping. "Why,
Tommy, how you've grown!" She
caught him, and he chung to her,
young arms tight around her neck,
hugging her hard. He did not speak,
and she smiled to herself, thinking:
He's so glad to see me that he's
crying, doesn't dare try to talk for
fear We'll know. She asked: "How's
Uncle Tom, Tommy"
But Tommy, without answering,
only held her harder, and Peter
asked urgently: MARY, where's
your father?"
Fathers dead, Peter. He and
Mother died before we got here
Then, in the doorway: '"This is my
husband, George McAusland."
Peter stood by Georges bed.
"Husband?" he muttered.
"He's SICK" she said.
''He sure looks like it!'
"And-he's been hurt" she admit
ted, looking back to see if Jarambo
my, wondering how much just now
to tell Peter. She asked again:
"Where's Uncle TOMB"
Peter said slowly: "Your uncle's
dead, too, Mary" She noticed that
he did not look at Tommy, seemed
careful not to.
She was curiously not moved by
this intelligence, as though she were
immune just now to grief. She only
said: "Dead?"
Peter wiped his brow with his
hand, looking down at George He
said: Eyes. And my fathers sick
aboard the Venturer, Mary. 1 think
he's going to die. Dick said your
father knew something about doc
toring. He asked, in curiously boy
ish perplexity: 3'What are we 60
ing to do?"
She said: eve haven't any medi-
cines here. We've had lot of peo-
| pie sick and dying on the island"
''I'll 60 send the boat back, send
them word your fathers dead" Pc
ter said.
She nodded, and his footsteps de-
parted toward the landing. She
turned to the boy. Him at least she
could help, just by loving him. my,
I'm glad to see you, Tommy! I'm
so sorry about Uncle Tom" She
kissed him again.
Tommy spoke carefully, Knocking
his eyes. 81 haven't cried before,
Mary, till I saw YOU"
81 know, dear. But it helps,
doesn't it? You'll feel better now"
She asked, cropping to find need in
him which she could fill: "Do you
want to talk about it?"
II saw it happen" he said. 81
was in the crosstrees with glass;"
His tone puzzled her, stiff and re-
strained. "Peter's boat was right
there ;" They heard Peter re-
turning, and the boy stopped, bit off
the word, watching the door where
after moment Peter appeared
Mary wondered why She asked Pc
ter:
"Will you and Tommy stay with
George while I change my clothes?"
"Sure. You look pretty tired. Go
to bed, why don't you? I'll keep an