Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 193, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1914 — Page 3

The MAID of the FOREST.

by RANDALL PARRISH

' 3- ILLUSTRATED &D. J. LAVIN T t T ca=Y/?fGrrr a.c.msclm?<? u co.^ya

CHAPTER XX—Continued. It was all over with so quickly I could scarcely realise what had actually occurred. Then I laughed and swore, my nerves dancing like so many demons. They were gone—gone! Those merciless red devils, those accursed murderers, those fiends in human guise. Nor was it likely they would stop in their mad flight until they dropped from sheer exhaustion, or the dawn of another day brought with It fresh courage. And those others, who were yet there—Brady, tied still to the stake, the flames already licking the fagots at his feet, and mademoiselle praying to the Virgin—what would they think? Would they know, understand, what had really occurred, or had the terrible spectacle left them also in benumbed tenor? The thought awoke me as from ‘a stupor, and I turned about. The ground was a jumble of things, as if I looked upon a battle field, yet this was not what I really saw in that first swift glance. A man—a white man—ran leaping across the flame-lit opening, kicking aside the blazing fagots of wood already scorching Brady, burling them to right and left in frantic haste, until he made passage through. I caught the glimmer of a knife in his hand; and then, by rdain strength, he dragged the weakened prisoner clear of the burning wood, and dropped him exhausted on the ground. As the fellow stood erect, staring about him, at the helpless huddle at his feet, at the white face of the girl, at the debris on every side, I recognized Simon Girty. “Saints alive! What does all this mean?” he cried, grabbing up the gun dropped in his first swift effort at rescue. “You ‘Running Water;’ ay! and this ie the Kentuckian who would have killed me. What’s happened bffere? It looks like a shambles. Never before did I see a man burning himself. ,Wko killed these —merciful God! Hvhat is that?” His voice rose into a shriek as he stared at me, while I advanced toward him. With one terrorized leap he sprang back, throwing up his rifle, but with hands shaking so, that 1 laughed outright The sound coming unexpectedly from such ghastly lips must have been more horrible than a groan, for the frightened man dashed his weapon to the ground, and turned to run. His foot struck Brady’s body and he went down, scrambling to his knees. 1 saw the old scout’s head uplifted, the trembling girl bury her face in her hands, as If to shut out the sight. “Don't run; there is nothing to be afraid of!” I cried hastily, stopping still in my tracks to better reassure them. “I am no ghost, but a friend. Hear ms, mademoiselle!"

CHAPTER XXI. Through the Black Night. She dropped her hands from before her eyes, and, holding out the white cross gleaming in the firelight, came slowly forward. A yard from me she stopped, hesitating, not even yet thoroughly convinced of my identity. "Is—is It really yon. Joseph Hayward?" her lips faltered. “Tell me, 1 bag yon, for—for 1 was never so frightened In my Ufa" "There is nothing for yon to fear, mademoiselle,” I said quickly, regretful enough to have startled her so. "I am Joseph Hayward, the American. T was bat to save you 1 played this part.* ' , She hurled her face in her hands, sobbing hysterically, her slender' form trembling. 1 “Oh. I am glad—glad!" she managed to whisper. *T —I am not superstitious, not weak; but this was so real, so dreadful, that all thought left me. Oh, how could you. bow could you do thatr "it was all that was left for me to do," I explained, my heart throbbing, as I drew her hands from before her face, and looked into her eyes. "Tea mast not blame me, mademoiselle. 1 could not light alone against them aIL 1 was erased with despair when I Hist thought of this. It was as though Ood Inspired me to the attempt." ify eyes looking beyond her saw Qirty on his knees, reaching for his rifle in the dirt. Then he arose to his feet. Us face showing bard and ugly la the firelight. “What's an this mad play about!" he ejaculated roughly. "Come now, speak up thar, or IH try wtwt lead kin do. Are ye ghost, er man 7 Burn me if I'm afraid o’ either!" "Tour courage has been tested," I returned in humor. "But you might as well lower the gun Qirty. There Is no occasion to shoot at me." I stepped set into fuller view. "Do you know me now!” He stared, uncertain, into my daystreaked face, his eyes narrowed into mere slits. "Maybe I do, an’ maybe I don’t," he admitted at last obstinately. "Yer're like the lad who guided me into Harmar, but yer a sight.for all that. If yes had yer face washed, an* more hair showin’ I could Judge better, matt all this play-actin’ about anyhow? Though't wasn’t much play in ft for ms, I reckon,” pointing to Brady, "when I got here. A minute more, an’ the man would have beep sheeted Ip v 1 stepped toward him, amused to fees

the man shrink back, half startled still at my weird decoration, and dropped a hand heavily on his shoulder. “Does that feel like the grip of a phantom, you fool?” I asked sharply. “If it does I’ll shut down tighter still for your benefit. My tale can wait its telling until we be well out of here. There will be time enough then to satisfy your curiosity. Those fellows may get over their fright and come back.” “What fellows?” “A mixed band of Mlamis, Ojibwaa and Shawneea —mostly Shawnees with a chief named Sis-e-te-wah! ” “Huh! So it was those devils? The same gang I left at the foot of the island. But there were no Shawneea with them then. Sis-e-te-wah, did you say? I know the rascal, but never be-

The Flames Already Licking the Fagota at His Feet.

fore did I hear of him being bold enough for such a deed. What stirred him to it?” “There was a white man with them.” 1 "Ah! Now we have the truth —a redcoat?” and his eyes were on my jacket. “He wore one—stolen no doubt —but was no soldier. Mademoiselle knew the man, a ruffian called Jules Lappin.” He- gazed into my face a minute and laughed, slapping his knee in sudden merriment. "Lord! But that’s a good one, boy! By the Lord Harry! 1 was a fine joke. But maybe we better move, friend, for he would not be in good humor if he did come, and I am scarcely in better grace with him than you.” “Go where?” "To join my party. Did yer think It likely I was here alone? I’ll tell yer the whole of it in a word. I found the warriors of the Wyandots marching south, an* joined them. Have yoU heard it was war? Ay! There's nq stopping now; the tribes, have taken the trail, the tomahawks are bloody. "T is said \St Clair has left Harmar already, and there will be fighting on the Wabash. Pish! It is easy to guess how It will end." * - "Where are your Indians?" "At the foot of the lake. I scouted up the shore as far as the ford; saw the blase of fire over here and crept up through the woods to investigate. Then somebody fired a gun, and I ran forward. This ia what I found.” He waved his hand about the open space. "Now you understand. I reckon the best thing for us to do is to get out” I looked down at Brady doubtfully; then stepped over beside him. “How is he, mademoiselle?” I asked, "can he talk at all?” "If you bend close to his lips you can hear his words,” she answered glancing up at my face. The hunter's eyes were.bright; he seemed to be trying to speak, and I dropped on my knees beside her. "What is It, Brady V There was a taint muttering, hot I distinguished the words. "Was—was that—Simon Qirty 7” "Yes." '4 “The —the man—who, who—cut me down?” "Yes.” “Whar —whar is he now?" “Rigbt here; you want to speak to him—oh, Qirty?” The renegade came toward us, and the eyea of the two borderers met. For a long moment they looked at each other, many a memory, no doubt, floating between. Then Brady held out a blaokened hand. “Yer saved my life, Simon Qirty," he said with an effort "I —I never thought to—shake hands with you—but—hut I’m a goln’ to." Girty’s ugly face broke into a smile. "No more did I,” he admitted grimly. “We ain’t ginerally been in no shakin’ hands mood when we’ve met heretofore. Still, I reckon, we’re about even up an’ kin afford ter shake if we wanter. Think yer kin {ravel a bit Brady?” ' “How far?” - i "To the foot of the lake; to a Wyandot camp.” The hunter’s eyes wandered from his face to mine. * “I—l reckon I cap,” he mumbled at

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, INP.

last. "I —ain't hurt so much, only bruised up.” Hte glance fell upon hia feet “Maybe if—l had some whole moccasins I’d get along better.” “We’ll fix that,” and Girty laughed. “I reckon that’s what them dead Injuns is lying there for." He stepped across to the nemest body, fumbled a moment, and came back, dropping on his knees. Deftly and quickly he eat the burned leather from the wounded man’s feet, touching the blackened flesh gingerly with Us fingers, and slipped on the new mooea<• sins. : V “You’re not scorched much, friend. Harts some, I reckon, bat a couple o days will put you all right agin.” • AS I pen these adventures of youth I eeem to retain bat dim recollection of what occurred following our arrival at the camp at the foot of the lake I recall the straggle we had with Brady, which taxed dirty's strength as well as my own. The man suffered greatly, and for much of the distance we bore him in oar arms in spite of his protests. Yet we reached the spot at last, and Btumbled Into the circle of light cast by a small fire, the Indians aroused from sleep by Girty’s about, and clustering about ns in eager curiosity. At first view I deemed them hostile, bat a word from the girl made them friendly enough. It was the fourth day, on the banks of the Maumee, that we came straggling into the Indian encampment, and passed through howling hordes, who struck at us in spite of the guards. The word passed that one of the white prisoners was Stephen Brady caused them to press about us so close that we were fairly hemmed into the mass, infuriated faces on every side, wild shrieking making an indescribable din. The situation was becoming serious, for the guards cared little what befell us, when Girty, accompanied by three Wyandot chiefß and a white man in British uniform, fought passage through the crowd, and by threats and blows, won way for us through the village. The extent of this surprised me, and gave me a new conception of the power of those northwest Indian tribes. There were hundreds, perhaps thousands, gathered there v for we' only traversed one end of the encampment, the warriors *of tribes whose homes were as far away as the great lakes and the big rivers. There were few wigwams elected, not more than two or three standing in the shadow of trees close beside the river. Big as the encampment was, it was no perms nent village, but a mere rendezvous for the various tribes allied for war. To one of these, covered with deerskin and rendered hideous by tribal totems, we were taken, and thrust within. At last Ure were a|one, Brady and I, although. we could Btill hear the yelling without. He lay extended, on his litter, and I dropped to the ground, thoroughly exhausted from the rough buffeting through which I had passed.

CHAPTER XXII. Rene Comes. The afternoon passed slowly. We discussed the chances of escape, yet knew so. little of our surroundings as to gain slight satisfaction. If we could be certain that there were no Indians on. the opposite bank of the river .we might venture an attempt But we were far from Bure. v Thus far all had been failure, our mission useless, our sufferings vain; Schultz had given up his life, Brady was wounded and suffering, and I, as well as he, a helpless prisoner. Yet even this could be borne with patience if only I could perceive some way to become of service, some means by which I could wqrn St Clair of this tornado of savagery about to sweep down upon him. * Slowly, insensibly, the vision of mademoiselle came. What a life bad been hers from childhood, and yet how the true, sweet womanhood had conquered all savage environment She was in my mind still, a soft, tender memory, when the ekin concealing the entrance was lifted and she stood In the narrow opening looking in. I could see her slender, lightly poised form outlined against the fire, but seemingly her eyes could not penetrate the darkness within. An instant she hesitated, leaning slightly forward. "Monsieur.” "Yes,” I said eagerly, already on my feet "I was longing for you to come.” She came forward cautiously, guided by the sound of my voice, leaving the entrance open, permitting me to glimpse the guard without facing the opening. "You have come to help us, mademoiselle?” I whispered, bending s a close her hair brushed my lips. "You feel that our need is that desperate?” "I must do right,” she answered, yet without lifting her eyes to mine, "as God tells me. I pray to him for guidance. You are white men and Christians; you came to the Wyandots on a mission of peace. What Is my duty, monsieur? I also am Christian, and only a drop of Indian blood flows in my veins. Yet all my life have I been Indian. How can I turn against my own people?” "I cannot think that you do,” I urged as she paused, breathing heavily. “The Wyandots have been falsely led, deceived. They have been driven Into this war by the lies of white men. Would we be in danger now if our fate was left to a council of Wyandot chiefs?” ' "No; they would listen to me, and believe. It is Hamilton and his white aides *bo refuse to hear the story. I went to his tepee twice, and was fumed away—the last time with insults, as though I were an unknown squawt" ? "How. then, did you gain permission to come here?" "I waited until be left the camp. There are but two white men hen to-

night, and one of (baa t* Girty. I like not the man, bat bo poems friendly to you, and so I trust him. He soggsstod that I come, and told me something which gave me courage. He bad heard a word dropped by Hamilton which made him suspect your Uvea were at stake. He dare not act openly, but he sent me to tell you this, and to whisper to you his plan. It waa easy for me to come here with Hamilton away. The guards are Wyandot*, and I had only to aak the chief to let me dress Monsieur Brady's wounds. He had not been warned against me, and saspeeted nothing. Tte'gntfMunia who waa left in command was led by Girty to the other end of the village. When the chief sought him, he was not to be found, and so I was given permission.” She stepped silently beck to the entrance, and glanced out Into the firelight, returning as swiftly to clasp my “Listen, monsieur; I mast apeak fast, tor I know not who may suspicion us. Now mark every word, for *t is a desperate chance. Two boon from now he ready. We must work while Hamilton la away. I will somehow draw the guard away from this side here, next to river, monsieur. When you hear an owl hoot three times creep beneath the skins and down the bank to the water’s edge. Yon must move like foxee, for there will be sleeping warriors to pass. Go down stream.” “And then?” I asked breathlessly, as she stopped to glance behind. “A quarter of a mile below, at the end of the village, around a sharp bend, Girty win have a canoe tied to a tree that overhangs the water. It will be in shadow, and concealed by brush. He has promised to pot Into it food, paddles and one gun. Yon most hide daring daylight—are you sure you understand all?” “Yee; that is clear, but I must ask a question—where is St. Clair?” “I do not know exactly, but he is marching toward'the.little Wabash; he seeks to destroy the Miami towns.” “With what force?” “Less than two thousand, the scouts say. He only expects to meet the Indians of the Wabash.” A head was thrust through the flap, and a gruff voice spoke in a strange language. The girl’s fingers pressed mine firmly, and then she turned and went out in silence. As she passed out of the opening her hand dropped toe skin, leaving the interior in darkness. I stood motionless, listening to the many sounds without, hardly conscious yet that she bad gone. The hot blood was throbbing in my veins, but it was caused by no thought of the dangers

A Head Was Thrust Through the Flap and a Gruff Voice Spoke.

confronting me. At that moment she alone occupied my mind. Then slowly her message recurred, forcing its way ifi upon my consciousness with insistence. Tonight—our escape must be made within two short hours. I stepped forward to awaken Brady, bqt now, with my brain cleared, a sudden suspicion came. Was this honest planning/ Was the desire back of it actually our escape? Or was it horn of treachery? Not tor an Instant did I question'her—the purtty and truth of her purpose—but Simon Qirty. Why should he scheme to help us? * Never before had I heard his name spoken as any harbinger of mercy to the frontier. I recalled his ugly face, his narrow, furtive eyea, and my doubt of him increased. The plan was too easy, too well oiled, to be altogether natural. I shook Brady awake, told him all that had occurred, so far aa related to our effort, but without voicing my suspicion. Twice we started at the distant hoot of an owl, but It was not repeated. Then, at last, the signal came, sounding near at hand, from somewhere down the stream. Brady weqt first, worming his way silently beneath the flap, and, the instant he disappeared, 1 followed. There was a slight gully to our left, and we crept Into it, keeping down out of the gleam of fire. Lying side by side at the edge of the water he put his lips close to my ear. "On your back, lad. with only the nose out; stroke easy, and let the current carry you down.” (TO BE CONTINUED.)

Improved on Old Superstition.

The first time pigs cross your threshold make them jump over your pants’ belt, or your wife's garter, or the maid’s apron; then they will come home regularly. A plan now In use among up-to-date American farmers is to keep the pigs in regular pens and feed them twice a day. It is regarded as a scheme more popular with the wife and the maid. The other way is recorded as being a German one. ;

HOME TRADE BOOSTS

ANY persons believe that the word “reciprocity" has merely a political IWMI significance. ****** But it means one of toe greatest principles. AH civilization,!* founded on it Were it not for this great principle there would be no government, no society, no cities and towns. We would have merely anarchy. IN PLAIN WORDS, “RECIPROCITY” MEANS THAT IF YOU EXPECT SOMEBODY TO DO SOMETHING FOR YOU, THEN YOU MUST DO SOMETHING IN RETURN. Let us lay aside the political significance of the word and discuss this great principle as it applies to our own individual and communistic interests: We have a prosperous community. We have a town which we are proud to call our own. We have various business establishments, good, well-kept stores, stocked with merchandise; we have various facilities for marketing the produce raised by the farmers who are a great and important part of our community. Were it not for the farmers we would not have all of these faellitiee for doing business. It Is possible that there would bo no groat necessity for • town of thiaslze and Importance. On. the other hand, were it not tor the town the farmers would not be enabled to market their crops with such facility and their prosperity would be considerably curtailed. Now here is where the reciprocity comes in and affects our local conditions and our prosperity. , THE STOREKEEPERS HELP THE FARMERS AND THE FARMERS HELP THE STOREKEEPERS. Simplest thing in the world. Each does something for the other and both are benefited. The town is benefited and the agricultural district is benefited. We have good schools, places of entertainment and our town is a general headquarters and meeting place for all interests. Every one of us has a certain place in the community'and helps to make up a desirable place where we can have Interchanges of ideas and commodities. What if some great monopoly should swoop down and buy up everything the farmers raise, cattle and sheep and crops of all kinds, ship the wholo lot direct to the city and thereby deprive our local merchants of the opportunity of handling the same; to utterly ignore the local interests? Business would suffer. Many of our concerns would find it necessary to close np shop and go out of business. If this same policy were to be continued We would soon be without the necessity of having any town at all. Of course, this is rather a far-fetched Illustration, because there is no possibility of anything of the kind happening. BUT THERE IS DANGER FROM ANOTHER SOURCE. What if the farmers should all send their money to the mail order houses instead of buying their goods from our local storekeepers? Many of them do—too many of them. IF THIS POLICY OF SENDING MONEY AWAY TO THE BIG CITIES INSTEAD OF BUYING FROM THE LOCAL MERCHANTS KEEPS UP AND CONTINUES, WE SHALL EXPERIENCE CONDITIONS WHICrf WILL BE FAR FROM PROSPEROUS. Reciprocity Is what we need, right here at home. The storekeepers must deal fairly with the farmers and the farmers must deal fairly with the storekeepers, otherwise our system of business will be thrown out of Its philo-, sophlcal orbit. Keep the money at home. Buy what you need from the local storekeepers. Don’t help the big mall order houses to profit at the expense of our local merchants. Help the men who are helping to build up the community, helping to Increase the value of your pfoperty by making a bigger and a better town where every facility for doing business is supplied for the benefit of the farmers—and the rest of us. We must do for others if we expect others to do for us. We cannot evade the responsibilities of reciprocity, nor should we attempt to do so. Every dollar sent away to the big mail order houses restricts our opportunities for local advancement. EVERY DOLLAR SO DIVERTED FROM LOCAL TRADE MEANS SO MUCH TAKEN FROM OUR TAXES, WHICH GO TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY. We can all do as well at home In the buying of goods as we can by sending our money to the mail order houses. We can do better, when wo come to consider valnes and everything. And reciprocity is the thing that builds up communities. THINK IT OVER THE NEXT TIME TkERE’S SOMETHING TO BE BOUGHT.

MAKING FARMING PAT

VERY farmer hopes to make a profit as the result of his labors. J3i He toils early and late and spares no trouble to see that his crops are properly planted and harvested. His stock requires constant attem tlon, and, taking It altogether, he has few spare minutes. Most of the farmers in our community are prosperous. Our market Is a good one, while there are certain things to be desired, and we all reap our share of the results to our advantage. There is one benetft which the farmer receives from his labors that we do not share In but in the making d f which we all hhve a hand. That is the added value of his holdings as the/ grow In desirability and as the demand for land in our neighborhood increases. Because Increased -land values come as the result of conditions which afford additional opportunities of profitable crop raising, not the least of which Is the market which permits of a quick and desirable tale. Naturally there can be no need of a market if there ia nothing to eeil, nor can there be a profitable sale unless there Is the right market. So the Increase in the value of the farm comes with the better market conditions, the farmer finding better prices as the market becomes mors popular and the market becoming more popular with the number of farmers. THOSE WHO HELP TO MAKE THE MARKET BETTER ARE ENTITLED TO THE THANKS AND GOOD WILL OF THE FARMER. We all try our best to bring about such a condition and in this way we help to make farming pay. As a result of our efforts to help the farmer we expect him to do something in return. And when the thought is carefully analyzed it will be seen that we are actually asking him only to help himself even more than he win be helping us, by doing that which we ask. - We ask the farmer to buy his merchandise at home instead of sending to the big mall order houses for his goods. We believe that he can buy at home Just as advantageously as to send his orders out of town and that ho will be even better satisfied with his merchandise if he buys of our local storekeepers. But the main point is this: We need all of the. money In town. We need it for the purposes of business and we need the business that ho Is accustomed to send* away to the mall order houses. We want to stop their encroachments on local trade. We want to encourage local business men to provide stocks suitable and sufficient for local consumption, but If we send away for the goods we need, then the local business men will become discouraged and decline to Invest their money and credit in stocks for our town. In order to help hinjself the farmer must help the local merchant It Is only by such reciprocal conditions that a community can become prosperous and grow into a bigger community. And it is only by she fact that a farm is located in proximity to a good market that the farm will become more valuable. - Even if a farmer can make 4 profit on the buying of certain goods’ froiv a mail order house, in the end it will mean that bb has helped to stultify hi < home market, which tends to keep down land values. A DULL MARKTT NEVER MADE A BIQ TOWN. 0 \ . V; In this, we can all help and we are trying to help. The farmers who send their orders to the mail order houses do not think of she effect which their acts have on the community. They do not realize that they are helping to create a Sentiment which cannot but injure the financial condition of our home town; a sentiment which Interferes with the growth of the community and with the prosperity of every owner of land. 80. to make farming pay. In both the direct and the Indirect way, stand by the townspeople and help local business conditions. Every fanner has a share and an interest in his home town. He is as much affected by the prevailing conditions in the town as he is by the conditions on his own farm. THE TOWN CANNOT HAVE PROSPERITY WITHOUT »IS COOPERATION AND HE CANNOT LOOK FOR PROSPERITY IF HE DOES NOT LIVE IN A PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY. Any naan pan injure his community by tailing to co-operate with those whose interests are siniilar to his own. Shortsightedness may make a man believe that he is not Included in this general rule, but few can successfully evade Its application. Make farming pay by helping to “boost” your home town. Do your basinet* with our local storekeepers. * You will prosper more in the long run., UUY YOUR MERCHANDISE AT HOME l • ■ • •- • •«*

Prosperity at Boom