Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 41, Number 170, 3 June 1916 — Page 13

TUB RICHMOND PALLADIUM. SATURDAY. JUNE S. Mtt

rAGH THREB

The Sandman Story for Tonight

TOMMY'S TRAMP. Tommy was only 5 "going on 6," but he felt himself quite old. Only a few nionths ago he could not reach up on the table, while now he could Ret the drinking glass all by himself and was allowed to eat at the table with the grown-ups. One bright spring morning Tommy woke up with the determination to venture down the long walk into the road it was so bright outside, with the birds jumping about on the yellow bushes. So as soon as he finished his bowl of 'oatmeal he set out alone on a voyage of discovery. The gate looked very far off, but presently he reached it and climbed up by the bar. His weight made it swing open wide. As it jerked. Tommy fell plump into the road and rolled Into the dust. "Hi. son, can't stand up either, can you?" croaked a shaky voice lit the child's elbow. Tommy picked himself up and stood looking through his dusty eyes at a ragged figure seated on the roadside. It was that of a yorng man. whose face was red and dirty. His eyes were bleary as if he had not slept and his muddy clothes hung about ICopyrik'ht, 1916. by The McClure Newspaper Syndicate, New York. Then he saw where the bear had stopped to dig in an ant-hill, and with that for a clew the determined young Sioux attempted to follow the trail. Old Wolf Robe had thoroughly Instructed him in the art of tracking, and as a result the lad followed the dim trail without much difficulty. The footprints were indistinct and far apart, but he found other signs that showed him which way the animal had gone. A broken twig, a dislodged stone, some fragments of bark from a fallen tree, all these things were plain reading. White Otter knew that at any moment he might come upon the animal itself, and he fitted one of his strongest arrows to his bow and held several more In his loft hand, ready for instant use. Whore the undergrowth was thick he stopped and reconnoitered before he ventured into the cover. He came to a marshy place, and j found huge tracks filled with muddy water. The lad knew that the bear was within sound of him, and he stole forward as silently as S shadow. Then a twig snapped, and his heart bounded at the sound. Tightening his bowstring, he wheeled to defend himself, but he saw nothing more dangerous than a pine-squirrel, which flashed up a tree-trunk and scolded savagely. The trail led down to an open park, and as White Otter crawled stealthily to the edge of tho timber ho paw the boar digging out another colony of ants. White Otter's eyes widened with amazement at the enormous size of th boast before him. He understood now why a necklace of boarclaws had such value. The boar was within easy range, but. the aslounded lad delayed his attack. He realized that unless ho pierced its heart, tho wounded boast would charge him in blind fury. The slender flint-tipped shafts which he hold in his hand .seem"d utterly insufficient for such an antagonist. Then as the bear turned broadHde to him he overcame his fears and bent his bow until Ihe head of the arrow rested against his left hand. For an instant he held it sighted against the great shaggy shoulder, and flit'ii lie released the bowsiring. The arrow buried itself deep In tho. massive form, and the bear whirled with the agility of a lynx and snapped off the willow shaft close to the wound. Fearing that he had missed the heart. White Otter released u second arrow. It

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him in rags. Tommy felt sorry for the man at once. "Are you hungry?" he asked in a baby lisp. The tramp smiled. "Why son, I'm so hungry I could eat a crocodile," laughed the man. "I haven't had a bite since yesterday morning. Everyone turned me away when I asked for a bite to eat." "Wait a minute," exclaimed Tommy, "and 1 will bring you some breakfast." The child disappeared up the flowery walk and the ragged tramp's face seemed to grow sad. In a moment the boy was back with a tin plate full of moat, bread, preserves, a bit of pickle and two rosy apples. And in about five minutes more all of it had disappeared down the throat of the hungry man. "We have supper at" 5 o'clock," explained Tommy, delighted to have done something all by himself. "And if you will come here to the gale I will bring you some like I did just now." Tommy ran back home, as he heard the nurse calling loudly, while the tramp with a parting glance at the house, set out down the street. After supper Tommy sat for a

ED struck beside the first, and the shock sent the hear to its knees. The next instant it was upon its feet, roaring with rage, and the lad freed the third arrow. Then the bear charged him. Realizing the folly of attempting to stop it. he sought safety in the nearest iree. Wolf Robe had told him that these great mountain-bears were poor climbers, and White Otter depended upon the assurance. A moment later his heart filled with dismay as the frenzied creature began to claw the tree-trunk. The Sioux drove an arrow into its shoulder, and the bear dropped to the ground. Then, much to the amazement of the excited young hunter, it turned and made off through the woods. Fearful of losing his prize, White Otter descended from (he tree and began a cautious pursuit. He heard his quarry crashing through the undergrowth, and he hurried in the direction of the sounds. Then the noise suddenly ceased, and the lad stopped to listen. He heard nothing but the furious beating of his own heart, and he wondered if the boar was dead. Then a more alarming possibility flashed through his mind. Perhaps the wily brute had heard him and was hiding in ambush. White Otter's resolution was somewhat weakened by the thought. He krew that over-confidence had caused the death of more than one noted Sioux hunter, and ho 'realized, that he must be careful. Still, he knew that he must face the peril, for he told himself that to turn back would be the act of a coward. Determined, therefore, to uphold the traditional bravery of his people, the lad went forward. He advanced a few steps, and then he stopped to listen. As the silence was unbroken he believed that the boar had succumbed to its wounds. White Otter turned toward a tangled thicket of aspens in which he had last heard the bear. He approached within short bow shot, and then he stopped and threw several stones in the hope of in ducing the animal to expose Itself. The ruse failed, however, and he felt sure that the bear was dead. He waited a few moments and then he entered the thicket. The impulsive lad had not taken five strides before he found himself facing the wounded bear. There was no time for flight, and as the enraged brute rose upon his hind legs White Otter drove two arrows into its breast. Then he sprang back, and the bear plunged to the ground and lay still. The Sioux covered it with his arrow

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long time playing with his blocks; then he remembered the tramp the man would be waiting for him, and perhaps as hungry as he was

-r7"o wViSp rtfy sr in the morning. So the boy Mole into the kitchen and filled his tin pail with cold meat and biscuits. "1 am going up to get some of those apples, too." he said to himself, as he went up the creaky stairs that led to the storeroom over the kitchen. By the last runset rays filtering in through the dusty pane he managed to pull op a chair to the barrel. Before he had finished filling the pail he noticed that there was a plow shining between the planks and a smell of smoke; then tiny flames crept up the planks next to the stairs the house was afire. The cook and Tommy's mother, never dreaming the lad was in the garret over the kitchen had run to the corner for help. When they returned they were filled with liwtror to see at the lighted window Tom

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until the powerful muscles ceased to tremble, and then he ran to the body and counted a coup. While White Otter was stringing the great claws on a buckskin thong to wear about his neck a solitary horseman was riding toward the foot-hills. As he came within bow-shot of the timber he stopped his pony and gazed intently at the low wooded slopes. Then, having discovered nothing to arouse his suspicions, he continued to the base of the ridge. He rode slowly along the edge of the plain and found the game trail which led to While Otter's camp site. Then he discovered the tracks of the piebald, and he dismounted to examine them, in a few moments he straightened, and led his pony up the trail. As tho horseman approached the park the piebald whinnied, and he grasped his pony by the nostrils before it could reply. Then he muzzled it with a piece of buck skin and led it from the trail. He looked anxiously about as though he feared an attack, but the piebald continued to call, and he knew that it was unattended. Leaving his own mount concealed in the timber, the new-comer stole cautiously around the edge of the park. He hesitated a moment as he came in sight of the picketed pony, and then he ran from the edge of the woods and led the piebald away. He tied it beside his own horse and went back to watch for the owner. The stranger was a lad about the age of the young Sioux. He was shorter and more thick-set than White Otter, but he had the same sort of keen, unflinching eyes, and the same type of strong, manly face. He, too, was dressed for the war-trail. His hair was divided into two braids, which were bound with the white winter pelt of the weasel. In his scalp-lock he wore a single eagle feather, which proclaimed him a warrior. His dress was somewhat similar to that of White Otter, and consisted of doeskin leggings and breech-cloth, and a beautifully tanned robe of the black bear. His war-shield was decorated with a crude drawing of a flying bird and a large red orb, symbolizing the rising sun. His pony was a wiry little buckskin. When he had fastened the necklace of bear-claws about his neck: White Otter hurried down the mountainside in high spirits. The! day was ending, and the foot-hills! were already in shadow. As he approached the spot where be bad left his pony he stole forward with the caution of a lynx. Then he!

my's terror-stricken face and hear his screams. The mother fainted, the cook shouted at the top of her voice, and in a moment the yard was full of people. It was impossible to reach the child the fire had burned away the stairs and he must have fled over to the far corner, for now no one could see his face at the window. Just then a ragged form dashed through the crowd. It was Tommy's tramp. He had heard from his hiding place at the gate the m6ther'a scream and caught a glimpse of the child's face framed tn light at the window. Near this window was a wire of a telephone pole. Like a cat the tramp climbed the pole, balanced himself on the arm. and with a kick broke in the window pane. Then with a spring

I he landed in the garret. A cheer jwent up from the crowd. A mo- : ment more and the man appeared, i staggering, amid the smoke at the window, the flames .staging' his ; hair. ! "Catch the boy!" he called. A idoten willing arms were outI stretched au the unconscious form ;of Tommy was dropped Into 5 them. Then with a leap the man reached the wire and swung himI self down. I Ry this time Tommy had opened 'his eyes and the father, called by 'phone, rushed up in a flying car. Tommy and his tramp had a long talk after the lamps were lighted, and when the man came out of (he bathroom an hour later after a shave and a suit of new clothing, he did not look like the samo per

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Both Boys and Girb Will Enjoy Tills Story

1 came to a sudden stop and stared in amazement. The piebald had j disappeared. I The perplexed lad fitted an ar row to his bow and looked nervous- , ly about him. He saw nothing of the picket stake, and he realized that the pony might have pulled it loose and wandered away. Rut there was a possibility that an enemy had found the piebald and had carried away the stake to deceive him. The only way to solve the riddle was to venture into the open and follow the tracks. The park was surrounded by a heavy growth of bushes, and White Otter feared that an enemy might be lurking in ambush. He saw nothing to confirm his suspicions, however, and. realizing that if the piebald had wandered away he must lose no time in overtaking it, he determined to crawl forward and investigate. The young Sioux crept through the cover as cautiously as a fox, and when he came to the end of it he stopped and listened. A bird sang in the woods behind him, and then all was quiet. He rose and stepped into the open. For a moment he hesitated, and then, as he was not attacked, he went on. As he stooped to examine the hole left by the picket stake an arrow hummed past within a handbreadth of him. White Otter realized that he had been trapped. As he bounded into the nearest cover a second arrow struck the tree behind which he sought shelter. White Otter peered carefully around the tree-trunk, but saw nothing of his enemy. He believed there was only one, for he told himself that if there were more he would have been attacked from all sides. Then, to his amazement, he heard some one chanting a Sioux war-song. The unknown singer seemed to be in the woods opposite him. For a moment he mistrusted his ears, and then, as he recognized the words, his per plexlty increased. Several ques tions leaped to his mind. Had some wandering tribesman come to his assistance, or was his enemy endeavoring to decoy him into he open? It was a boastful song, which told of the bravery of the Sioux and scorned the weakness of their enemies. As he listened, White Otter became convinced that only a Sioux could put such a challenge into the words. Wben the singer stopped, the hid spoke. "I do not know who you are, but I am not afraid of you. I am telling you this because I am a Sioux and you have sung the war-song of ray people. If you are a Sioux,

son. He was sober, and evidently now filled with grateful pride. So Tommy's tramp saved the lad's life and thts ended in making a new man of the outcast.

Brave Child Kills Wildcat Olga Shaw is a twelve-year-old girl who- lives far up on Mount Tacoma in Washington. Giant tiees, some of them 200 feet . high, grow near her home. Her father has cleared a few , acres ot the land. There are plenty deer and wild cats In the woods. Olga does not. fear the deer for they will not hafin her, but she takes no chances with wild cats. One day last winter, while her father and mother, had gone far down the trail to a little settlement to buy food, she heard a noise in tho cow yard. She looked out of the window and 8a w a big wild cat at the Bide of a tree stump.' The cow was so frightened that it was trying to break through the fence. Olga snatched up her father's Winchester and fired at the wild cat. She did - not kill it, for the wild-animal made a spring for the cow. Olga then fired again and this time hit the wild cat in the back, crippling it, so that It could not move. To make sure, she fired another shot. When her father and mother came back, they were surprised to see how good a shot their daughter was. ELM E R RUSSELL M'GREGOR it is good; we. will lay aside our weapons and meet as brothers. I have finished." For some moments there was no response, and White Otter watched carefully for he feared treachery. Then he heard himself addressed in the Sioux dialect. . . , "I have listened to your words they are good. I am a Sioux, and I sang the war-song because I intended to kill you. The Sioux do not greet each other with arrows. I will meet you with the open hand. I have spoken." A few moments afterward the speaker walked to the edge of the timber and raised his right hand In token of friendship. White) Otter instantly stepped from, behind the tree and replied to the signal. Then each put his bow in Its case and advanced Into the open. They stopped several paces apart and looked searchlngly Into each other's eyes. Then White Otter offered his hand. "You have taken my pony; It Is good, for I know that you are brave. I will ask you for It, for my heart is peaceful toward you. I see you wear an eagle feather, and I know you are a warrior. I am White Otter, the son of Standing Buffalo, who has gone on the long trail, and the grandson of Wolf Robe, the war-chief of the Ogalala Sioux." . They clasped hands. Then the other lad replied to the greeting. "What you say is good. I will give you your pony, for I see that you are a Sioux. I see that you wear the claws of the great bear, and I know you are a brave hunter. I am Sun Bird. My father Is Rain Crow, the medicine-man of the

MInneconJoux Sioux, I have heard my people talk about the great chief Wolf Robe." Having offered the customary compliments and proclaiming their friendship with the hand-clasp, the lads returned to their ponies. Then White Otter disappeared Into the woods, and returned with the buffalo robes. Sun Bird's eyes sparkled as he ran his fingers over the valuable pelt of the albino, and he complimented White Otter on his good fortune. That night they sat beside the camp-fire and talked of their plans. Sun Bird said that he, too, was on a war Journey. His younger brother, Little Raven, had been carried away by the Pawnees, and Rain Crow had sent Sun Bird Xo rescue him. Then White Otter told his mission and they agreed to combine against their hated enemies. (To Be Continued.) '