Part 1 (1/2)
The Watchers of the Plains
by Ridgewell Cullum
CHAPTER I
A LETTER
A solitary hut, disular, stands on the north bank of the White River Decay has long been at work upon it, yet it is still weather-proof
It was built long before planks were used in the Bad Lands of Dakota It was built by hands that ai for appearances Thus it has survived where a lighter constructionsince have been demolished
And it still affords habitation for lass; the door is a crazy affair; there is an unevenness in the setting of the lateral logs which co has been patched where the weather has rotted it; and here and there s out the snows of winter and the storms of su e lower down the river toward its iant Missouri so the wood-lined river bank, and is dangerously sheltered froreat Indian Reservations on the other side of the river Dangerously, because it is at all tierous to live adjacent to woods when so near such a restless race as the Indians on the Rosebud and the Pine Ridge Reservations Still, it has stood there so long, and yet bears no sign of hostile action directed against it by the warlike Sioux, that it seems safe to reckon it will continue to stand there in peace until decay finishes it off And the fact is significant
Those who lived in that hut must have had reason to know that they dwelt there in safety
The present tenant of the hut is a whitean open letter in one hand, while he stares in an unpleasantly reflective manner out across the prairie in front of hi under the clutch of his nervous fingers, is worthy of attention, for it is written on crested paper which is blue And the ink is blue, too, and ht reasonably indicate the tone of the blood of the sender, though hardly of the recipient
Still appearances are deceptive on the prairie with regard to hus, evenabout him which speaks of a different life--a life where people live in greater ease and s But even so, his face is very mean and narrow; an appearance in nowise improved by its weather-stained, unwashed condition
Nevil Steyne--for that is theabout it And as he thinks, and ht-ly kindly tone, his anger rises slowly at first, but ever higher and higher, till it culminates in a bitter, muttered exclamation
”The crawler!” he said under his breath
Suddenly he looked down at the paper, and proceeded to straighten it out
And his pale blue eyes were glittering as he read the letter again froravation to hi between the lines as he went, wherebore a date at New York It had been written on the second of June--ten days earlier And it was a letter that should have put joy into his heart, rather than have raised his anger and hatred
”MY DEAR BROTHER (it ran)--
”It is possible that a letter from me may not be as welcoainsttwelve years since you cut yourself out of my life I know you blamed , would not seecould have been adjusted then You went off believing as not true Whether father treated you justly or unjustly you are the best judge From my point of vieas the latter It was always a mystery to me that he cut you out of his will I was as disappointed as you, and it is for that reason that, for twelve years, I have been seeking you, to restore to you your share of the property My dear boy, I'ine what joy it is to me that at last I am able to write this, that at last I shall be able to say it to you We both knohat a martinet father was, and what a disappointment it was to hi in the old boy's footsteps, but, unless there was so else between you, that was insufficient reason for the injustice of his will
”Well, all that is past now What I have set aside as your share is untouched, and has been accu for you If you refuse it, I shall never touch it In that case it rehter, at such time as she shall ency You will not, I know, refuse it
”Thank God, I have found you at last, dear old boy! Now, listen! I have set reat care, and hope you will appreciate the our friends--you kno inquisitive people are--so I have coame shoot in the Rockies Alice, my wife--you rehter, are withof my secret We shall break our journey at Sioux City, and then come across to you by road And, lo! e arrive my little surprise for them--Marjorie finds an uncle, Alice a brother
”In conclusion, I hope to be with you on the 16th at latest; we shall come by way of the south bank of the Missouri River, then across the Pine Ridge Reservation, and so on to Beacon Crossing I hope to find you as young in spirit as ever I haveas I find you well I shall be more than satisfied
_Au revoir_
”Your affectionate