Show BLACK K FEATHERBy FEATHER By HAROLD TITUS 0 o o Q o Harold O S I SYNOPSIS Rodney Shaw Independent trader arrives In In 1818 determined to fight the trade monopoly established by the John Jacob Astor company In the Northwest territory lie He Is met by Conrad Rich RI-ch an elderly clerk Ramsay Crooks Astor's dominant domi dorni- nant Dant figure and Annette Leclere Leclerc local beauty and Inspiration to all the traders especially to Burke RIckman a ruthless trader who Is the Instrument of destruction to traders refusing to amalgamate with the Astor company Roussel the town bully wearing the black feather symbol of Invincibility bully knocks down Shaws Shaw's head oarsman Basile and Shaw Shat In return throws Roussel Into the water Ramsay Crooks presents the symbolic black feather to Shaw Later at a conference Shaw scorns Astor's proposal proposal pro pro- virtually to surrender his independence ence announces his readiness to fight the amalgamation and prepares to depart the following da day At a ball ban that evening Shaw recognizes Burke Burle RIckman as the Astor agent who had previously robbed him of his partner and his trade and as a n dangerous rival for Annette with whom he heIs heis Is infatuated There is an exchange of bitter words Annette 1 is chosen queen of the dance and chooses Shaw as king for the following evening Basile warns Shaw to hasten his departure and tells him an old man awaits him at his tent Shaw finds Leslie an old free trader free who proposes that Shaw join him and go to the rich Pil Pit Pillager lager country where Astor is planning to send RIckman He shows him a n map and an Indian ceremonial stone given him by Standing Cloud Pillager chief Shaw accepts accepts accepts ac ac- ac- ac Leslie's offer otter The spying RIckman finds Annette alone and ond artfully belittles Shaw a aggravating Annette Into boas boasting ling of his plans until Rickman learns of the partnership part and the departure for rich unclaimed un claimed ground He lie follows Shaw to Leslie's Les lies lie's camp and hides within earshot Shaw finds Leslie sUe very ill m attended by his clerk Giles With Giles as a witness Leslie gives Shaw the map and the Indian stone CHAPTER III III-Continued III Continued 4 Leslie smiled peacefully a and n d closed his eyes Good he whispered after a mo mo- ment Set a spell old coon Waugh The brave ejaculation ejaculation ejaculation tion came as no more than a breath Giles retired to his tent then and Shaw sat in the faint glow from the fire for a time silently watching the face of the older man regretting that his partnership could not be carried out Leslie roused after an interval and they talked of the route and of the canoe maker who once Superior was traversed tra could supply the smaller craft necessary in the riv riv- ers And all the while that prone figure outside the tent listened scarcely breathing It was time for Shaw to go Leslie Leslie Leslie Les Les- lie gallantly struggled to his feet and stepped outside hi his tent Luck Luckl he said and took Rodney's Rodney's Rodney's Rod Rod- ney's hand Luck old coon Shaws Shaw's voice wanted to break brcak on that This was wasa a final parting he knew But no more was said He waved as he turned and stepped past the fire firc He looked back once from the darkness to see the stooped buckskin buckskin buckskin buck buck- skin clad figure there outlined against his tent Then the trail turned and took him from sight So he did not see Leslie clutch at athis athis athis his breast and sway and take an unsteady step and fall He did not see that other man rise from his concealment behind the tent and stand and watch the motionless fig fig- ure A quick hand rolled Leslie over A cheek went close to his lips Fingers felt vainly for the pulse Hands rummaged within the buckskin shirt feeling the gaunt and lifeless breast A knife blade glittered in the fire fire- light It poised and found its mark and plunged Then breath somewhat somewhat somewhat some some- what hoarse Burke Rickman drew back into the shadows And who marches for the Pillagers Pillagers Pillagers Pil Pil- lagers tomorrow he muttered A tight pinch Shaw but well we'll see who marches Rodney did not go directly to his encampment When he put off he would march with vigor and his boatmen would need all the rest the night might afford He was depressed at leaving Leslie Leslie Leslie Les Les- lie in such a condition And he was depressed too at thought of leaving leaving leaving leav leav- ing Annette Leclere He chided himself himself him him- self tell when first aware of this reaction reaction reaction tion but he slowed his pace nevertheless nevertheless nevertheless never never- and turned in the direction of the girls girl's house He grew a little warm thinking of what manner of place a fort might be with Annette Leclere established in his house as wife and mother and sharer of his burdens and successes He was tempted then to fling gravel at her window to plead cad with her to come but he put it back telling himself that he had a task to do So he walked further forcing his ardor to cool putting aside this impractical whim And another hour passed before he turned back toward his tent tightening his belt walking faster to rouse Basile and his men and prepare for departure But Basile was up The men were up Others were there a group about the fire One held a paper in his hands four soldiers from the fort stood silently by the blaze warming their hands with muskets grounded and supported in the crooks of their arms Well Rodney challenged sensing sensing sensing sens sens- ing a menace Shaw The man holding he document put the question Ive a warrant for your arrest Arr Arrest st For the murder of one Leslie now dead with a knife thrust in his heart The words took speech from Rodney's Rodney's Rodney's Rod Rod- ney's lips They gripped like a hand on his throat Arrest Im Im- Delay Delay Murder he cried Why Why I left the man two hours ago dying of disease and Murder and Murder Why Why its it's preposterous The marshal shrugged The man is dead and you admit being with him Theres There's a knife thrust in his heart And rumored rumored rumored ru ru- ru- ru mored you'd been bargaining without without without with with- out success for the goods he has Rodney drew a long and audible breath So someone knew Someone had told His eyes a bit wild searched the faces about him close pressed behind behind behind be be- hind the soldiers And beyond the fire he caught the glint of light on gilt gill buttons and made out Burke Rickman's face set in a sardonic smile of triumph So that's your play Rickman he be cried So that's the foul trick you'll try next So that that that- Rage choked back the words and he rushed They were upon him though before his wild hands reached Rickman They bore him down shouting and cursing Many minutes were required to subdue him Long enough for lor candle lights to appear in windows for doors to open and men to come running They led him away a soldier on either side one ahead and one be be- hind They marched him up the ll l j r pIr f 1 1 r y 1 f l sy h ha a i ii i 5 Jr b Many Minutes l Were Required to Subdue Him hill carrying him when he renewed renewed renewed re re- re- re his struggles and threw him strangling curses into the guard guardhouse guardhouse guardhouse house of the fort And at dawn Annette Leclere slipped out of her aunts aunt's house no longer able to maintain the pretense of sleeping She had heard news of the happening shouted in the small hours Now she sought Basile for detail of the truth But Basile was gone for the moment and only Shaws Shaw's boatmen moved restlessly about his encampment She turned back Something in the trampled sand attracted attracted attracted at at- her She stopped and picked from the dirt the frayed and battered battered battered bat bat- black ostrich plume which Ramsay Crooks had handed Shaw on his arrival days before Annette thrust it into her bosom and hastened homeward tears beading her long lashes Rodney Shaw stood at the narrowed narrowed narrowed nar nar- rowed window hands gripping the metal staring across the blue waters of the strait He suspected what was happen happen- ing He guessed that Rickman aware of what his plan had been would waste no time now in putting putting putting put put- ting out for the Pillager country Sounds of feet approaching caused him to quiet suddenly Ah Basile You bring news The old man nodded but bUl not glad glad- ly The Rickman he said embarks em barks at noon The entire force of company engages are busied in preparation He goes it is said to the Pillager country Damn It was to be expected But tell me Basile is there no friendly ear to listen to appeal Ay nodding Friends we have The place buzzes with the narrative of what was done It amazes one the friends one finds But the sadly sadly the friends one finds lack courage The shadow of the great company with company with a shrug shrug- lies like a threat He glanced nervously at the guard standing near The place buzzes Basile whispered whispered whispered whis whis- It was the the Leclere who betrayed you Betray What's this What did she she she-She She knew nothing of that Rodney's astonishment gave off into a groan of dismay He in that moment his boasts to the girl I The vixen he cried The I wench the trollop So she betrayed my secret to company ears eh Trickery eh A device to trap me into confidences I If I had her slender throat in these hands Id I'd throttle the smirk from her grimacing face I Vixen I And you take the word to her Basile Before all aU else do that Say Sayto to her that I say she's a vixen No Noless Noless Noless less I He shook his head in helpless rage But master lOne One w was wastes a s t e s strength hating What is done is done The puzzle now is to be free freeto to move You will go before the justice here and be bound to the Detroit court Weeks may elapse I have seen Leslie's body It is true what they charge that a knife wound is in the heart But master within the shirt is scarce a smear of blood On the flesh is no more than would flow from the scratch of a splinter No knife e entered that beating beating beating beat beat- ing heart You mean mean mean-Basile Basile I That's it He knew he was dying He bade me farewell He must have died after I left A spy waited and knifed the corpse to give this charge against me the color of truth Truth I And it is said that you had bargained for his goods and that he refused and that is the motive motive motive mo mo- tive tive- tive But Giles Giles knows Giles listened last night when Leslie gave his goods to me without reservation reservation reservation reserva reserva- tion This Giles Basile muttered The man has no spine He is so frightened of what the company may do to him that he dares not claim his own soul Rodney's eyes narrowed Mark this Basile Theres There's no aid from the law A trial might vindicate me surely a fair trial would clear me But Rickman departs at noon He will have plenty of strong backs he will march fast We Ve should be gone Attend Basile Theres There's but one way I must have my freedom freedom freedom free free- dom Find me a file A new sharp file You can smuggle it to me meon meon meon on some pretext or other At night Ill I'll saw my way from this place and they can serve their warrant in hell You hold the men in readiness You keep watch my child When I leave this confinement you load the packages Leslie left Have no interference from Giles The goods are mine I They whispered further perfecting perfect perfect- ing the plan and then Basile departed departed depart de de- de- de part parted d and Rodney paced and plotted plotted plotted plot plot- ted further and watched preparations preparations preparations on the beach which were designed designed designed de de- de- de signed for his final crushing Two great canoes were loaded with goods A crowd gathered MacIver MacIver Mac Mac- Iver was there viewing detail Shaw saw Conrad Rich the old clerk who had worked in Crooks' Crooks office garbed in buckskin surely bound for the interior to cast the fat accounts accounts accounts ac ac- ac- ac counts that Rickman planned to show from the Pillager trade And Rickman himself was there tall taU and commanding but Shaw thought the man conducted himself as one whose mind is neither at peace nor completely on the task Rickman gave his final order The oar blades dipped The great canoes canoes canoes ca ca- noes gathered way and another company company company com com- pany brigade had begun its march to bring to the fold Cold still one more band of hunters Basile came at sundown bringing a fresh linen shirt to replace the thc torn and soiled and bloodied one Rodney wore He thrust it through the grill in the door with a significant significant significant cant narrowing of the eyes and Shaw felt within its folds Colds the hard outline outline outline out out- line of a file Did you deliver my message to the vixen Rodney asked I III tried and failed Rickman was with her for long When he left she followed from the house She wept and begged him not to leave her Truly it turned ones one's stomach Such kissing and embracing and such pleading with him to remain What of the night The moon will be high There will be no wind The file will scream and screech Yes And the guard walks his post at all hours Damn He ground his teeth But keep the themen themen themen men in readiness Basile If the wind rises tonight Ill I'll try Not however until I have good cover for the sounds of escape But the night was quiet except for forthe forthe forthe the wail of fiddles and laughter from company headquarters and from dwellings in the village Although Rodney watched and listened until dawn he was forced at last to abandon abandon abandon aban aban- don hope and throw himself on the bunk to sleep fitfully CHAPTER IV At least one other in the village had spent a night of distress It seemed to Annette Leclere as dawn broke that the wells of her tears had gone dry Burke Rickman came and Annette would not see him She paced the rooms started out a score of times turned back cried tossed clothing and pillows and books about refused refused refused re re- re- re fused food wept again Not until her aunt frightened now by the girls girl's behavior and eager eager eager ea ea- ea- ea ger to do what she could to ease her mind panted home with the word that Rickman was about to march did Annette quiet It was a tense and desperate quietude quietude quietude qui qui- etude which then possessed her Annette Annette Annette An An- nette came close and embraced her aunt saying The way is clear now dear one I must see Burke Go and ask him to com come Without delay dearest Without delay now Rickman came in answer to the summons He came clad in his buckskin with his departure but a brace of hours away Burke Ive I've sent for you to do what no girl craves to do to admit wrong to beg forgiveness His pulse picked up at that and anda a covetous instead of a baffled gleam showed in his hard blue eyes You are forgiven dear Annette before forgiveness is asked I He advanced toward her taking her hands in his Did you think for fora a moment I felt that you were lightheaded lightheaded lightheaded light light- headed enough to take serious stock in a mere upstart Her eyes filled and his expression softened somewhat Not for him to know the emotion prompting tears And now You see Youre You're intending to leave After Ive I've found again my lost senses you'll leave me here Color came quickly into his cheeks at that Shed She'd never spoken so tenderly to him Not for long The one season only Just Just Just- I The one season You speak so lightly of endless months You belittle belittle belittle be be- little hours that can stretch themselves themselves themselves them them- selves into years Then come with n me Annette he begged on a knee before her his arms seeking to draw her close Come with me today March with |