ice free rein. Indians had frequent
business in the Baronet law office in my earlier years, and after I was
associated with my father there was much that brought them to us.
Possibly the fact that I did not dislike the Osages is the reason I
hardly gave them a thought at Fort Sill. It was not until afterwards
that I recalled how often I had found the Osage scouts there crossing my
path unexpectedly. On the day before we broke camp at the Fort, Hard
Rope came to my tent and sat down beside the door. I did not notice him
until he said slowly:

"Baronet?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Tobacco?" he asked.

"No, Hard Rope," I answered, "I have every other mark of a great man
except this. I don't smoke."

"I want tobacco," he continued.

What made me accommodating just then I do not know, but I suddenly
remembered some tobacco that Reed had left in my tent.

"Hard Rope," I said, "here is some tobacco. I forgot I had it, because I
don't care for it. Take it all."

The scout seized it with as much gratitude as an Indian shows, but he
did not go away at once.

"Something else now?" I questioned not unkindly.

"You Judge Baronet's son?"

I nodded and smiled.

He came very close to me, putting both hands on my shoulders, and
looking steadily into my eyes he said solemnly, "You will be safe. No
evil come near you."

"Thank you, Hard Rope, but I will keep my powder dry just the same," I
answered.

All the time in the Inman camp the scout shadowed me. On the evening
before our start for Fort Hays to be mustered out of service he came to
me as I sat alone beside the Washita, breathing deeply the warm air of
an April twilight. I had heard no word from home since I left Topeka in
October. Marjie must be married, as Jean had said. I had never known the
half-breed to tell a lie. It was so long ago that that letter of hers to
me had miscarried. She thought of course that I had taken it and even
then refused to stay at home. Oh, it was all a hopeless tangle, and now
I might be dreaming of another man's wife. I had somehow grown utterly
hopeless now. Jean--oh, the thought was torture--I could not feel sure
about him. He might be shadowing her night and day. Custer did not tell
me what had become of the Indian, and I had seen on the Sweetwater what
such as he could do for a Kansas girl. As I sat thus thinking, Hard Rope
squatted beside me.

"You go at sunrise?" pointing toward the east.

I merely nodded.

"I want to talk," he