"Me Running Bear. Heap big chief. Heap rich. Heap brave. Running Bear
want white squaw. Heap other wives cook for white squaw. Make plenty red
dress."
When the Indian had first entered the room Stella thought that there was
something decidedly familiar about the redskin, but when the name
"Running Bear" fell from his lips, her worst fears were confirmed--this
was the Indian with whom Ted had had trouble during the winter, when he
had broken up the Whipple gang.
As he strode into the middle of the room, with his hand on the butt of
the revolver that hung on his left hip, Miss Croffut uttered a faint
scream.
Stella was not exactly frightened, but she felt that there might be some
danger in being in the room with this Indian brute, with not a white man
in hailing distance.
When he got nearer she smelled liquor. Running Bear had been drinking,
and Stella knew that a drinking Indian is a crazy Indian who will do
things he never would dream of doing when he is sober.
She unconsciously felt for her own revolver, but it was not at her side.
Then she remembered that she had left it at the colonel's house when she
had started out that morning.
She eyed the Indian closely as he advanced farther into the room, and
saw that in the Indian's eyes there was a strange gleam.
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