TALES OF A VANISHING RIVER BY THE SAME AUTHOR SKETCHES IN DUNELAND THE DUNE COUNTRY THE VOICES OF THE DUNES ETCHING: A PRACTICAL TREATISE [Illustration: (_See Page 15_) A KANKAKEE BAYOU ] _Tales of A Vanishing River_ _by_ EARL H. REED _Author of_ “The Dune Country” “Sketches in Duneland” etc. _Illustrated by the Author_ NEW YORK ~ JOHN LANE COMPANY LONDON ~ JOHN LANE. THE BODLEY HEAD MCMXX COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY JOHN LANE COMPANY Press of J. J. Little & Ives Company New York, U. S. A. _To_ MY FRIEND H. W. J. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FOREWORD The background of this collection of sketches and stories is the country through which flowed one of the most interesting of our western rivers before its destruction as a natural waterway. This book is not a history. It is intended as an interpretation of the life along the river that the author has come in contact with during many years of familiarity with the region. Names of places and characters have been changed for the reason that, while effort has been made to adhere to artistic truth, literary liberties have been taken with facts when they have not seemed essential to the story. E. H. R. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I THE VANISHING RIVER 15 II THE SILVER ARROW 31 III THE BRASS BOUND BOX 47 IV THE “WETHER BOOK” OF BUCK GRANGER’S GRANDFATHER 65 V TIPTON POSEY’S STORE 105 VI MUSKRAT HYATT’S REDEMPTION 135 VII THE TURKEY CLUB 165 VIII THE PREDICAMENTS OF COLONEL PEETS 207 IX HIS UNLUCKY STAR 245 ILLUSTRATIONS A KANKAKEE BAYOU _Frontispiece_ WAUKENA _Facing Page_ 32 FAMILIAR HAUNTS 48