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THE ARGUS. TIIURSDAt-: JANUARY 2, 1908. Gib -By ELEAWR GATES, Author of "The Biography of t Prairie CirL COPYRIGHT. 1908, BT McCLURE. PHILLIPS t COMPANY. fell 1 1 posturing to each other In a dance. CHATTER XXXV. : t . ...t... ...... tr t., t.i nilOWX du'wu by a sounding . . " " "" Ba,u t...,.ri lnw !hu Mr- Louusbury'll come back." alarm shots at Br'aunon, th 1 M "Mr- I',,unsr'!" 'Pted Marylyn. shouting, the reports of the. "slieueni- uu uus saw. uy me grove, i paw uatliugs and the trumpet calls ftl Bharp and clear upou the shack. Pal las, watching into the blackness from her bench by the door, was up and armed on the instant and leaning far him start for the fort." And so their going was delayed. Nevertheless Dallas' sense of coming danger was acute, and when before over the sill as If to see the better lont-' s.he Leard the trumiwt again and through the dark. Soon she made out something a glimmer that iu the be ginning was redder than the Hare of saw the troopers fall away from the pyres, leaving the flames to their work, she lit the lantern and held it to where the lightning, fainter and more fixed.' .. . , . lre""res-a r but which, growing ns the din grew, tervenlug grove of cottouwoods and the fonn of a man who was racing rlv erward from the swale. He disappear ed, swelling the distant clamor with a cry a dread cry she had never heard before of 'Tire"' Presently she went In and bent over Marylyn, touching her gently and speaking low to save her a fright. "Honey, dear, honey. Hop up and see what's hupp'ning at the fort." The- younger girl scrambled to her feet, putting out nervous hands to her sister. Dallas quieted her. and they Stood together in the door. And now. across, the Missouri, the guns and trumpets suddenly stilled and the shunting lessened, while the glow rapidly thickened into u roaring press of flame, before which darted the troopers like- fiies In the light of a lamp. ".My. my!" whispered Marylyn, her voice quavering with .sorrow and awe. She found her clothes and. keeping iu line with the door, began to dress. "I'll put on my shoes, and we cau go down a ways, so's to see close. Shall I, Dal"- "Sh;"- Dallas was leaning out again, her head lowered as If to listen. All at once she turned and. kneeling, felt on the lloor fur her cartridge belt. "Yes, yes." she answered. "Put 'em on -quid';!" "Are we going down to watch?" "No." The barracks and the stables were high, cherry hued pyres, terrible enough to the eye. with their tops crooking northward iu the wind. To Dallas' e::r they v.e:e far more terri ble, telling of awful suffering, hinting of direful intent. I or the nearer pyre j sent proof of a sacrifice. She could i hear the scre:ns of a horse. I The belt found, she stepped back to the door. "Hurry, hurry." she said. The old Iron resolve never to desert the shack was fusing iu the heat of a panic. Her unfailing instinct was hardening a new one that ruled for Immediate flight. Marylyn was working with her shoe thongs, not Stopping to thread them. only to wind and tie, them around her, ankles. She heard her sister exclaim. I the letter she had received from Loutis- Then she was seized and brought for v. ard by a trembling hand. "Marylyn, Marylyn! The boat! She's going!" They looked and saw a black fuu neled bulk Hunting across the watery strip mantled by the blaze. "Maybe they thought It'd burn." sug gested Marylyu. "See, there's sparks Hying that way." Dallas leaned back against the door. "I guess that's It," she said slowly. Then after a moment: "But why didn't they bring her straight across? There's no place to tie up down stream." "Why. there's fire breakiug out all over now." cried the younger girl, for getting to I? afraid In her wonder and excitement. "See! One of the little houses Is caught !" It was the first cabin of Clothespin row. Two or three men were near It. -At that distance the.t seemed gayly "Ytui take the cartridge lelt," she called to Marylyn. The other obeyed. "Ready?" said Dallas and -lifted the lantern to shake it. She got no reply. Instead, gasping in alarm, Marylyn came headlong to her, pluioning her arms with wildly clinging ones. "Dallas! Oh. help" Outside there was a sound of rapid running. Dallas flung herself against the door, driving it shut. A second and a weight was burled against the outer battens. Then came four raps. "Don't open! Don't!" cried Marv- lyn. "Maybe it ain't Charley!" But Dallas, undoubtlng. swung the door back, and Into the room leaped a stooping figure. It was Squaw Charley. He crouched and moved his head from side to side, as if expecting a olow or a bullet from tehind. His right hand held a bow, his left a bun dle of arrows. With these he beckoned violently, shaking the water from his tattered clothes and pointing over his shoulder to the west. "We're coming. Charley. Dearie, stand up. Now, now!" Marylyn was dragged to her feet. The light was quenched. The outcast faced about, and tue tnree beaded tor the river, with Charley leading at a trot. They paused for the last time near the river end of the corn and close to the coulee crossing. Prom there Dal las saw that the pyres were lower and that other buildings of the row- were ablaze; the roof of a scout hut. too. and the prairie, over which trav eled widening crefc-cnts f gold. But the tire was the only thing that was ! moving, for not a single man was In sight. Charley was not watching toward Branuon. only along the nearer bank to the south. Of a sudden as their eyes followed his a gun shot raug out from the cot I touwood grove. 1 "Mr. I.ouiishury!" cried Dallas, start ing forward. "No, he's go le" That moment they saw between them and the landing the silhouette of a figure. It was not Lounsbury's. It was too poocooooooooooooooooooocoo WHY o Not practlco a really "' Intelligent Economy Take advantage of our reduc tion on Winter Woolens and have your Xmas and New Year gladdened by wearing a suit or overcoat tailored by J.B Zimmer & Co. Rdoma 211-212, Peoples National Bank Building. short and thickset for his. Moreover, it seemed to be casting aside clothes as it ran. Like one, Squaw Charley and Marylyn bolted for the coulee. Dallas hesitated, then followed. Near the briuk they missed the steep road and went slip plug, sliding and rolling down the sumac grown side. Then they struck the bristling bottom, righted, turned their feet up It and tied. 1 CHAPTER XXXY1. IS face as blanched ns a dead man's, his voice pealing out above the battel like a bell Oliver stood to windward of top.' "The" colonel's library Is strip ped!" ' - So It was. . One hurried look by the light of a lamp showed that not a bow, not an arrow, remained on the walls. But there was no time for exclaim ing or conjecturing. Oliver rushed back to the gallery and bade all the women and children collect and keep within quarters. Around It, under Ser geant Klppls, he stationed a cordon. Next, and while the house was being thoroughly wet down, the ammunition stores were drawn upon, and extra guns' and cartridges were carried 'Into the long reception room, where the women could assist hi reloading. Bare ly thiw minutes had passed since Oli ver sent his messengers. But head quarters was fixed to withstand an assault and to protect its Inmates. And now, still Ignorant of what had befalleu, he ordered the remainder of his men into line. At this point, with "he detachment f sounded from the stockade, another and another. Then up went a great hubbub: "The Indians, the Indians!" Oliver started his troopers double quick across the square. At the hospi tal one of the stockade guard stopped . , fc- "The I ndians ?" croaked Oliver. j g J "Gone!" Wi . . i fc uiiver turneu duck. They met a second man, black faced, staggering, frenzied with alarm. It was Fraser. He caught at the cap tain's ragged sleeve. - "Shot other side they're over there those girls those girls" His breath failed him. Oliver saw the need. "To the ferry," he commanded. I.Ike one man they bounded headlong across the parade, through the red smoke pouring from barracks and sta bles and on, only to come short upou a boatless landing, where they crowded upon each other and cursed. Fraser was half crazed. Oliver took ' him forcibly In hand. No man of them all, even if not burdened with a gun, could stem the river's current. "There's one chance yet," he said, "the night herd." He turned to his trumpeter. "Sound the recall and keep a-sounding it!" Again, and again the familiar strain raug out. All looked northward to where they knew the herd had been, to where the long curves of the pruirie fire were still moving. But the minutes went, and there was no answering beat of hoofs. Where were the herders? Why did they not obey? t Again, again and again! Then to the south a reply! Above the spiteful crackling of the tindery buildings, out of the thinning dark, came a clear, eager neigh! That way the troopers rushed. Gath ering at the flagstaff they saw by the light of the burning piles a single horse come galloping toward then from the direction of the stockade. Her dun neck was arched like a charger's. As she swung proudly Into an imaginary line the men greeted her with a cheer. That greeting was echoed. T'ntil now the Indians had been quiet, as quiet as a Hock of scurrying grouse. But the river was between them and their ene my, and they felt secure from pursuit. Moreover, whisky was working. They were boisterous with it. Casting cau tion aside when they heard that cheer, they answered with defiant whoops. The cheers of the troopers changed to anguished groans. One, wildly re peating a girl's name, sprang toward, the waiting Buckskin. From head quarters came the sobbing of women, the whimpering of frightened children, and then, nearer and nearer, a dull pounding that swelled luto the steady plud, plud of unshod hoofs. Once more a cheer went up. A mo ment and a cavalcade swept in, a ri derless cavalcade, with ropes daugllng. It was the night herd, the discarded second choice mounts of the regiment's officers, a motley band that had served their country through more than one enlistment, and that, hearing the fa- GDf" Vaim me NOTE WAY TO FINISH Qy E6 Flin.4 - Coated Waterproof and Fire - Resisting Half Price to You i i. 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Down ttie Lanfc and into a blaCk, roily whirl. miliar summons some limping, some hobbling had followed the dun cayuse to answer IL Now nooses were twisted about the noses of the horses. The troopers mounted. The trumpet sounded the advance. . Again came whoops from across the Missouri. They were farther away Itban the first "Go up go up to the crossing!" OlI i ver ordered. "Fraser! Fraser!" But the : buckskin, maxs.. with her CHAPTER XXXVII. OR all that the way was hard. rough w ith stones and choked by a tangle of rank growth the three In the coulee made fast progress over the first two miles. Charley led. After him came Mary lyn,. to whom the loathed split in the plain was become a place of refuge. In the rear, covering her sister against possible attack, followed Dallas. . The strain told first on the younger girl. Before three miles had been traveled, as she sank iu a shallow pool to wet her lips her strength utterly failed her. She could not rise and pleaded faintly for rest. ""Just a minute, Dallas, please. I can't go. My side hurts." Dallas helped her through a hinder ing weave of pond weeds and lilies and laid her upon some marsh grass be yond. Meanwhile Charley stole back a short distance. But the respite was brief, tor he returned straightway and twitched at their dresses, when the elder girl lifted the younger to her feet, whispering encouragement. Once more they pressed forward. The lightning had ceased. With a last grumble and a scatter of drops the clouds were pulling apart Here ind there a few stars shone. These thinned me uarKness eonstuerauiy, ana at a point where the coulee, shallowed Dal las wan able dimly' to see the toilThg shapes ahead. Marylyu was wavering. "Spunky Httle girl!" urged the elder girl. Lifting the rifle to her left shoul der, she came alongside to give the support of an arm. "Where's the cartridge belt?" sbe whisjtered. ' "Heavy," panted the other. "Dropped it." And now despite Dallas' aid Mary lyn straggled weakly. Another mile and with scarcely a sigh of warning she sank again exhausted. "Charley," called Dallas. The Indian joined them. "You take one arm that's it" She took the other. Thus they proceeded. Finally Dallas stopped. "Hide, hide." she counseled between breaths. "A" dark place" Ignoring the advice, the outcast thrust bis bow and. arrows into her bands, then, squatting before Marylyn, he seized her wrist, drew her, limp and half dead, upon his back and staggered on. "Hold to Charley, dear," begged Dal las. "He's carrying you pickapack." The youuger girl murmured grate fully and locked her hands beneath the Indian's chin. This left bis arms free to part a path through the thick ets of burweed and plantain that chok ed the defile, and for fully a half hour he kept, a good jog. But. well worn and hampered as ,he , was, he began then to wabble. , received Marylyu upon her own shoul ders. Notwithstanding the long way her vigor remained splendid. And when there came a tendency to lag she fought it stoutly. Not until her limbs refused their service did she drop down. . Under her wild rye made a cool, stiff couch. She reached through it and dug her fingers Into the wet earth. Marylyn toppled over back and lay beside her, prone. Charley leaned on an elbow, breathing hard, watching When, far behind, down the shad owy crack through which they had come, sounded wild whoops. They scrambled up. terror stricken. Like hunted deer they whipped away again, knowing that in their wake, in stead of the one man they had seen, was a horde! Once more, though after brave ef fort it was Marylyn who compelled a halt. Dallas strove to rouse her. "Try a little longer, honey. Come on, come enf But the other only sobbed hys terically until Charley put his band upon her mouth. , , . "Can't we crawl out?" demanded Dallas. "Quick, they'll pass!" The outcast shook his head, coming close that she might see his answer. , "No use?" - . . ) He shook his bead again and signed that their pursuers bad horses. It was a. moment of supreme despair. She laid her arms upon her knees, her ' face upon her. arms. . Their puny hu- could they" look for succor? Would Lounsbury or the troopers come In time? Then, tearfully, prayerfully. In this utmost need, she raised her eyes to the sky. "It's not for me," she faltered. "It's for Marylyn." , That upward glance was not In vain. In front of her, lifting their plumelike tops against the heavens, she saw the clump of burial trees. Instantly she took heart, for her quick brain de vised . a plan to hide in the cotton woods! But all three might not stay, fot however much the Sioux avoided the laden boughs they would stop to search them If there were not those ahead to draw them past And one of those ahead must be a woman. ' So she decided. Bending to her sis ter, she lifted her to a sitting position. "Honey," 6he said firmly, "you see the big trees there? The Indians are afraid of 'em, remember. They'll go by. We'll put you up on a limb, and you keep quiet You'll be safe. We'll go on for help." - "Yes, yes., Dallas, only I can't walk." "Cbarleyr The elder girl bade him assist Without understanding fully he obeyed. Together they carried Mary lyn toward the cotton woods, out of which several lank, gray bodies shifted. Into view and shot away. Dallas chose a tree that grew close to the steep bardc Here .in the narrow space b- Dajlas gave him the. weapons and man power,, had. failed. - Where else (Continued on rage Eleven.)