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(M M NEIGHB ORS Around Oregon and Bethany. Dear old Advertiser: I hope you have had a happy Christmas The last Sabbath of the old year was a nice day. We were glad to see Mr. Porter Navels back araongj'us Sunday. He looked as happy .as a big Sunflower. We all knew why. Come again, Porter. Pro. McBroadway, preached at Oregon the fourty Sunday, Brn. Dave 11a!ley war, at church Sunday looking as happy as a June bug in peatime. J. W. Whittington and family had a bid to eat turkey Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. R S. Wilkes. Miss SallieEakin is spending' X'mus holidays at home. Miss Annie Whittington and Mary -pent Sunday evening with Misses Nannie and Neci« Ren ville. Ella Sharp ivl r- Bert Whittington spent a few days at home 1 lust week. Mr Earl Shepherd and family spent Christmas with Mr. Tom Boyd's family. The widows all spent Christmas else-where to the sorrow of oar old friend, J, W T . Whittington. The Methodist and Baptist com muned from the same jug X'mas. Mrs, Dora Fonville is staying with her brother, Bete Ingold, who has a very sick child. A loose Lyon passed through here on the 28th but did no damage save consuming some grub for M. .J. Fonville. Our friend R. P. Novels is still im-! proving. Mrs. E. A. Walker and 8. A. Long, spent several days with their brother J. W. Whittington, Happy New Year to the standby and its readers. c!d W. W J. Purina,* the best feed at T. W. .Smith & Sons ( :*o. J. S. Hord, an influential citizen and large planter of Roseneath visit ed our town one day/luring the holi days. Mr. J. D. Walton, of Acona, while in town Monday made us a pleasant call Mr. M- W. Parish, of Coxburg, called in Monday to assure us of his appreciation of the Advertisers visits, Mr. W. H. Lunsford of Coxburg made on? office an appreciated visit Monday, We are shd to lea -'i Mr Lunsford ami his father will shortly be citizens of Lexington. Gov. Longino's last message to the Legislature of Mississippi was road in both houses at noon Wednesday. It is a clear business document and its reference to the sale of state bonds to raise funds, is particularly happy at this time while the legisla ture is in session. We are glad to state that in the election for speaker of the House of Representatives, last years eh.-ti >n for Governor didn't cut any figure. For some reasons best known to the several candidates, of which there were seven, the five who brought up all voted for Thomas of !h e rear, Washington and against Smith of Holmes. Prickly AshBitters euros the kidneys, regulates the liver and purifies the bpwels. A valuable system tonic. For sale by Swinney & Stigler. Irregular bowel movements lead to chronic constipation. Prickly Ash Bit ters.is a reliable « system regulator; cures permanently. For Sale by Swin ney & Stigler. A system regulator is a medicine that strengthens and stimulates the liver, ^ kidneys, stomach und bowels. Prickly Ash Bitters is a superior system reg ulator; It drives out all unhealthy con ditions, promotes activity of body and brain, restores good appetite, sound sle«p and cheerful spirits. For sale by Swinney & Stigler. Strayed. Red roan mare, hell on when last seen, about 15 hands high, blaze face, collar marks on smoulder. Any in formation will be rewarded, notify J, M. Powers, Franklin Miss. Notice to City T ax Payers The city- tax books are at the Bank of Commerce all parties in debted for tax will please call and settle same. J. A. Brown, Tax Col. i You Want the News. The doings of the legislature which ■assembled in Jackson on Jan. 5th will be of great interest to the people of the sta'e of Mississippi. You wish to know what your repre sentatives are doing, and to keep in touch with the making of the laws of your .State. The Clarirm-Ledger, Jackson, Miss,, will publish the most accurate and by far the most complete report of the pro ceedings of the legislature, and can reach you earlier than any other paper printed. A special rate has been made for leg islative subscribers. The session will continue for at least three months, pos sibly longer. The Daily Clarion-Ledger will be sent you from beginning to e a d of the ses sion for $1.25, or DO cents per month. The Weekly for 35 cents, or $1.00 per j | I year. Those de iring the benefit of the spe eial rate must pay in advance. The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Mi s . We see complaint entered against the acoustic of the hall occupied by the representatives of the legisla ture A five thousand dollar Turkish vplvet carpet laid gently upon its floor will stop the reverberation of sound and correct the architectural mistake. New Barber Shop. Chalmers Hammond has opened up a first class barber shop in the new Bank of Commerce building, new fur niture throughout, only first class workmen employed- Your patronage solicited. T. A. .Sharp, of the Oregon neigh borhood in his selection of literary! matter for the year included the-! I/xington Advertiser. For Sale. Two good milk cows for sale apply Mi.-. C. Rosenthal. 4t 12 31 to Lost. On Satui day nigh t ,Defc. 26th, a pear! stick pin. Reward, return to this office. ' NOTICE TO NON-RESIDENT, f State of Mississippi To J w Loily You are lien by commanded to appear before the chancery c nirt of the county of Holmes in said sit ate t 1901 to defend .he petilion K II Hewitt in said court to b- 1 disoharued as surety on the Pond tiled by ' lie 2nd .Monday in January: A li as guardian to the estate of se No V 01 . docket of the said court. This the 9th day of December, A. D. 1903. gerurnl Patti.' It Lor g in c> J B Cunningham, Chancery Cleric. ! State of Mississippi, To Georg© Larkins, whose postoftice Is un known, defendant: You are commanded to appear before Chan Joui'tofihe county ol' Holmes in said slate, on the first Monday of'March A. I). 190i to defend the suit in said Court of Dora Larkins, wherMn you are defendant. This tin* 2lat day of December, 1903. J. 11 Cunnfnglmm, Chancery Clerk. Hooker A* McBee, solicitors for'complnlnarjt. Notice to'Creditors. Estate ot Richard Davis, Deceased, j \>■ .,. G0 , tvsumrntary By S. D. (Twin, ExGcutor. In Chancery o ■t of Holmes county. Mips vere erauted. the 1903, ns cxecuror Davis, di' , 'iiS"!(l, not cels berabv irive i> rs mo iuivina claims asr-dnsc said, estate that si me must bo probated and rojrlstpred by the Chancery Clerk of Holmes county,Mississippi, within one year lrom date hereof, or the same will be forever barrel. Wit oofs my signature this the SSBtli day of Decemli r, 1903. idersiyned on the 29th day of DeooinbeC estate of Riclnml to all tin 8. D. 0win. Executor. 12-81-03 Bankrupt Sale. In the District Court of the United States for tbo Southern District of Mississippi In re Wm. Henry Hoover, bankrupt, In bank ruptcy, the trustre of the above estate a! public auction for cash to the highest bid der, on the 9th dey of Jan. 1904, within legal hours, the following nipt'& estate; the stock of goods* safe and fix tures, live stock, and the following lands in Madison county, Miss., being a tract of about eighty acres to-wit.;' NE quarter. N E quarter Section 20, and Northwest quarter, Northwest quarter Section 2i T H, R 4 east, and Southeast quarter of Section 22. T 12, litf east, containing 100 acres more or loss; lands and personality to be sold separately m front of the. building formerly occopied by w. H. Hoover, Pickens, Holmes county. Miss., as a place of business. The right is reserved to re fuse any and all bids; Signed this 29th fiay of December, 1903. J B Stirling, Referee. •ill sel tts of the said bank A Daughter of the Sioux (Continued from page 8.) Schreiber had just come slid four. ing, stumbling down from Winsor's perch to say that they could hear faint sound of sharp volleying far out to the eastward, where the warriors, evidently, were trying to "stand off" Webb's skirmish line unlil the travois with the wounded and the escort of Hie possible prisoners should succeed in getting hack out of harm's way and taking surer and higher trail into the thick of the wiid-prr.i ss hack of Bear Cliff. "Some of V::i must, come ill sight here in a minute, sir," panted the veteran sergeant. "We (ft>ulU see 1hem plainly up there—a mule litter und four travois, and there must be a dozen in saddle." A dozen there were, for along the line of crouching men went sudden ill rill of excitement. Shoulders be -an to heave; nervous thumbs bore down on the heavy carbine hammer.' and there was sound/of irrepressible stir und murmur. Out among the pines, 500 yards away two mounted Indians popped suddenly into view, two others speedily followed, their well-nigh exhausted ponies feebly shaking their shaggy, protesting heads as their riders plied the sting ing quirt or jabbed with cruel lance; only in a painful jog trot could they zig xag through the trees. Then came two warriors, leading the pony of a crippled comrade. "Don't tire— don t harm them tall back from the trail there and let ti.em in. They'll Imlt the moment they see our tracks! i'Ct em alive, if |* . - ! ' were Blake's rapid orders,for h;s eves were bling mules, lashed fore and aft be tween long, spliced saplings and hear ing thus the rude litter -Huy's wheelers turned to hospital use. Indian hoy,mounted,led the form mule; another eagerly fixed on other objects beyond these dejected leaders—upon stum '■ ' 1 1" Ail atclieu tli« st* each side of the occupant of the Sioux palanquin, jogged blanketed rider on jaded pony. Her was a personage of consequence luckier much 1han these oil ■ r f » ie . while, on lowing-, drugged along on . iavo ls whose trailing poles came jolting over stone or hummock along the ringed path. It was on these that 111.;he's glittering eye* were fn-b-n-.L "Pounce on the leaders, you tl ire nearest!" he ordered, in low, telling tones, the men at his left; then turned to Schreiber, crouching close beside him, the fringe of his buck skin hunting shirt quivering over lm bounding heart. "There's the prize I want," he muttered low. "Whatever you do, let no shot reach tha. litter, Charge with nte.the.moment the lead ers yell. You men to the right, he added, slightly raising iiis voice, "bo leady to .jump with jne. Don't shoot . now fight- Xau mountain m t. .e \\ tdkm rang, to •" •' 1 !| ' ' VVJirn ' ■ 1 ' o;,i • ' ' 1 '* " leading Sioux. All in a a.i they whirl.-,I their po-mv at, ml. am! darted Lark. All in ... l . 1 ' ■ 1 m: l * | anybf'dy Iliat doos everything in sight. -oimiI" All in a kccoti;] the i led I'iirmos find straight for the startled convoy \ain the few warriors braidy j about their foremost wounded, unwieldy litter could the frantic mules, e strut flung then.' ■allied The bout; ie ! n ' ot tn shot*—' tin? onward rush of pr J: " diarging men—the uw/ui of squaws, broke fl ing refns; ter against, the the luckless occupant to earth, drove the unhit warriors before the serea Ut erus! tod vif 1] j>;w'k , burling* dash of the cheering*.line, first one pony, then a second, in his bloody tracks. One after another, lit ter, travois, wounded and prisoner, was clutched and seized by stalwart hands, and Rlalce, panting not a lit tie, found himself bending staring over the prostrate form flung from the splintered wreck of the litter, a form writhing in pain that forced no sound whatever from between clinching teeth, yet that bailed .V • i*i, almost superb, to rise and battle still—a form magnificent in it 1 -' pro portions, 3 r et helpless thr'»sigh - wounds and weakness. Not the form i Blake thought to see, of shrinking, ! delicate, dainty woman, lint that of | the furious warrior m 1lirice- had flic on dared !.im brave well-known by si within the moon now a rung ■ only within the day gone by, revealed ! to him as the renegade Hal pi of the Ogallala Winu reatt— Sioux; Where then was Nanette? [ "Look out for this man, corporal! he called, to a shouting young troop- [ 'See that no harm coni! er. Then quickly he ran on to the huddle j of travois. .Something assured him she could not be far away. The stout j drag litter held another young war- i rior. sullen and speechless likc foremost. The next bore a deeper- i ntelv wounded brave whose bloodless I lips were compressed in agony and : dumb ns those of the dead. About! these cowered, shivering, and whim- i ■-stricken squaws, one of them with a round- I eyed papoose staving at her back. I A. pony lay struggling in the snow i Half a dozen rough soldier j hands were dragging a stricken rider - from underneath. Half a dozen more j were striving to control the wild j phmgings of another mettlesome j beast, whose ridei-, Sitting firmly astride, lashed first at his quivering | flank and then at the fur gnmill-ted | hands—even at the laughing, beard- ! oil faces sure sign of another squaw,, j and a game one. Far out to the front | the crackle of carbine and rifle told [ that Webb was driving the scattered j braves before him— 1 : et the comrade S squadron was comin.; their way—that j Bear Cliff had been sought by the Sioux in vain—that Indian wiles and strategy. Indian p) •!. and staying power, all had more than met their match. Whatever 1he fate of Lame Wolf's fighting- force, now pressed by Henry's column, far in the southward hills, here in sight of the broad Big Horn valley, the white chief had struck a vital blow. Village, villagers, wounded and prisoners were all the spoil of the hated soldiery. Here at Ihe scene of Blake's minor affair there appeared still iri saddle just one undaunted, , unconquered amazon whose black eyes flashed through the woplen hood that, hid the rest of oer face, whoso lips had ulteied us yet no sound, but'from - whom two soldiers recoiled at tin- cry oi a third. 'Look at the hand of her, fellers! it's wititcr than mine] " "That's all right, swered the jovial voice ot iiie finder they loved and laughed with. "Hold that pony Steady. Now, by your la; dysliip's leave," and two long sinewy; arms went circling about riu: shrink ing rider's waist, and a struggling form was lifted straightway out of the saddle and deposited, not too gracefully, on its mbceusinod feet. "We will remove this ope impediment to your speech," continued . lUake, whereat the muffling worsted was swiftly unwound, "and 1 hen we will listen to our meed of tin siks. Ah, no wonder you did not need a side-sad dle that night al Fraync. You ride admirably it cnlifourchon -My com plimants, Mademoiselle l.uFleur—or should J say- .Madame Moreau." For all answer Blake received one quick, stinging slap in the face from that mittenless little right hand. ne*, two or three t-err 1 >*' lose hy. i. n CHARTER XXI. Thanksgiving day at Frayne! Much of the garrison was still nil eld, bring ing back to their lines, und, let us hope, to thijir sefises, the remnants of Stahber's hand, chased far into the Sweetwater Kills before they would stop, while Henry'* column kept I | flame Wolf in such active movement ! j the misnamed chieftain rifchly won I j hla later sobriquet "The Skipper." ! 'Ihe general had come whirling back - from Beecher in his ( oncord wagon, i to meet Mr. Ilay a 3 they bore that j i invalid homeward from the Big Horn. ; Between the fever-weakened trader j and the famous frontier soldier there : had been brief conference—all that I j the doctors felt they could allow_| '■ | end then the former hud bei-n put to ; ' | bed tinder the care of hi. ted 1 wife, while Hie latter, without so much as forth arain out 8 eamm.ijji. This time he j pht of a ill! v, had et i j wind njS the to went in sat u. jus own team the Medicine How to carry a convalescent subaltern to I the side over the ran: of i t triekra father; the , ., , ld( ,, . noraBt , poc , ly, of the post | | comnn.ndorh prohibition; ignoring it, jf lls nrohuble it q j, ... the grateful i a d and sent a . ; , M rs . Bade und her devoted allies . as .nown to ium. ! roocf old doctor himself iiad up row l ad filled with goodies a I ,, , . n as j , | Mrs , Hay scn t glor. s' of wine for I thp y , t . ot u . t i, ; u i( | s au<1 lla d j ,. onie U own herself to the start, £or< without a word il; ,Hca1ive of re j proof, the general had bidden Mint remo ve the blockade. . rnply saying j ie wo „j d assume all -sponsibility, br , th for M ,s. Hay ami ..<■ vomiaUn j c j] an <r j r ] < , r | vri , r ^i, e ; friuier's roof until the . oniing of her | I own people still out v, ih Slabber's | band. Flint could not i. thorn it. lie i plynlcl only ofco\, * And now- with the general gone and Beverlj- Field away, vv, , Jlay home j .,, K| . fu ,i by orile^, ,,m all qties louing or other extra - uus worry. II : witli tiie womaded so 1 trundled into hospital, rrison inter- I n* the time | j mainly in that little O: lilaia maid— i 1 lint's sole Sioux coptiye, who was said the milcii interrogated I i.\ ia Mrs. Hay'. - wn room in ! i' .Miss blower's, w aile t he latly f th<». house, when sli coupled a sofa near 1; *r Iiusband's I mcil to tenter j | I dome! loused. ! xlv at all, ;••* IK 1 tkiiiu that Ulakc. willj the jmisoners fr< j ( rei'lc and Jicar CUfT everybody 1 ;'or Ike con-.* . •ie of tea Wood I hand. wi tii ■i the • line ward "that big* I lie ge of the •apt Ives, e Of the ; j ... no . i, j c,ioi j V l)i , I fornu r. ; wiiA . :d I n , j 0 f| e Blower, I listing:! tldl .. id unwounde u!. chief Eagle j ne f the latter ■•(•onslit-tited n,uirl .*, since s' .livial re uint \a WHS 1111 v. ing e •-1: 4 * that sullei. J .still tie* it ter b< - i ! | hose side s r j*. fused to jf imtil vne; not until tin lation, the died Fort r« •goon, a; In red there ['ful exami; loreau into no reason \vl y he should not be confined m the p; an ro they able to the silent, ulnm l desperat. er ann 1. Not until u.'H'dh'iii ■ girl to return 1 ! Nanette her w:i r i* i ' within wooden i be e luded, con'd rails ns to be house, .hence she last, per ie- 1 lie's to rci the dress of worsted ie like a chief ;..w beaded and SVIili [ room and to aliou. [ e I a i hut j ta j t i . i floor front, : I from out: id : could be permitted to receive visits from the cupti.'o Sioo . and this the i major, flinUly, fort-hade. It was nightfall when the Httes-bear;-rs I reached the post, I mules braying um i sight of their . .h : It wa dark j when the woim.fi I oh: f was borne - into the guard-horn o, i ! taring not j sound, and Nanette w.;s led within j the trader's door, yet some one had j managed to see her b'i -. for the story went all over the wondering post that ! | very night—-women 'lil ting with it | from door to door—tha: .-very vestige ! of lier beauty was gon -she looked j at least a dozen years older. Blake, | when questioned, nftei the first rn ■ [ tore of the him: co fi.ng had sub j sided, would neither irm nor deny, S she would neither j- : k to me nor harken," said he. whhosically. "The ni'culry , i )d l-ecap Once •■( r, she had shut Blake's by her old refusing to see anybody unless she rejoi. ing e E only thing she showed was teeth and —temper. * i wo day8 after the safe lodgment '•f I agje Wing behind the bars, the teiegra rris were coming by dozens, week after <|:;n deserved in r-ration, Fort Fraync heard with um iliienueiit carei tmn majors or 1 a i-i s ' i a li.-. i r to the Ims dei- for Ait t'iial. By that time fi r. -rs, too, were beginning to come, after this removal to the little room and, two nights v occupied by l.ieut. Field— this very Thanksgiving night, in fact intry at ihe door stood attention to the comn ;i tiding officer >. ushered in a womanly ded cloak, and ho well lu'ad Nanette Flower u ibe giK.rdcd portal, bi i( d be):ii ii iicr and left faded brave. out the single t. who in pei-si form enveloped iu \ with * then i-cr tUbt), with her Jin t u.- tatu.o w; n > siiujiding on the E.-.liter Bade sat. reud Jniry iriut tic- children s quarters of Sergeant latiier's company, err had n u Thank giving (linn.-r •Ah. Mrs. Bay, an Amazonian least nee all thru n service till'd t: itie ill 11 i - ter, of 'her ere still uv.ay Sandy Bay and Hilly, ups too young to count. ■ i* by eight o'oiock, file some merry games, the youngsters' eyes were showing ■■ y toms oi tiie simt.i,it's coining, v. eu.il meter, IT i q '.ay's long-tru'd troop, r now lu:u.-d major Homo, a ::>• : m ;! at the door- way of tfic.uiUe army parlor. -ad beiti bid ,-jr of lot of good Vs oi ihe euifi-r. n among the quart, rs if the i- iinli-ii soldiers, and now, vjoe.u Afiv-, jiaue pit-use speak Mrs. j osier, w n had come over vviiti nip urn nit But there was no need of explanation. They all *km-vv. ,Th*ey j had laid so-recently their wreaths 1 , ywere pei '••nner was ail mid, de. privili-g'-u mat He nim, und Mrs. lJauo departed for ibe kiU-ir. n forthwith. Presently she .re turned; "Fin going back awhile with Mrs. Foster," said she. "She's sitting up tonight with poor Mr§n Wing, who *~ h*. a!T •*"' ^2 !JUST ECEIVED 53 \ \ \ A full line of new goods consisting of Fancy Cut Glass, Plaques, Cups and Saucers, Choclate Sets, Plates, Glassware Tea Pots, Besques Fig ures, Celery Dishes, handsome Buggy Robes, Fancy Buggy Harness, Saddles, Bridles, and, Buggys, Toilet Sets, Lamps, Dinner Sets,Crock ery, Jardners Flowers Pots. In fact everything kept in a first class Hardware store. •'y V Implements Of All Kinds ' •3* (9**^ -ie-riate Stoves Heating and Cooking. Prices are right. Gall and see us ■ 4 * * D. W. Beall • ; -4 15^— 1 r," umvm &3mmsmw» < LIFE * SAVINGS SOCIETY PROVIDENT ASSURANCE I New York President 346 and 348 Broadway, EDWARD W. SCOTT, k vlj ** Organized *• «• 1875 - SIX YEcAVtS' ADDITIONS b^OM OFFICIAL STATEMENTS J ' THE COMPANY HAS DOUBLE ITS INCOME [J 6 TREBLED ITS ASSETS QUADRUPLED ITS RE- 9 9 SERVE TEN-FOLD 1NCREASEC ITS EXCESS OF IN- o 6 COME OVER DISBURSEMENTS ** j* 2 Policies issued to meet • the wants of all amounts $100 to $50,000 AGENTS WANTED *** , ]AS. H. FUQUA, JR., General Agent, HOLMES COUNTY BANK BUILDING, LEXINGTON, MISS. For Information as to Rates Apply to....,. j L tumaumam mrjAtzmmam me of the "* ergreen » felit tow another .dpie.i.s iiih;. j bear the buried re lelt for j ■ ! 'o i iiii.g ut me | sojdier Elk, and soul had eome id all that :.er and babe ;; n'.s m» charily. Jt ^hi, and while the wail 'hawk the be- i *ni up from * than one of these humbie 1 > meats ijeh e eastvvurd tiluit, i: re '| u is that lifted than; praise ud not a 1 . . , . be l'obeeu oi oil tunl stood be that they, too, might, even merit , , : , | "" ' 1 1 " j | | ! | " i c ' ; pcn-.-i t lair young wm-s, vc in i 1 iheir ; MuiiluAv nf the ling, all smiles •any liumher in all hull' a t ies on lion uiital never drcn lay, fell infill awful ipw er sun; that one ami all tin 1 ; hud been widowed ; iiiat the men they i t than a ; ■ tuc*y i'.V ml beyond reeog Jliutiu! : those \t*ry hills oi from i* i in no i.iTe now same old foe. In the if army life we are, indeed, in death, and the -thanksgiving of s auout the fireside for midst s tints far shown, is mingled men ever witiu the dread of what the inor tiiifoid. was mmma, me E . . '*1 can put the bile you and Mrs. her li.iT there." Foeti r are Arid >v> vh Hogan, lantern bear . xi daughter had fol lowed the sei*geanl's wife across the •red parade; passed \.ii . comment, though [ , ' ig of the new inmate, tne brigf tiy -1 . lited hospital building t -i hi the plateau, and de ,u.'U 1W wuuling pathway to the s of tin* married sol broad. on tt-.e in the sheltered lints r and the close bordered rushing; stream. And here at 1 lu* be bold hiuiVs ii■ a I ng t. • tor's doorway iv tiier purt ■cl od i:',iiii t;.c (-filet's, and was by shrieks of joy Crom three' ... ICC i: . i ! - ■ : .l-Tubs - tilt' St Ig -Hill'S oiin- : ranetfs, and litre, as tin- last went echoing away ruler the and spangled sl.y, one her e .ai ires closed i ' lied and dropped to sleep gentle friend und reader to her own reflections. There was a soldier tiancii if tail n ur :* ir uy one •.rouping and lin their night in I re nf the vacant mew Flint's two companies were rooms. makiiu; . e best of their isolation, rod fiio-.i.l, :is is nt.t utterly uncom mon, quite a few maids mid matrons .among tne I. ntseholds of the absent soldiery quite willing to be consoled and comforted. There were bright lights, i :,i i-iflore, further along the edge of the steep, beyond those of the fir.: jflial. and the squeak of fiddle und drone of 'cello, mingled with the plaintive piping of the flute, were heard at. intervals through the si lenre of tin- wintry night. No tramp -it sentry broke the hush about the little rift between the heights—the major holding that, none was neces sary where there weye so many dogs most of the soldiers' families had gone to the dance; all of the younger children were asleep; even the dogs were still, and so, when at ten o'clock -r tiptoed from the children's j and sfSbd under the star 1 ugiit, the murmur of the Platte was the only sou|id that reached her ears away over at the southwest j gate the niglit guards began the long-drawn heralding of the hour, j "Xen o'clock and all's well" it went i roin post to post along the west and i northward front, but when Number j | „ n tn i ! 8iau at the quartermaster's store house near the southeast oorner, j should have taken up the cry where ! .. , , , ' , T .r , i it vv._.s dropped by Number live, afar j over near the flagstaff, there was ! unaccountable silence. Six did not utter a sound. Looking up from the level of "Suds ! town," as it had earlier been named, I .. . ' ,, ,, , , , ,, i Esther could see the black hulk of the storehouse close to the edge of | the plateau. Between its westward j gable end and the porch of the his- I | pital lay some 50 yards of open space, | | and through this gap now gleamed a j ! spauglfd section of the western | heavens. Along the bluff, just under i the crest, ran a pathway that circled ' the southeastward corner and led away to the trader's store, south of the post. Tradition bad it that the track was worn by night raiders, bearing contraband fluids from store to barracks in the days before such traffic was killed by that common sense promoter of temperance—so berness and chastity—the post change. Along that bluff line, from the storehouse toward the hospital, invisible, doubtless, from either build ing or from the bluff itself, thrown in sharp relief against that rectangular inlet of starry sky, two black figures, crouching and bearing some long, flat object between them, swift and noiseless were speeding toward the hospital. The next in stant they were lost in the black background of that building. Then, as suddenly and a moment later, one of them reappeared, just for a mo ment, against the brightly lighted window—the southernmost window on the eastward side—the window of the room that had been Beverly Field's—the. window of the room now given over to Eagle Wing, the Sioux —the captWe for whose safe keeping a special sentry within the building, and this strangely silent Number Six without, were jointly responsible. Then that silhouetted figure was blotted fro-m her sight in general darkness, for the lights within as suddenly went out. And at that very moment a sound Mnote upon the ear, unaccountable at that hour and at that side of the ex but garrison—hoofbeats swiftly coming down in the hollow from the east ward bluff—hoofbeats and low, ex cited voices. Foster's little house was soutliernmont of the settlement. The ground wan open between it and the heights, and despite the low, cautious tones, Esther heard the foremost rider's muttered angering words. "Dam fooH Crazy! Heap Crazy! Too much hurry. Ought t' let him call iff first!" tcral Sioux. And then in an instant it dawned upon the girl that h<Ve was new crime, new bloodshed, perhaps, and a plot to free a villainftus captive. Her first thought was to scream for rid, but wlmt aid could she summon? Not a man was will In hail except these, the merciless haters of her ruce and name. To s'-oream would be to invite their ready knives to her lienrt—to the heart of any woman who might rush to her succor. The cry died in her throat, and, .trem bling with dread and excitement, she clung to the door post and crouched and listened, for stifled mutterings could be heard, a curse or two in vigorous English, a stamping of im patient ponies, a warning in ,a wo man's tone. Then, thank God! Up '.''ben an answer in gut 1 ill I! Ill .ij;; : ; ill n llll I ; : ; J i t, \ % ini' mk ( \ "BLACK FORMS OF MOUNTS AND RIDERS SPED DESPERATELY AWAY." at the storehouse corner a light came dancing into view. In honest soldier tones boomed out the query "What's the matter, Six?" and then, followed by a scurry of hoofs, a mad lashing of quirts and scramble and rush of frightened steeds, a cursing of fu rious tongues, her own brave young voice rang out on the night, way, sergeant! Help—Quick!" Black forms of mounts and riders sped desperately away, and then with all the wiry, sinewy strength of her lithe and slender form, Esther hurled herself upon another slender figure, speeding after these, afoot. Desperately she clung to it in spite of savage blows and strainings. And so they found her, as forth they came —a rush of shrieking, startled, can dle-bearing women—of bewildered und unconsciously blasphemous men of the guard—her arms locked firmly about a gi^l in semi-savage garb. The villain of the drama had been whisked away, leaving the woman who sought to save him to the mercy of the foe. This CHAPTER XXII. In the whirl antf excitement fol lowing the startling outcry from the flats, all Fort Frayne was speedily involved. The guard came rushing through the night. Corporal Shannon .tumbling over a prostrate form— the sentry on Number SLx, gagged and bound. The steward shouted from the hospital porch that Eagle Wing, the prisoner patient, had escaped through the rear window, despite its height above the sloping ground. A little laddeff, borrowed from the quartermaster's corral, was found a moment later. An In dian pony, saddled Sioux fashion, was caught running, riderless, to ward the trader's back gate his horsehair bridle torn half way from his shaggy head. Sergeant Crabb, waiting for no orders from the ma jor, no sooner heard that Moreau was gone than he rushed his stable guard to the saddleroom, and in 15 minutes had, not only his own squad, but half a dozen "casual" troopers circling the post in search of the trail, and in less than half an hour was hot in chase of two fleeing horsemen, dimly seen ahead through the starlight, across the snowy wastes. That snowfall was the Sioux's •undoing, trail would have been invisible at night. With it, the pursued were well-nigh hopeless from the start. (Continued on page 5.) Without it the