Molly McDonald
A TALE OF THE PRONITER
BYNOPSIB.
Major McDonald, commanding: an army
f>ost near Fort Dodge, seeks a man to
ntercept his daughter, Molly, who Is
headed for the post. An Indian outbreak
Is threatened. Sergeant "Brick” Hamlin
meets the stage In which Molly Is travel
ing. They are attacked by Indians, and
Hamlin and Molly escape In the darkness.
Hamlin tells Molly he was discharged
from the Confederate service In disgrace
and at the close of the war enlisted in
the regular army. He suspects one Cap
tain LeFevro of being responsible for
his disgrace. Troops appear and under
escort of Gaskins Molly starts to
loin her fnthcr. Hamlin leaves to rejoin
his regiment. Ho returns to Fort Dodge
after a summer of fighting Indians, ami
finds Molly there. Dleutenant Gaskins
accuses Hamlin of Bhootlng him. The
sergeant Is proven Innocent. He sees
Molly in company with Mrs. Dupont,
whom ho recognizes as a former sweet
heart. who threw him over for LcFevre.
Later in* overhears Dupont and a soldier
hatching up a money-making plot. Molly
tells Hamlin her father seems to be In
the power of Mrs. Dupont, who claims to
he a daughter of McDonald’s sister. Mol
ly disappears and Hamlin sets out to
trace her. McDonald Is ordered to I' ort
Ripley. Hamlin finds McDonald’s mur
dered body. Ho takes Wasson, a guide,
and two troopers and goes In pursuit of
tlie murderers, who had robbed McDon
ald of 110,000 paymaster's money. He sus
pects Dupont. Conners, soldier accom-
{ slice of Dupont. Is found murdered. Ham
in’s party Is caught In a fierce blizzard
while heading for the Clmmaron. One
man dies from cold and another almost
miccumhs. Wasson Is shot as they come
In sight of Clmmaron. Hamlin discovers
a log cabin hidden under a bluff, occupied
by Hughes, a cow thief, who Is laying for
I.eFovre, wno cheated him In a cattle
deal. Ills description identifies I.eFovre
and Dupont as one and the same. Hughes
shot Wasson mistaking him for one of
LeFevre’s parly. Ilamlln and Hughes
take up the trail of LeFevre. who Is
carrying Molly to the Indian's camp.
* Two days out they sight the fugitives.
A fight ensues In which Hughes Is shot
by an Indian. Dying, he makes a desper
ate attempt to shoot LeFevre. but bits
Hamlin, while the latter Is disarming Le
Kevre LeFevre escapes, believing Ham
lin and Molly dead. Molly tells Humlin
that her father was Implicated in the
riot to steal the paymaster’s money.
ramlfn confesses his love for Molly and
finds that It Is reciprocated. Molly de
clares her father was forced Into the
robbers’ plot. They meet an advance
troop of Custer’s command, starting on a
winter campaign ngainst the Indians.
Hamlin remains as guide. The winter
camp of Black Kettle is discovered. Cus
ter plans an attack.
CHAPTER XXXVll.—Continued.
The bugle rang again, and they
turned, facing back, and charged once
more, no longer in close formation, but
every trooper fighting as he could.
Complete as the surprise had been,
the men of the Seventh realized now
the odds ngainst them, the desperate
nature of the fight. Out from the shel
tering • tepees poured a flood of war
riors: rifles in hand they fought sav
agely. The screams of women and
children, the howling and baying of
Indian dogs, the crack of rifles, the
wild war cries, all mingled into an in
describable din. Black Kettle was al
most the first to fall, but other chiefs
rallied their warriors, and fought like
fiends, yielding ground only by inches,
until they found shelter amid the trees
and under the river bank.
In the cessation of hand to hand
fighting the detachments came to
gether, reforming their ranks, and re
loading their arms. Squads of troop
. era fired the tepees, and gathering
their prisoners under guard, hastened
back to the ranks again at the call of
the bugle. By now Custer compre
hended his desperate position and the
full strength of his Indian foes. Fresh
hordes were before him, already
threatening attack. Hamlin, bleeding
from two flesh wounds, rode in from
the left flank, where he had been
borne by the impetus of the last
charge, with full knowledge of the
truth. Their attack had been cen
tered on Black Kettle’s village, but be
low, a mile or two apart, were other
villages, representing all tho hostile
tribes of the southern plains. Already
these were hurrying up to join those
rallying warriors under the shelter of
the river bank. Even from where
Custer stood at the outskirts of the
devastated village he could distin
guish the war bonnets of Cheyennes.
Arapahoes, Kiowas and Comanches
mingled together in display of sav
agery.
His decision was instant, that of the
Impetuous cavalry leader, knowing
veil the inherent strength and weak
ness of his branch of tho service. He
could not hope to hold his, position be
fore such a nwßs of the enemy, with
the little force at his disposal. His
only chance of escape, to come off vic
tor, was to strike them so swiftly and
with such force as to paralyze pursuit.
Already the reinforcing warriors were
sweeping forward to attack, two thou
sand strong, ied fiercely by Little Ra
ven, an Arapahoe; Santana, a Kiowa,
and Little Rock a Cheyenne. Dis
mounting his men he prepared for a
desperate resistance, although the
troopers’ ammunition was running
low. Sudden!?, crashing through tbe
By Randall Parrish
luthorof "Keith oftte
“Borderr My Lady of
Doubt: My Lady of tic.
South’’ etc etc. .
yrEkk
rm JL* jDu/WC<o
COPy«WKT uu BY A-r’-M'CLURQ ft CQi
very Indian lines, came a four-mule
wagon. The quartermaster was on
the box, driving recklessly. Only
Hamlin and a dozen other men were
still In saddle. Without orders they
dashed forward, spurring maddened
horses Into the ranks of the Indians,
hurling them left and right, firing into
Infuriated red faces, and slashing
about with dripping sabres. Into the
lane thus formed sprang the tortured
mules, sweeping on with their precious
load of ammunition. Behind closed in
the squad of rescuers, struggling for
their lives amid a horde of savages.
Then, with one wild shout, the dis
mounted troopers leaped to the res
cue, hurling back the disorganized In
dian mass, and dragging their com
rades from the rout. It was hand to
hand, clubbed carbine against knife
and spear, a fierce, breathless strug
gle. Behind eager hands ripped open
the ammunition cases; cartridges
were jammed Into empty guns, and a
second line of fighting men leaped for
ward, tbelr front tipped with fire.
Dragged from his horse at the first
fierce shock, his revolver empty, his
broken saber a jagged piece of steel,
Hamlin hacked his way through the
first line of warriors, and found ref
uge behind a dead horse. Here, with
two others, ho made a stand, gripping
a carbine. It was all the work of a
moment. About him were skurrying
figures. Infuriated faces, threatening
weapons, yells of agodV, cries of rage.
The three fought like'flends, standing
back to back, and striking blindly at
leaping bodies and clutching hands.
Out of the mist, the mad confusion
of breathless combat, one face alone
seemed to confront the Sergeant. At
first It was a delirium; then It be
came a reality. He saw the shaggl
neEs of a buffalo coat, the gleam of a
white face. All else vanished In a
fierce desire to kill. He leaped for
ward, crazed with sudden hate, hurled
aside the naked bodies In the path,
and sent his whirling carbine stock
crashing at Dupont. Even as it struck
he fell, clutched by gripping hands,
and over all rang out the cheer of
the charging troopers. Hamlin stag
gered to his knees, spent and breath
less. anj smiled grimly down at the
dead white man in that ring of red.
It was over, yet that little body of
troopers dared not remain. About
them still, although demoralized and
defeated, circled an overwhelming
mass of savages capable of crushing
them to death, when they again ral
lied and consolidated. Custer did the
only thing possible. Turning loose the
pony herd, gathering his captives
close, he swung his compact command
into marching column. Before the
scattered tribes could rally for a sec-
The Mad Confusion of Breathless
Combat.
ond attack, with flankers out, and skir
mishers in advance, the cavalrymen
rode straight down the valley toward
the retreating hostiles. It was a bold
and desperate move, the commander's
object being to impress upon the In
dian chiefs the thought of his utter
fearlessness, and to create the impres
sion that the Seventh would never
dare such a thing if they did not have
a larger force behind. With flags un
furled, and the band playing, the
troopers swept on. The very mad au
dacity of the movement struck terror
into the hearts of the warriors, and
they broke and fled. As darkness fell
the survivors of the Seventh rode
alone, amid the silent desolation of
the plains.
Halting a moment for rest under
shelter of the river bank, Custer
THE CHEYENNE RECORD.
hastily wrote hts report and sent for
Hamlin. The latter approached and
stood motionless In the red glare ot
the single camp-fire. The Impetuous
commander glanced up Inquiringly.
"Sergeant, I must send a messenget
to Camp Supply. Are you fit to go?"
"As much as anyone. General Cus
ter,” was the quiet response. “I have
no wounds of consequence."
“Very well. Take the fastest horse
In the command, and an Osage guide.
You know the country, but he will be
of assistance. I have written a very
brief report; you are to tell Sheridan
personally the entire story. We shall
rest here two hours, and then pro
ceed slowly along the trail. I antici
pate no further serious fighting. You
will depart at once."
“Very well, sir,” the Sergeant sa
luted, and turned away, halting an in
stant to ask: "You have reported the
losses, I presume?"
"Yes, the dead and wounded. There
are some missing, who may yet come
in. Major Elltott and fourteen others
are still unaccounted for." He paused.
“By the way, Sergeant, while you are
with Sheridan, explain to him who
you are—he may have news for you.
Good night, and good luck.”
He stood up and held out his hand.
In surprise, his eyes suddenly filling
with tears, Hamlin felt the grip of
Iris fingers. Then he turned, unable
to articulate a sentence, and strode
away Into the night.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
At Camp Bupply.
There are yet living in that great
Southwest those who will retell the
story of Hamlin’s ride from the banks
of the Washita to Camp Supply. It
remains one of the epics of the plains,
one of the proud traditions of the
army. To the man himself those hours
of danger, struggle and weariness,
were more a dream than a reality.
He passed through them almost un
consciously, a soldier performing his
duty In utter forgetfulness of self,
nerved by the discipline of years of
service, by the Importance of his mis
sion, and by memory of Molly McDon
ald. Love and duty held him reeling
In the saddle, brought him safely to
the Journey’s end.
Let the details pass unwritten. Be
neath the darkening skies of early
evening, the Sergeant and the Osage
guide rode forth Into the peril and
mystery of the shrouded desert. Be
yond the outmost picket, moving as
silently as two specters, they found
at last a coulee leading upward front
the valley to the plains above. To
their left the Indian fires swept in
half circle, and between were the
dark outlines of savage foes. Front
rock to rock echoed guttural voices,
but, foot by foot, unnoted by the keen
eyes, the two crept steadily on
through .the midnight of that shelter
ing ravine, dismounted, hands clasp
ing the nostrils of their ponies, feel
ing through the darkness for each
step, halting breathless at every
crackle of a twig, every crunch ol
snow under foot. Again and again
they paused, silent, motionless, as
some apparition of savagery outlined
itself between them and the sky, yet
slowly; steadily, every instinct of the
plains exercised, they passed unseen.
In the earliest gray of dawn the
two wearied men crept out upon the
upper plateau, dragging their horses.
Behind, the mists of the night Btill
hung heavy and dark over the valley,
yet with a new sense of freedom
they swung into their saddles, faced
sternly the chill wind of the north
and rode forward across the desolate
snow fields. It was no boys’ play!
The tough, half-broken Indian ponies
kept steady stride, leaping the drifts,
skimming rapidly along the bare hill
sides. From dawn to dark scarcely a
word was uttered. By turns they
slept in the saddle, the one awake
gripping the other's rein. Once, in a
strip of cottonwood beside a frozen
creek, they paused to light a fire and
make a hasty meal. Then they were
off again, facing the frosty air, rid
ing straight into the north. Before
them stretched the barren snow-clad
steppes, forlorn and shelterless, with
scarcely a mark of guidance any
where, a dismal wilderness, intersect
ed by gloomy ravines and frozen
creeks. Here and there a river, the
water icy cold and covered with float
ing ice, barred their passage; down
in the valleys the drifted snow turned
them aside. Again and again the
struggling ponies floundered to theit
ears, or slid headlong down soma
steep declivity. Twice Hamlin was
thrown, and once the Osage was
crushed between floating cakes and
submerged in the icy stream. Across
the open barrens swept the wind into
their faces, a ceaseless buffeting, chill
ing to the marrow; their eyes burned
in the snow-glare. Yet they rode on
and on, voiceless, suffering in the
grim silence of despair, fit denizens
of that scene of utter desolation.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Interested.
"The earliest mention of coal Is
said to have been made by Theophras
tus." said the professor, at break
fast. f
“And what did he say was a ton,
professor?” Inquired the landlady,
pouring the coffea
Temperance
(Conducted by the National Woman's
Christian Temperance Union.)
PEOPLE ARE LEARNING TRUTH
Not Necessary for Liquor Dealer* to
Inaugurate Publicity Plan to
8how “Uses and Benefit*.”
Recognizing that national temper
ince la a live Issue, the president
of the Wholesale Liquor Dealers' as
sociation, In his annual address at
Louisville, Ky., suggested that “In
view of the activity of our opponents,
and In view of the fact that they come
In close touch with the people at
large, it behooves us to begin an era
of education to correct their false
teachings and develop In the minds of
the people a right Idea as to alcohol,
Its uses and benefits.”
It le not necessary for the liquor in
terests to go to the expense of Inau
gurating any publicity scheme to
show the "uses and benefits" of al
cohol. This Is being done for them
free of charge by varied agencleB.
The Judge of the domestic relations
court of Chicago helps to "develop
this right Idea" when he shows from
his court records that 46 per cent, of
the domestic infelicities brought be
fore him are to be credited as “bene
fits” of the use of alcohol. The chap
lain of the Indiana state prison helps
In this "era of education" when he vol
unteers the information that 83 per
cent, of the men In his Institution
owe their downfall to the use of the
product of the distilleries, etc., and
that 90 per cent, of parole violations
are due to the same cause. Collier's
Weekly, as well as other prominent
periodicals, take pleasure In exploit
ing some of the especially tragic and
pathetic "benefits” to be derived from
the purchase and consumption of the
wares represented by the combination
known as the Liquor Dealers' associ
ation. And the Woman’s Christian
temperance union, through its forty
different departments, “In close touch
with the people,” are helping might
ily to develop right ideas concerning
alcohol.
DECLINE IN OUR BIRTH RATE
Alcohol and Drug Habits Are Con
stantly Adding to Degenerate
—— List and the Death Roll.
An eastern life assurance society
sends out a publication each quarter
to its policy holders. • They are em
phasizing the fact that the health of
every policy holder is of interest to
the company and to other policy hold
ers.
From a recent address of the con
servation commissioner of the society
we quote these warning words:
"With all Its blessings modern civi
lization has introduced hazards, hab
its and conditions of life which not
only Invite but which have increased
in many ways physical, mental and
moral degeneracy.
"Our birth rate Is declining. Of the
20,000,000 school children in this
country not less than 76 per cent,
need attention for physical defects
which are prejudicial to health.
"The alcohol and drug habits are
constantly adding to the degenerate
list and the death roil.
“The diseases of vice are spreading
and we lack the moral courage to
openly war against them.
“Users of alcohol are especially sus
ceptible to the attacks of pneumonia
germs.”
VIEWS OF LEADING JOURNALS
Progressive Newspapers Keep Up
With Times on Temperance as Well
as on Other Vital Questions.
In a recent Interview with Mrs. L.
M. U. Stevens, president National
W. C. T. U., a newspaper corre
spondent asked the question:
"How do the temperance views of
the leading journals of the country
compare with those of editors and con
tributors who, ten years ago, were a
power in the journalistic world? It
is said that their best thoughts find
their way to your study."
"Journalism and Journalists have
kept up with the times on the temper
ance question, as well as on all other
prominent Issues,” was the reply.
"More than 160 dallies refuse to take
liquor advertisements, and nearly all
of the best magazines now exclude
them. Through the subtle use of
money by brewers and distillers, arti
cles against total abstinence and pro
hibition occasionally appear In the
magazines, for money still is a power,
but truth Is mightier than money, and
is evermore making its way. Lead
ing journalists now recognize that the
nation wide movement to outlaw the
liquor traffic Is an economic question,
and public sentiment Is fast demand
ing that whatever Btands In the way
of efficiency and prosperity shall be
■wept aside." '
Its Advantages.
“There Is one very good thing about
a circus."
“What Is that?"
"A man can’t ‘see the elephant' with*
out having a lot of fuss made about
It”
Prince Charming.
“And you really once saw a prince?"
"Yes.”
“Oh,” she exclaimed, clasping her
hands and gazing' with -awe into the
eyes that had looked upon royalty,
“what was he doing?”
"Trying to balanca. a chair on his
chin to amuse the chorus girl.”
burning,Itching eczema
St. Helens, Ore. —“Eczema had both
ered me for two years. First it came
on my hands then on my face, neck
and arms. My hand first began to
crack along the lines in the hand, and
a white rash broke out. I was both
ered with It A rash came all over
my face and I could not sleep nights
for the burning and Itching. I
scratched myself at night till my neck,
arms and face were one maBS of sores.
I could not put my hands in water and
my hands and face were all disfigured.
“A friend sent for a sample of Cuti
cura Soap and Ointment and he made
me a present of it and before I had
used half of the sample I felt a relief
from that terrific itching and burning.
I then bought four cakes of Cutlcura
Soap and six boxes of Cutlcura Oint
ment. I used three cakes of the Cuti
cura Soap and three boxes of the Cutl
cura Ointment and now I am entirely
cured." (Signed) J. A. Pender, Apr.
22, 1913.
Cutlcura Soap and Ointment sold
throughout the world. Sample of each
free,with 32-p. Skin Book. Address post
card "Cutlcura, Dept. L, Boston.” — Adv.
In the Stone Age.
“Here are sign words, professor, on
the walls of this cave.”
"So I see."
"They tell, no doubt, a tale of great
historical value.”
“Not exactly. This is just the lease
of the cave. Says the tenant must
pay forty clam-shells per month in
advance and isn’t allowed to keep
dinosaurs, pterodactyls or saber
toothed tigers.”
He Was Sure. .i
"Sir,” said a smart lawyer, “do you,
on your oath, swear that this is not
your handwriting?"
“I reckon not,” was the cool reply.
“Do you swear that it doeB not re
semble your writing?”
“I do.”
“You take your oath that this writ
ing does not resemble yours in g
single letter?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, how- do you know?”
“Cause I can’t write.”
Model of Housefly.
A housefly “as big as a cat,” exhib
ited at the recent International Con
gress of Hygiene and Demography
at Washington, D. C„ is now perma
nently on exhibition at the American
Museum of Natural History. This,
however, is not the real thing, but a
model 15 inches in length and 64,000
times the size of a living fly. This
model, the making of which required
a year of patient labor, is the most
adequate representation of the ex
ternal anatomy of the common house
fly in existence.—Popular Mechanics
Magazine.
GROWING STRONGER
Apparently, with Advancing Age.
"At the age of 50 years I collapsed
from excessive coffee drinking," writes
a man in Mo. “For four years I sham
bled about with the aid of crutches or
cane, most of the time unable to
dress myself without help.
“My feet were greatly swollen my
right arm was shrunken and twisted
inward, the fingers of my right hand
were clenched and could not be ex
tended except with great effort and
pain. Nothing seemed to give me more
than temporary relief.
“Now, during all this time and.for
about 30 years previously, I drank
daily an average of 6 cups of strong
coffee —rarely missing a meal.
“My wife at last took my case into
her own hands and bought some
Postum. She made ft according to di
rections and I liked it fully as well
as the best high-grade coffee.
“Improvement set in at once. In
about 6 months I began to work a lit
tle, and in less than a year I was very
much better. Improving rapidly from
day to day. I am now in far better
health than most men of my years
and apparently growing stronger with
advancing age.
“I am busy every day at some kind
of work and am able to keep up with
the procession without a cane. The
arm and hand that were once almost
useless, now keep far ahead in rapidity
of movement and beauty of penman
snip.
Name given by Postum Co., Battle
Creek, Mich. Write for copy of the lib
tie book, “The Road to WeSviHe "
Postum comes in two forms-
Postum— must be well boiled, j
Instant Poatuii is a soluble powder *
A teaspoonful dissolves quickly in a
cup of hot water and, with the add*
fj“." of cream and sugar, makes a do
bevera 8e Distantly.
There’s a reason” for Postum.