The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-02-13

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''Taint no manner of use, stranger my duty
TO YOU, all the same, replied the rider, after
swallowing small quantity of spirits. I've
got my finish at last. A chap that's fit in the
border fights ever since he could squint along
gul., don't need no doctor to tell him when
he's got goss, he don't.
could not disguise from myself that Shem
was right. His face showed CHASTITY change
it was ashen white, pinched and thin; while the
lips twitched and the eyes had acquired that Pc
culiar eager glance and restless craving bright
ness, which we never notice except in those
over whom death hovers. But l tried to cheer
the poor fellow succeeded in staunching the
blood that flowed from his arm. transported by
two of the iron tipped reeds; and begged him
to keep up his hope and courage.
''Taint worth wasting words upon, mister,
gasped Shem knowed I'd my call onst
felt the cold and the ranking pain that follered
the smart of that cussed arrow in my ribs. I'm
lust bleeding to death inwardly, l am and all
the surgeon chaps in the States couldn't help
me, no, nor yet the cleverest boneSetter in the
pararas. But you cheated the ours out of my
scalp stranger They had banker oget this
ha'r, they had, to dance ronnd iu their darned
village, them Shoshonies My! How the squaws
will ieer mock 'em when they come empty fist
ed, and leavin' two of the pack behind 'em,too
And Shem, with death in his face and at his
heart, actually laughed. He had to catch pain
fully at his breath before he spoke again. 'Stran-
ger,t's an i'll wind blows nobody any good. You
bark t o me- What I,couldn' give you, nouther
for dollars nor AKIN, you'll get now. Go on to
the station take this here mail bag along give
it to 'em and tell en the rights of what's chanc-
ed They'll turn out fast enough, I'll warrant,
and they'll put me under the turf afore the
wolves pick my bones. And another rider must
go on with the bag. And tell 'em 'twere my
dyin wish they'd give you fresh boss at each
block, and so let you go with the rider and push
ahead. The Co. won't be riled at the breach of
rules, seem you saved the bag, let alone my
scalp, and
He broke down here. l was quite melted at
the unselfsh thoughtfulness of this poor dying
crea tnre, this untaught, hahwild frontier man,
who would care for my speedy journey while
his own vital breath was trembling on his livid
lips / gave him third sup of whiekey begging
him TO let ME know if could communicate his
last wishes to any distant friend or relation.
There's gal that lives to Hampton Town,
said Shem, almost i'll whisper, the darter OF
a dealer that trades in mules, she be; and Ruth
and I-Oh, It's a pity the wedding day were
put off, cause the Co. gives pensions to wives,
aud none to sweethear.s, and Ruth's father met
with misfortius in trade land she'd ha' been glad
of few dollars year, poor thing.
l asked his sweet hearts name as assur-
ed him, felt certain that the house of Spauld-
ing and HausermaGn would befriend her for his
sake, if through the service had rendered Shen
l We're really enabled to do my errand with
success otherwise unattainable.
Ruth Moss said Shen. in weak voice
that's her surname and given name. She's Il
good girl, pretty and good, is Ruth. and only
too tender IA flower'for a rough borderpan like
me goes to chapel regular, and writes like a
print book
He then begged that l would send to Ruth a
certain knot of ribbon which he had received
from her as keepsake, or merely snatched from
her in a lovers whim, DO not know which at
any rate found 1t carefully wrapped in deer
skin, in the bosom of his dress but an with
deep dark stain of blood marring the gay blue
If the silk. The arrow had passed nearly thro
that humble 10 We token. Shem further prayed
me that, as passed by the Round Pond Sta
ton, between Fort Bridge and Red Creek,
would tell his old father, Amos Grindrod, that
he, Sheln, had died like a man
The old man'l be cut up, I'm afraid muir
INJURED Shem, whose eyes were getting dim; but
he'll be clad to know my ha'r want lifted. Tell
him / were wiped out by the hand OF Mad But
falo, the Shoshonie. 'Twar Mad Buffalo hissef
that seni the arrow through me just as kiver-
ed him with the carbine. The skunk /! Many
a noggin of drink I've given him when he come
tradin' 10 the fort. But there war grudge
atwten him and me, and he's ped it; but let
him mind low he ever comes within range Of
old Amos Grindrod's rife.
ShenI was anxious to know whether the In
dian | had shot was quite dead, and what paint
ed device his half naked body bore. His own
ola,ipg ewes could not distinguish but when
described the yellow OGRE barred with white he
he said it must De the Little Owl, one of Mad
Bufialo's best warriors. The other Indian was
of sii ghter make, and daubed with black and
ve,rnillion. Beth were stone dead. Shem asked
me. halt iinidly, ifs would be so good as to re-
neat a hit of Scripture He had not been
much of chapel goer, but Ruth had got re-
ligion,' and his m other, too, had been Chris
tan woman as he quantity observed. lknelt
down beside him and held up his head as ut
tered aloud the words of brief and simple
prayer. such as little children are taught to
lisp with their innocent lips and once or twice
heard the husky tones of the dying man re-
peat the words. But there was strong shlVer
through his frame, and poor Shem Grindrod was
dead before the prayer was prayed out
About an hour later,I rode up to the station,
moputed on my own horse, and leading Shem's
by the bride.
Halloa pull up, pull up, or I'll plug ye, as
sure as my names Bradshaw !! shouted stern
voice through loophole of the lonely block
house; and saw the long clouded barrel of a
frontier rife pointed in my direction. halted
of course.
That's one of our hosses! cried second
voice the critters stole it, reckon! What
s he n
L am friend called outj traveller from
California. Let me come in and / will explain
ALL
The garrison held short but animated de-
hate. One man a~owed his belief in the truth
If nv story another broadly hin ted that l might
turn out to be white Indian, that / merely
wanted to open the doors of the fortress to my
ferocious alhes ambushed somewhere hard Oy'