The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-25


visiting in our family once in while for
year or two past. l mean Edgar Coleman"
"Well, as you are an only child, Ellie, l
dare say that you are the particular member
of your family who is responsible for the
visits of this young gentleman"
81 need not deny it, " responded Effie, as a
rosy flush swept over her pure cheeks; "but
as father did not come, and as did not hear
from him, became anxious about him.
feared that he might have fallen into the
hands of the Indians. Every day added TO
this fear, and at last determined to set out
for home without waiting longer for an ex-
planation of his on-arrival'
"And you did SOP"
eyes, sir. / joined a wagon train that
was Just starting for Santa Fe, and we came
on safely and pleasantly enough until noon
to-day, when, during a brief halt at a cross
ing, when everybody was busy, and while
was gathering flowers along the wooded
banks of the creek, this fendish savage
pounced upon me, stifed my cries, bore me
to his pony, mounted with me in his arms,
and got off unseen by wading up the creek,
and keeping to the cover of the bushes on its
banks"
"The villain !" calculated Kit ''He must
have been watching his opportunity"
''He was. 1t turns out that he saw me in
Deavenworth, before the train started, and
iubl uG lldS bSCh hONbIllp bDOub IL over SluCe,
watchingfor chance to seize me. He told
me so himself"
''Do you know who and what he is ?"
"Only so far as l have seen with my own
eyes-that he is half-breed, and a terrible
villain"
81 can tell you something about him. He is
called Fleet Foot, and his reputation is well
worthy of his name. do not pretend to keep
the run of many of his species; in fact, have
l. A II - e A.
far as the generality of them is concerned;
but this fellow has CHANGED to be brought to
my notice occasionally for several years, and
have never heard of him anything but evil.
AS he never follows any business, it's likely
that he gets his living-by taking it wherever
he can find it"
''He's thorough Demon" affirmed Efie.
''He talked love to you, 1 suppose?'
eyes; and at last, to save himself trouble
he tried to bind my hands behind me, and
then came such desperate struggle that l
at length tainted. This must have been an
hour since, or just before you saw mel"
''He has scratched and bruised your face, /
see."
''Well, he got about as much as he gave
me-" said the little heroine coolly.
''You have torn your sacque and dress, /
see, in several places, and soiled them"
''And lost my hat altogether. But 1 can
tie handkerchief over my head, and the rest
does not matter"
''Well, Effie, you can travel, anyhow :" ex-
claimed the scout admiringly. 81 am glad
to see you take your awkward adventure SO
coolly. But tell me where it was that you
began to recover your senses-to know where
you was?"
SIT was Just before the red-skin undertook
to run away from you l hope you didn't
think I was unconscious all that time. 1
knew thing or two, you may be sure.
must have groaned some in coming to, but
the red-skin was too busy with you to notice
it. At last, when 1 realized all that was going
on, and recognized you-that was when you
and he were talking so earnestly-I knew
enough to feign inconsistencies and watch
for a chance of deliverance. When we
tumbled into the creek, I fell upon the red
skin, as good luck would have it, and didn't
get so much of shock as 1 expected. And
this is the whole story"
'Im glad you Jared no worse" commented
Kit. ''And now for our prisoner l never
kill red-skin in that helpless condition, un-
less the outlines of blood is fresh upon him.
1t is our duty, however, to extract the rep
tiles fangs-in other words, disarm him !"
He suited the action to the word, adding
81 will carry away his weapons of course,
a mile or two, and then hide them in some
place where he will not be likely to find
them"
''Then you will give him his liberty? 1t
would not do, 1 suppose, to leave him where
he is ?"
mo, Ef1ie. Some of his four-legged rela-
tives-the wolves-would come and eat him
before morning"
ellis pony has vanished.
''Yes. He is doubtless miles away by this
time"
''Then the redskin will have to continue
his journey on foot 7"
Kit united his hands, but tied his feet, and
left him, Eflie remarking:-
''In that way we shall get good start of
him."
''That's the idea, rejoined Kit.
Then the couple resumed their journey.
The scout was well acquainted with an honest
rancheman named Woodbury., who lived on
the Arkansas, about ten miles from the scene
of this adventure, and they started tor it.
Conversing pleasantly by the way, the couple
rode forward at a fair pace, Efie knowing no
fear by reason of the scouts presence, and
Kit knowing none by reason of his matchless
ability and experience.
The sun was just setting when the couple,
after long and wearying ride, came in sight
of the rancho they were seeking.
E'There it is, said the scout, indicating a
dark object on the distant horizon.
The travellers had now arrived near enough
to the rancho to see its outlines distinctly, and
accordingly fixed their attention upon it.
''Ihe door is closed, observed Kit, as the
couple rode nearer, ''and SO are the windows.
But the proprietor is as brave as the bravest,
as you may know by the fact of his living
here. 1 dare say he has seen us approach
ing"
As they advanced still nearer to the lonely