Litchfield enquirer., 1872-03-28
nau t,getherl" cried the c,;de

! each with especial aim. Six mounted say ages fell before the deadly rain. i A panic immediately seized upon the survivors. In the midst of it, Whitman grimly touched off his field-piece anew. l This ended the conflict The savages with horrible yella beat an instantaneous retreat, leaving their dead upon the field. and dragging away their wounded. Armory had a bullet wound in his shoulder, and Arnold's eldest son had . flesh wound in his arm, but neither of these | injuries was serious.
 "Are you safe, Gay?" demanded Mark, coming toward her. -e ''Yes, but I'm almost smothered," an- swered Gay. "Have the savages surely gone, Mark2"
 Gay cautiously crept forth while she was speaking. The remaining wagons disgorged their crouching occupants, wo- men and children coming forth pale and trembling, but full of joyful gratitude at their escape from death, or 8 fate worse than death The camp took on it's usual appearance even before the retreating saw ages were entirely lost to view in the far distance. That night they encamped up on the prairie, and met with no adventure. A guard was maintained as on the previous night, but no Indians were to be seen.
 Every day for the week that followed the .encampment on the Little Blue was full of incident, but all of the pleasant sort, nothing occurring to alarm the emi- grants And at the end of the week, to their great joy and relief, they arrived at Fort Kearney.
 The emigrants did not halt at the fort, but pressed on to kearney City, where they encamped just at nightfall. Here Conductor Landlord found anoth CT train, the guide of which had been stabbed the night before by notorious man. who had escaped arrest. The train was offered to Landlord, to be united to his own.
 The assault that had been made upon the conductor of the previously arrived train was made a matter of discussion, and regret that his assailant had escaped was universal.
 ''I know the fellow who dirked the con- ductor," said Landlord. He is a per feet demon. I know that he has killed several men. 1 saw him at Denver last year. He had just stabbed miner from behind, and robbed him of all his money and gold. He is called Blue Jack"
 "Blue Jack!' cried one or two boys. ''What a name"
 'sThey call him so because one side of his face is blue, as if bruised" said Land ford. 'Looks as if the blood had settled under the skin.'
 The new train was bound for Denver, as Landlord had said.
 Two wagons belonged to men who had no women with them. There were five of these desperadoes, and only the smallness of their number as compared with the l ,AI T A- Ill A. to travel under his guidance and the pro- lection of his train.
 4 few introductions took place, and then the long train took up it's ipe of march westward.
 During the noon encampment, on the following day, Gay had finished her din ner, and merry snatch of song was on her lips, when one of the desperadoes known as Burk came up to her, and paused before her, regarding her with an insolent stare.
 s'Hallo, younker," he said grufly. T noticed you yesterday, and you are the prettiest young one l eyer did see. Got no father nor mother, eh? Going west with your brother, eh? Give us kiss. there's doll" In an instant she leaped to her feet
 Child as she was, she resented the in- suit that had been offered her with wo- mans offended pride and anger.
 ''How dare you?" she cried. ''Go away. If you touch me, I'll call my brother
 ''Ah, now, young one, you're fooling," he said insolently. 'sYou act older than took you for. I'll warrant no boy ex- cept your brother has kissed them lips o'Yourn and I'm bound to have one-so now!'
 As quick as flash, she drew from her pocket pistol Mark had bought for her at Leavenworth, and which he had since taught her to use skilfully. She cooked the pistol, and it's small dark tubes were promptly presented to the eyes of Burk for inspection He started back in unaf- fected horror and amazement
 ''The little vixenw he muttered ''She acts like 8 highwayman instead of shrinking girl. She beats all!
 T was only fooling," he said aloud. sI didn't mean nothing. Don't say noth- ing, young one, I'm of. And he hastened to beat q retreat to his own proper quarters.
 Gays light laugh rang after him mock ingly: ,.., .., o, ..n,. Jack would tame that wildcat spirit of her'n, and I wish he may do it, that's all. I'll make 'em acquainted, blest if I don't!"
 The train was ready to resume it's march
 ''Come up into the wagon, Mark, said the girl coaxingly. T have something to tell you"
 Mark climbed up beside Gay, his boy ish face full of tenderness and affection as he looked down upon his adopted sis ter.
 ssWell, what is it, little Gay?" he said, as she hesitated.
 s.Have you noticed that man Burk, who joined us with the other train at Kearney City?" asked Gay.
 ssPve seen him and noticed him." said Mark. .'Mr. Landlord has poor opinion of him. He's confederate of Blue Jack, the outlaw. What have you to say about him, Gay?"
 'sHe wanted to kiss ne back at the halt" said Gay composedly, land, as 1 you were busy, just pulled out my pis- to shoot him, and went off to the rear of the train"
 Marks boyish brows grew stern, and his eyes flashed.
 ''The coward and viilain!" he exclaimed. s'PH horsewhip him for that. How dared he?"
 .'Don't get into trouble on my account, dear Mark" exclaimed Gay, in alarm. "He's bad man, and he might kill you. He didn't kiss me, and have taught him to keep his distance, so that he won't trouble me again. Don't speak to him.. Mark, please don't!'' But Mark would not promise About sunset Landlord beheld in the distance solitary horseman, who, upon looking back and observing the train, wheeled his horse about, and rode rapid ly toward 1t. As he approached it, he As he approached it, he said:
 'tAre you the conductor of this train, sir? am bearer of dispatches from Fort Kearney to Fort Sedgwick. Will you -Q