The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-12-18
THE FATAL SHOT.
IDr. E. II. Bliss in Waverly.l

III
DR. E. H. Bliss in waverly.I
A caravan, consisting of a dozen mule
teams, paused just as the sun, round and
glowing with a molten red, sank down on
the far horizon of the level prairie. Around
them on either side for many miles the grass
grew tall and rank, interpreted here and
there with a great variety of flowers. There
was not a tree to be seen, or, indeed, bush
or twig With great show of activity the
people unhitched their teams and built lire
in their portable stoves.
'.Y-a as, that's my opinion exactly. This
var spot about the center of the great prairie
is Just the lovelest piece of natur in the
world. You can't find its equal this side of
the Rockies"
az wasn't thinkin' about the blue grass of
nlynoi, ledge, when | went for 10 assert
that this ere was fine picter, with the sun
over there turning everything to crimson
and yellow-perhaps there might be inner
scenes than this, | repeat"
''Wal, Colonel Quenten, we viii leave that
to Lie. Here, you, gal, come here. What
do you think of that grass over there, leokin'
as II il was burnin'?'
Think? / don't think nothin', ledge
Long. it's far away, and / had rather tend
the bacon than listen to youryarns."
That's the way tbs with that gal; she
amt got so much sentiment as an outcast
Indian"
Never you mind, jedge, when it comes
mealtime you wont forget TO get your share
ofcorn-pone or fried bac and coffee either.
Let alone your fine talk about the perarie;
that don't amount to much long side OF
square meal. Now, does it?"
Decidedly" gruffiy responded the colo
mel.
The girl went about her duties, preparing
the evening meal for the two men and her
father, who, by the way, was as blunt spoken
and homely as his daughter.
Colonel Quenten and Judge Long were
quite original characters in their way. This
was their first trip across the plains, which
they undertook in the general excitement
then reigning about the finding of gold.
Falling in with Jonas Clark and his daugh-
ter, who were about 10 cross the plains, they
made an agreement with them whlch, be.
fore the first dozen of miles out from St
Louis, he had nigh broken by proposing 10
squat To fix matters more satisfactorily to
themselves, the two adventures settled the
case by buying the entire team, mules and
all and taking the old man and his daugh-
ter along "for boot" as old Clark expressed
ii.
They were now one of a dozen of similar
teams whose shadows looked like wigwams
in the semi-darkness that had now formed
around them.
Aftertheir repast the three men sat around
the Cali y SJONt duI SiuOhCui anu Ll1O uiu bhS
dish washing.
oval colonel, the wear and tear of travel
is tellin' on We mighty hard. How We
would like to be in Frisco, now, wouldn't
We, along with the nuggets ye are supposed
TO pick up on the way. There's no tellin'
how long Wen be in gettin' thar, though,
he added sorrowfully.
The colonel had lived in the west from
boyhood, and well knew what il was to share
comfortable farmers life and sighed audi
bly, at the formers remarks.
.'Ye kin Jest bet your bottom dollar wish
I was thar, back in Illinois, where come
from. These here wastes around, without a
shrub or a tree, do not please me or Lie
aary time, aud IN sl-e-'
What his next words would have been the
two men were never to know in this world.
Tor at the last word old Clark doubled him
self up at their feet a corpse, while thin
puff of smoke curled up and disappeared
lust around the corner OF the wagon.
.sWho fred that shot," exclaimed lie
colonel as both started to their feet I'D
seized the rifles.
There was not so much as a shadow to be
seen-nothing but the huge canvas OF tae
wagon Tapping now and then against the
wheels The moon shone brightly across the
undulating plain, but gaze as they would,
not sign could they discover OF the origin
of the shot Stranger still, the neighbours
camps around them did not appear TO be cog
infant OF the fact that a man had been killed
The men looked into the team where Lie
was sleeping.
"Wake up, gal, wake up weswant We to
hurry and get yer buds on, for something
strange has happened"
Old Clark lay where he had fallen, with a
bullet through bis forehead. There was no
mlstaking that he was dead beyond ven
ture.
When Lie beheld what had happened she
uttered piercing scream and then fell down
beside him.
mo use takin' the matter to heart, LIE;
what's did is past mending Your father
has been assassinated by unknown hands,
and who has done it is what me and the
ledge don't know; but II there be vengeance,
gal, il shall surely overtake the scoundrel."
A new voice uttered these words-a voice
that came from the opposite side of the
wagon Then the stranger came out into
full view-a perfect giant, dressed from head
to foot in suit of buckskiD. He bore IN
his hand rifle, which he dropped 10 the
ground and leaned upon. .
what has happened-a man shot, with q
gal a howlin' for mimi How do you account
for IN, strangerr
EASY enough; the man has been shot by
some sneaking coward who knows well
where to hide himself from our bullets"
'sYe don't mean to intimate that I'm I'M
der suspicion of doin' the deed, do ye? fol-
II We do, / can furnish proof enough thai
there amt SO much ground for that belief as
there Is that scalped musketer with this
yer bowie knife. No, Bill the Ranger Il
made of different KIND of stuff. That was .
snealkin' act" :,
I'VE don't know who did the deed" said
The colonel, "but it's been done, and wha'
we want to know is who the individual Is
that we may give him his Just deserts"
HGoodt I'm With yestrangoru,on that con