The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-03-06

| WdlRlUR b1OWlY anu QtlueIat6ly, the
heart OF the army officer beating with
increased rapidity and excitement as he
perceived that her costume was not that
OF Sioux squaw.
Looking over her shoulder, the woman
quickened her movements as she per
ceived that number of warriors were
Watching her. A shout, a yell of rage,
and the braves started in pursuit.
The fugitive, for such she undoubted-
ly was, Immediately dropped the Gala
bash, and sprang away with the swift
ness of an antelope.
Paul noted the pale golden hair, beau
tiful features and rounded form OF the
| fugitive, who he made up his mind
could be no less than Rose, the far
famed daughter of the slaughtered
miner.
There was little time to think. as the
fair fugitive sped rapidly along, erlong
hair streaming in the wind, and the war.
riors in close pursuit.
Swift thoug gh she was, the foremost
warrior had all but overtaken her as she
reached the opposite side of the spring,
and he was in the act of hurlinp his
lance as Paul leveled his revolver and
fired.
The brave passed to the happy hunt
ing-grounds of his people without crv;
but the shot had alarmed the camp, and
fer few moments all was confusion.
Rose had uttered faint cry as she
caught glimpse OF Paul, but never re-
laxed her speed, while the army officer,
as he beheld the Indians mounting and
preparing for fight, rapidly retreated
in hopes to find a more advantageous
position where stand could be made.
He had but little hopes of saving his
life; the odds we're far too great; but if
he could cover the retreat of the girl,
who evidently knew the country better
than he did, and enable her to reach
place of safety, he would die satisfied.
His saber flashed in his right hand,
securely fastened to his wrist by
leather strap, upon which he should de-
pend after exhausting the contents of
the revolver.
He had reached one of the ridges
along which ran O fringe of bushes,
when a low familiar voice reached his
ear:
keep on, leftinint; don't turn your
head. We are here, sergeant and all.
The gal is safe. So--here they come"
On swooped the Sioux in all the glory
of their war paint and feathers. With
lances in rest, uttering shrill cries, they
rapidly closed in on Paul, when sharp
word of command, the fash of rifles,
followed by the riderless horses gallop
ing wildly to and fro, and all was over.
Charging upon the lodges, the SOL
diers encountered the body of braves
who had turned back alarmed by the
noise that they had heard. A short, but
sharp engagement followed; the band
was completely broken up, lodges
burned, after which the troops prepared
to bivouac themselves and rest awhile
on their laurels.
Dick assumed full charge of Rose,
who mourned the loss of her father, and
to whose care Paul delivered the sealed
packet containing the secret of the old
miner.
BY the ftful blaze of the campfire,
amid the solitude of the frowning Black
hills, Roger Claveripg's true history
WAS at last revealed.
He had once been a wealthy and re
spected merchant of Chicago, but
younger brother fore ed large amounts
in his name and fed, leaving him to
face the storm alone. The younger
brother had been his mothers pet, and
on her death bed Roger had promised to
protect and shield him. Nobly he re
deemed the word he had given. The
brother came out of the trial broken in
fortune and reputation, his wife dead,
with naught left him but the little waif
of daughter.
With her he had removed to the far
West, beyond the pale of civilization,
pursuing the occupation of hunter and
Indian trader, peacefully gliding down
the stream of life, watching his daugh-
ter blooming into handsome, and by
no means uncultivated woman. Then
the excitement of the Black hills spread
far and wide, he followed in the tracks
of others, and the sad finale has already
been told.
Dick then related how he had been
separated from the lieutenant, and
knowing the danger he incurred by
scouting over the prairie alone, he re-
joined the soldiers, starting on the trail
of his superior.
Everything was plain up to the very
verge of the precipice, when it was evil
dent Paul had made the desperate leap.
Then Dick was in doubt whether his
superior was alive or not. But follow
ing the course of the river as a forlorn
hope, they had fortunately reached the
ambush in time to save both Rose and
Paul's life.
Nothing now remained but to find the
treasure which Olavering had obtained
at such a sacrifice, and many an hour of
anxious thought had Paul expended on
the sdbject. There was but little to
guide him-a vague hint that might
mean nothing-still, for the sake of the
orphan, he persevered. "Great rock
cross-full n-shadow-dig.
Rose was consulted, but she knew
nothing of the haunts of her father, and
absolutely nothing of great rock or
cross.
Accompanied by the entire force of
cavalrymen, under the direction of Dick,
thorough search was instituted in the
vicinity of the old miners last resting
place.
In small gully running into the side
OF precipitous hill, huge rock was
finally found surmounted by a huge
representation of cross.
At the full of the moon Paul and Dick
secretly repaired to the spot prepared
to unearth the buried gold; and noting
the extremity of the shadow cast by the
rough cross, the two men commenced
their labors.
They were crowned with success, and
four large canvas bags of gold dust and
nuggets were dragged forth.
1t was the fortune of Rose Clayerinp: