The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-07-23

! grant trains and was admirably ntted by
nature for al ambuscade. The canyon
walls were rough and broken, composed
Of great masses of huge boulders which
had been torn from the side OF the noun
tain during some terrible CONFUSION Of
nature. Among these rocks thousand
Indians could secrete themselves and
with their rifles hurl shower OF death
down upon any one passing through the
canyon. Posey was halfway up the
mountain when deafening and blood
curdling yell rose high above the inno-
cent prattle Of the children playing
about the spring. The opposite canyon
wall caught the sound waves and hurled
them back in thousand echoes. A hun
drcd painted Indians leapeo from their
hiding places there was confused rat.
tie Of firearms shrieks, groans curses,
screams. Posey saw that the emigrants
were attacked by an overwhelming force
and he sank down among the rocks with
shudder Of apprehension.
Suddenly wOman's scream rent the
air aud he started TO his feet and peered
down the arroyo. Alice Joyce was strug-
Cling up the rocky defle closely fol-
lowed by two Indians. Her long, gold
en- hair streamed behind her and her
face was white with terror. Poscy de-
termincd to save her. He raised his
Winchester took quick aim at the fore
most Indian, pulled the trigger and
instantly covering the red mans com
paniOn fired again. Both Of the bucks
dropped down among the rocks dead
and Posey ran toward the poor fugitive,
who had fallen to the ground overcome
with fatigue and terror. He raised her
up and whispered few encouraging
words into her ear.
eff We can only reach the top Of the
mountain" he said, eve can escape.
Lean on me and | will help vDu."
The trembling girl obcyed and they
reached the top Of the mountain with.
out attracting the attention Of the In.
dlans, who were buslly engaged in the
canyon below scalping the slain and
plundcring the wagons. Posey and
Alice Joyce had escaped massacre. To-
gcther they struck out across the noun.
tain and eventually, after many priva-
tons and much suffering, reached Fort
Davis. Poscy reported the presence Of
Indians and party Of soldiers started
out, under his guidance, to pursue and
punish the red murdcrcrs. When he
returned to the post, after an unsucccss-
ful search for the Indians, who had
hidden themselves among the rocky
canyons Of III Sierra Diabolo, Alice
Joyce received him ioyfully M her res
cuer from a fate horrible to contem-
plate. Tho rough scouts heart was
touched by her beauty and hclplcssncss,
and IN his blulI, honest way he asked
her to be his wife. She consented and
the post chaplain married them. After
n brief honeymoon the couple returned
to Fort Concho and Poscy built u ncal
for his bride on the right bank of the
middle fork Of the Concho. Very much
to everybody's surprise he stopped
drinking and cursing and was altogeth-
cr changed man. He devoted him
self TO his little wife and by dint Of much
hard work made the surroundings Of
their humble home very bright and
pleasant Ono of Poscy's neighbors
was II man named Ike Henderson. He
was married, had one child-a little
girl, six years old-and lived about a
half mile above Poscy. Henderson had
Il bad reputation. He was n confirmed
rustlcr, was suspected of being IL COW
and horse thief and had killed several
men in bar-ruom difficulties.
Several years before Poscy had killed
one Of Iiendcrson's partners and the lat.
ter longcd for revenge. So far whole
some fear Of Kansas Kits deadly six
shooter had deferred him from openly
declaring his enmity, About two
months after the scouts marriage, how
ever, both men were in Bcnlicklin to-
gcther and Henderson was drunk.
Meeting Poscy on the street, he openly
and grossly insultcd the scout. Several
saw the insult and expected Kit to shoot
the reckless rustler down In his tracks.
To eyerybody's surprise Kit turned on
his heel and walked away. This seem
ing cowardicc strengthened Ilenderson's
courage and he followed the scout up.
"Ye'ro big coward, Kit" he
cried, San yo're afraid ter face me. "
At this imputation of cowardice Kit
turned quickly and faced the rustlor.
The latter drew his six-shooter, but Kit
was too quick for him. He sprang for
ward, sclzcd the weapon, wrcnchcd it
from Hendcrson's hand and tossed it
into the street.
Look hyar, Ike" he said, aud his
voice trcmbcd with passion, while his
gray eyes fairly blazed; Eye lie when We
say I'm II coward, an yo know hit. |
fear no man, an least at all you. | cud
kill ye whar We stand, but | promised
my wife that I'd take no mans life 'ccpt
in self-defenso, an I'm going ter stand
by tibet promise. J."
Henderson was amazed, and the crowd
which had gathered, expecting
tragedy, turned away with audible
sncers.
kits tied to or womans apern-
strings" was one Of the bystander's
comment, but Kit turned upon him
tiercely.
EYE lie T. he cried, aud the man
shrank back among the crowd. I'm or
free man, but l made er promise tew
Their best little woman God ever created,
an. I'm goin' to stand by hit"
Most OF the men present remembered
when Kit was the terror of the town"
and no further remarks were made, al
though the crowd whispered among
themselves MS Kit walked away. The
story was noised about the town, and
comments on his strange resolution were
varied. The better class of citizens
commended the brave scout, but the
bad element sneered at his womanish-
ness, and some of them were found bold
enough to declare that Kit had been
John Branch play ali these
years. Fortunate for the niterers these
remarks did not reach Kits ears. He
went about his business ms usual, and
devoted himself moro closely to the lit.
lie tule-thatched "lone house" on the
liver bank. Henderson boosted that he
youll whip tho cnnuf IN a,ult o,.l go. |