Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-04-22
WIVES AND WIDOWS.

u WIS June day IN ARIZONA AT hoO
erts's ranch on the ella, there was q feeling
of perfect peace and security, and the sur
climbed high into the heavens. Roberts Wa
planting in a field half a mile from the stout
log cabin, while his wife was busy with house
hold cares. There were horses and cattle in
an enclosure a quarter of a mile from the
house, and a pony, which was permitted tc
ramble at will, cropped the grass around the
cabin.
Such was the situation when the wife heard
two or three rifie-shots and the war-whoops
of Indians. She sprang to the door to SEE
that her husband was making for the houst
at his best speed, while three Indians followed
him up and fired as they ran
Geronimos Apache devils had broken loose
and taken the war path
The ranchmans wife understood at a glance
what was occurring. Her heart gave one
great throb, a terrible weakness overcame her
for an instant, and then she seized the Win
chester rifle from its hooks, grabbed the long
barreied navy" from its holster. and ran
with all speed to meet her husband. He fell
before they met, shot in the back; his left
arm had been previously broken by q bullet.
@Mollie, the red devils are loose, " he said, as
she came up and kneeled beside him
IF there are only three we can beat them
off," she replied, as she made ready to open
fire
The Indians had halted within rife-shot to
counsel Her first shot bored ono of them
through and through, and the other two re-
treated TO broken ground half mile away.
"I'll carry you to the house and then watch
for Them she said, as they disappeared
Blood was pouring from his wounds and ooz-
ing from his mouth and it was plain that he
had been NOR lily hit.
'It's no use, he groaned. ~Tve got to die
right here. In half an hour there'n be fifty
of EN- and they are sure to capture youn
"Ill stay with you
"Not another moment, Run to the house,
get all the cartridges, and then mount the
pony and ride to Glpin's. The upper trails
clear.
-Oh, George, can't leave you"
The revolver was under his band. His fin
gers clenched over the butt, and he whispered:
"Moliie, kiss me-"
She bent over him with a sob in her throat,
and his hand worked the revolver around
until the muzzle touched his side There was
a smothered report, and she sprung up to see
his limbs stiffen in death. She did not scream
out-she did not totter and faint. She i'm
printed a kiss on the dead face, and as she
rose up her teeth We're set hard and her eye
had the glare of a wounded VOLTS. She ran
to the house, taking rifle and revolver with
her, and in five minutes was galloping toward
McGilpin's, having neither a saddle nor bride.
and holding fast to weapons and cartridge
As she left the ranch bullets whistled about
her bead, and shouts of vengeance come to
her ears
1t was just such June day at McGiiDin's,
five miles above. The sun beat down with a
warmth which called the crickets from their
nests in the grass and kept the wild bees
humming their satisfaction. The ranchman
was fashioning a new helve for his in the
shade, and his wife had the monday meal
ready for the table Suddenly the old man
looked up, and next instant he was on his feet
and shading his eyes with his hand.
"Jehosaphat. Quick, mother fasten the
back door, down with the windows, and pull
the shutters TO. Roberts wife is coming up
the trail with dozen mjuns after her. Hell
has broke loose again"
He seized his Winchester and ran down the
trail 10 cover the approach of the woman. Her
pony seemed 10 understand that it was life or
death, and was straining every nerve. The
Indians had not followed her from the ranch,
but had come in on her from the Santa Cruz
river trail, and had kept her under fire for the
last two miles. As soon the ranchman APP
peared, the Indians, eleven in number, drew
rein.
@Whar's George.7 asked McGilpin, as the
pony halted beside me.
"Doad,r
@And the bucks are in war paint. Go in |
side, woman It's no time for grief"
Owing TO the river on one side and the wire |
fence on the other, the Indians could not
scatter at once. They must approach the
ranch under tine ranchmans fire, if at all |
He waited for them, but they hesitated and
held consultation. During this respite the |
women made the house secure, filed a barrel
with water, and turned a number of horses |
loose and forced them to cross the river. |
While they were accomplishing these objects |
q part of the Indians were cutting the fences |
and the rest Were in consultation. The ranch |
man stood like rock, his eyes noting the |
slightest movement, his breath coming faster, |
and a feeling in his heart that this was his |
last day on earth. A pillar of black smoke |
told him that Roberts ranch was being de |
stroyed, to the west and another TO the east |
betrayed the fate OF another neighbor.
When the Indians had cut the fences to |
give them fair approach to the house, war
rior started up the trail with white hand |
kerchief III his hand a flag of truce. Ap- |
preaching within revolver shot, he halted |
and called out:
Indians no hurt,, Indians want dinner!" |
The quick eye of the ranchman detected |
two disnounted redskins lodging from cover |
TO cover TO gain the of the house. The |
idea was TO parley until they We're in posi- |
ton
sIndians go way after dinner-no hurt any
body-no take horses!n shouted the flag |
bearer.
With a movement SO quick that the other |
had not time to prepare for it, the ranchman |
brought his rifle TO an aim. There was a LOUD |
report, and the buck fell from his horse. A. |
he tumbled from his saddle the pony made a |
Jump or two. but there was another report |
and the beast rolled over. Next instant there |
was shot from the cabin, and one Of the pain |
OF skulkers uttered his death veil When the |
smoke rose the raIichman was no longer 10 he |
seen. He had reiterated To the house. Filled /
with chagrin and desire for vengeance the |
Indians now dismounted and crept nearer
and in few minutes the cabin was being Us
sailed from every part Of the compass.
Within there were two palefaced women
and grim determined man The structure
was roughly built of planks and logs. undi |
vided by partitions. There were only fouI |
windows, and these were protected by stout
shutters, which were pierced with loopholes
The weapons were two Winchester rifles and
two revolvers. The ranchmans first move
after getting inside was TO divide his forces sc |
rs TO cover the windows. He then pulled out |
the thinking at the corners of the cabin &c |
make other loopholes, and each of the trio took |
n post of observation ard defence. Scarcely /
a word had been exchanged since the arrival |
OF Mrs. Roberts. Each had reasoned out for |
hin,selr or herself: "A gang Of ApacheS have
broken loose from their reservation and art
ON the warpath. They will burn and slay
until force can he raised TO overpower them.
Surrender means 20 be burned at the stake
A desperate resistance may drive them off"
There was Roberts. the husband Of year.
lying dead and scalpei and horribly mutilated
on his freshly planted field. His stock had
heen shot down or driven off, and the rel
flames had licked ug his cabin. but there wer
no tears in the blue eyes of the wife Is sh, |
peered from once Of the loopholes Tears would
have dimmed her vision, and watchful eye
were needed there.
For an hour or more the Indians main
tanned an uEceaSiag fire, hut without in
fiic,ing the least damage. They were then
joined by party Of seven, coming from tho /
east, and it soon become evident that some
decisive step was 10 be taken
Il know what they viii do said the ranch
man. as the reports of rifles died away. |
@They will divide into three or four parties !
and asSail the hou,. from rs many sides IL |