The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-08-09
NUMBER 27.

was growing tired and weak, and her
steps came slow and laborious-
'.Oh. it's so far, so far!'' she cried.
her breath coming fast. ''Oh, papa!
papa"
She altered q low scream OF terror
and half turned from the path; but it
was only a night bird that flew within
q foot of her, with .'whish" of rapid
wings, and disappeared in the dark
ness.
The great stars rose higher and
higher in the purple sky; a faint,
ashy light stole up the eastern hori-
zOn, and the sound OF waking birds
came from the patches OF sumachs.
Still the heroic child hurried on as
fast as her wearicd and aching limbs
could carry her. her face pale with
pain and fatigue, her feet and ankles
bleeding from coming in contact with
the ''saw-briars" that overhung the
path.
She had struggled YEARLY TO the top
Of a little hill, when suddenly a dark
mass OF moving forms broke on her
vision. She started-uttlrcd a low.
agonized cry, then turned half around,
and sank down n senseless heap in the
damp grass
\ band Of twenty mounted and armed
men were rIdinG along the dim road
In the direction OF Amos Lees cabin.
jim said BiI Strong, The leader
Of the party. addressing one OF the
men hat rode by his side, Il reckon
ole Lee'u wish he'd obeyed the in
functions NV the League when he
secs US comm"
Guess he won't have much time
ter wish after we git thar" was the
answer.
That's my unanimous opinion.
reckon it's hang this time, amt it,
Biu?''
You bet" and the speaker shook q
rope that dangled significantly from
the horn Of his saddle.
1t was during those terrible days in
the history OF Southeastern Kansas,
when the local warfare waz carried on
by the Union League, 80 against all
settlers who contracted with the rail
road company for the claims they had
sottlod upon. A large tract cf land,
covering nearly three countios, had
been granted TO the Gull Railroad
Company" and IN order 70 compel the
comDa1y to sell the land to settlers at
I the regular government price, the
Union League" was organized.
! The first action of the League
! was to notify all settlers not 10 con-
! tract with the railroad company for
/ their claims, and when n squatJer re-
! fused to obey this order, he was
dealt with in the most summary man
/ ner.
A month previous TO the timeof the
opening of this story, Amos Lee had
settled on a claim about three miles
( from the old military road" and
| erected a rude board shanty. 4 week
/ afterwards his wife died and left him
/ alone in his desolate prairie home, with
only his little ten year old daughter,
Annie, to keep him company and share
/ his sorrow.
He then resolved to return TO Mis-
souri,; but first he contracted with the
| railroad company for his claim, max
ing payment on the same.
This fact becoming known to the
! League, - he was at once notified to
leave his claim within forty-eight hours
| or suffer the consequences. But tho
/ next day Amos L8e had been stricken
down with typhoid fever, and the re-
! port reaching the League that he had
| failed to comply with their orders. a
| band of armed men was at once dis
| patched to the settlers cabin. with in
| structions to make an example OF
| him.
Hits about time" continued Bill
Il. e I
warnin' an ovderiu' an 60 ter hang
in, an sec if that won have the moral
effect Nv stoppin' these feIlers thai
contract with the land comp'ny; but
blamed If some people ever Iaru any
| thing till a rope is round their necks-"
The leaders horse swerved violently
to one side, then came. TO sudden
halt uttcring 4 peculiar snort
Bill Strong turned his gaze toward
the path ahead, and saw the limp fig
ure of a child lying il the damp grass,
almost under the horses feet. He quiet
" dismounted, and still holding the
rein OF his refractory animal, advanced
and bent over the PROSTATE figure be
fore him
'Tu be hanged y he exclaimed, 'ff
ithaint a little galr' And he lifted the
unconscious child in his strong arms
and turned her face toward the pale
light that was fast widening along the
eastern horizon.
'.What is it?'' asked the nearest
horsemen, refining in their horses and
gazing in surprise at the leader.
Hits a leetle gal, bin lynn hyar in
the road, an she in dead faint, pore
chnd!' exclaimed Billy Strong. laying
the child down, and removing his coat
and laying her on IL Somebody
give me -, has anybody got bot
tie with som thin refreshin' inside
Nv it?"
you bet" was the reply, as half {
dozen bottles were extended
''One Is enough" he replied, takin!
the nearest bottle and pouring SOM
of the fluid between the unconsciou
child's lips"
What's up? What all this meanP'
who've ye got thar?' asked the othe
men from the rear, who had just riddel
up where the little group was gathered
round.
"A little gal. as I liver exclaimed
one Of the men. How in the blaze
did she come out hyar alone this tim
O. the morning?"
Dunno" was the reply" but reckon
well find out for she's comm round.
"Oh, papa, papa! where IS m
papaP" came from the little girl lip;
: as she opened her eyes ana saw tn
men clustered about her
, "Tu be hanged if know, little un' ,
l answered Bill Strong, kindly, that
just what we wor goin' ter ask
/ you"