Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-07-05

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boy, who was playing in the back yard.
Springing up ran to the window, just
in time to see Indian Jack snatch up
my child in his arms, and hasten away
in the chararral A terrible, frightful
thought instantly flashed through my
mind. He was going to avenge the in
generation of his wife by taking the
life of my poor, innocent boy!
There was no help at hand; if he was
saved, alone must save him, and with
desperate hope squirting me on, l
bounded out of the door in frantic, de-
ternined pursuit.
Believing his movements had been
unobserved the Indian had not made as
hurried flight as he might have done,
and before half the distance to the
rancherie had been travelled, was close
behind him.
Bring back my boy!' cried lin fran
tic tones. Kill me if you will, but spare
my child"
An angry grunt was his only reply
upon finding me in pursuit, and placing
his hand over the baby's mouth to still
his piteous cries, he quickened his pace
so as to keep out Of my way.
Still I ran on, begging in sobbing
tones for my child, but if it had any eff
feet at all upon the fendish brute, it
was to encourage him in his horrid pur-
pose, for now and then he would pause.
look back with an exultant, devilish ex-
preston upon his hideous face, and then
swagger off again with low, gloating
chuckle that pierced my heart like a
dagger.
In this manner the race was kept up
until his hut was reached, when he
bounded inside, closed the door with a
bang. and then locked it. In vain I
pounded upon the door, begged, wept,
and pleaded; the brute was as immova-
bic as rock, and I could hear my poor
baby pleading in plaintive, wailing &C.
cents for mamma, mamma, mamma Z"
The sound of my lamentations at
tracted the attention of score of half
naked, sleepy-looking Indians, who
rushed pell-mell from their cabins to
learn the cause of the unusual commo-
ton, and to them l renewed my plead
ing. No sabe!" was all 1 could get out
of them, and I returned to the doo1
again, knowing that Jack could at least
understand me.
He gave me no answer, however, con-
tenting himself with holding an ANNA
ted confab in his own dialect with his
comrades on the outside. What they
were talking about of course could not
tell, but was not to be long kept in
ignorance; for I was suddenly seized,
dragged loan adjoining hut, and rudely
thrust inside. With the sound of the
key turning in the lock as was made q
prisoner, and the feeble wall of my
child ringing in my ears, l tainted
the intensity Of my mental anguish was
| more than I could endure.
How long 1 lay thus I do not know
but when I awolle to consciousness all
was silent. 1 listened, but could no,
hear my child's plaintive CRY in the ad
joining hut. A horrible thought flashed
into my mind: Had the demon JACK
killed him?
My distracted mind had not yet found
the answer when the sound of my doo1
being unlocked was heard, and the mex
moment Jack entered my presence,
locking the door after him. I rushed
toward him, and frantically grasped hi
arm. "My boy! Where is he? Wha1
have you done with him?"
The Indian shook me rudely away.
"Ugh" grunted he. boy no good
Too much yah! yah! all tined
boyw
/ would not be thus put off, and still
| assailed him with my entreaties. HI
endured it with stolid indifference 70,
several moments, and then, as i
prompted by an uncomfortable impulse
took one hasty stride toward me anc
rudely clutched my arm.
You tell Jail man let my Julia come
back!" demanded he, savagely.
[ told him I would do all could, but
that it was now beyond my power tc
! effect her release
"You tell Injun lie!" cried he. "Jail
man let her go, you tell him top
again told him as had before, that
l was powerless to do as he asked.
The answer seemed to goad him on
to greater fury; his grip frightened upon
my arm; his dark eyes emitted fiend.
ish, wicked glitter, and, drawing from
his belt keen-edged dirk, he leaned
over me and hissed
you lie, ar:l Jack kill you!"
saw the cleaning blade ascend and
hang trembling above me-, and grour
of familiar faces all around, me, whom
at once recognized as the regular pa
irons Of the hotel.
| Tho A,,lk &c