Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-23


Mary, and come here and give me q
hug and a kiss"
At the same time he caught hold OF
her, but she tore loose from him and
ran into the other old mans room, men,
toned in the first part OF this story.
He was her uncle and an older brother
of her father. She walked him up and
told him what had happened, but he
seemed to care very little about 1T. He
ing when her father was sober,
he would fix it all up. AS
Mary came from the room,
she found Long Nosed Ned watching for
her, and he caught hold OF her again.
With desperate effort she threw off
his grasp, and spriuging from the door
fled down the path to the barn. Here
she hid herself in vacant stall. 1t was
not long until she heard Ned and her
father coming down the path, and to
save herself from being found she
climbed out through n square hole at
| the back OF the stable and
hid HERSELF IN THE WEEDS
behind the barn. Here she lay quiet
! until the barn had been searched, and
| then she heard her father say they
would go back to the house and get a
| lantern.
Scarcely knowing what she did or
where she was going, as soon as they
| disappeared from the barn Mary sprang
up and ran to the river. Her first inn
| pulse was to cast herself in and end all
her troubles. While she was debating
| in her mind what she should do she
heard the dip of n paddle Tor the stream
was quite high, and looking up saw
three Indians crossing in canoe nea
| her. They were Pawnees, and could
not help seeing her. They did see her,
and taking her white figure for spirit
uttered unearthly cries and fled back
across the stream and over the prairie
whence they had come. Their Cry
startled Mary, and knowing the men
wonld soon be down to see what it meant
she ran swiftly up the river. On and
on she went through the damp
night, her hair streaming out
on the wind behind her. Once
a grey wolf crossed her path and
| growled at her, but she ran toward him
and the frightened beast fled into the
underground. For hours and hours she
Travelled onward not knowing whittier
she was going. The daylight was
| breaking in the east when she saw u
rude cabin just before her, and drag
ging her tire: limbs to the door had
just strength to rap on it when she sank
down completely exhausted and tainted.
who is there?" came from within,
but there was no answer.
If you don t tell me who you are |
shall fire through the door," said the
voice. Still there was no reply. After
a long delay the door was partially
opened and a young man peered eau
tiously out. When he saw in the new
risen light of the morning u woman
lying on the doorstep he could scarcely
believe his own eyes. Tenderly no
raised her up and bore her into his
cabin. Then when he saw it was Mary,
his neighbor's daughter, of whom he
had thought constantly CT late, n great
Joy welled up in his heart and he was
as gentle and tender as any woman
could have been with her. She opened
her ewes and asked piteously.
"Where am !, what has happened?"
Then, as if remembering some terri
BILE peril, she cried out, "Oh don't let
him hurt me! Save me! Save me!''
You arc safe and | won't let anybody
hurt you Don't you know me? am
the Hunter of the Blue and you are
Mary Thompson. There now, you
are very tired and you
must sleep while l get
you something to eat. Go to sleep like
good girl, for you are safe here"
With smile the tired girl closed her
eyes, and gently spreading his coat over
|
young man turned away and went out of
the door, gently closing it behind hlm.
He sat down to think, but could make
nothing out of so strange an occurrence.
What had happened to bring Mary to
his lonely cabin and cause her to seek
| shelter and protection of him. He could
not tell. but one thing was certain,
there she was, and
HE WOULD DEFEND HER
with the last drop OF his hearts blood.
When he stole into the cabin later,
Mary was sleeping deeply. Now and
then a sob would heavc her breast, but
long time, and thought he had never
seen so beautiful woman in his life be-
fore. With such girl he might be a
man, and his heart rose in pride, and he
vowed he would try for her sake even if
he could not win her.
He cooked some fresh fish, fried some
antelope, made coffee, and did the hest
he could to get up something for his
guest to eat when she awakened. Still
she slept on. and on, until ut last, when
the sun was far up in the sky, he gently
shook her and she opened her eyes.
With start she sat up in the bed and
stared wildly about her. Then she re-
membered al, and as if to help her the
hunter said:
Don't worry. See, L have got you,
and laying her hand gently on his arm,
said, simply, Il believe YOU"
''But you must no. remain here" he
sald, "that would never do"
What shall do" she inquired.
$50 to Kearuey," he said. II have a
lady friend there who will take care of
you, and the commanding officer will
see that no harm comes to you."
How easy it seemed to Mary to obey
this man. She said not word in reply,
and he understood her.
Il am sorry have no horse for you
to ride" he said, mine is dead, but
we must go even if we have to walk" "
Then he packed up some provisions
for the journey and locking up his his
cabin they set out together on foot for
Kearney. The journey was not long
one, and
ALL TOO SOON
it seemed to come to an end for both of
them. The hunter found the lady he
knew, and on hearing her story she at
once took Mary into the house. Then
the hunter returned to his cabin, and
to the surprise of every one while at