The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-04
The aalnha 1au Eagle Thursday rino squber A. $50.

cneerTu1y compned with the request,
and each producing bis pipe leisurely
filed 1t and commenced to smoke, IS If
they had come thsre for nothing else
In the meanwhile DIR. McITor had quiet
ly drawn toward him small keg of
gunpowder containing about twenty-five
pounds. He deity removed the head;
then taking a candle and lighting it with
the same match with which he lit his
pipe he thrust it down into the powder
to within two inches Of the fame. So
quietly had he done this that the In
dams, who were at the moment A1gaged
in lighting their pipes, did not notice it.
1t was solemn kind of smoke. Not
another word was spoken ON either side.
The only thing that woke the dead 81
lence was the occasional puff, puff" of
a pipe that would not draw. watched
the candle with kind Of fascination
and saw an inch burn away. Twas fear
full lest spark should drop from IL, and
thus rob us of our full two inches of
life; but the candle burned steadily on.
There was but half an inch left.
remember that l wondered if the
plovers had begun to make their nests
in the marshes at home; if my brother
Charley had come home for the Easter
holidays, and if he would know where
the migie thrush always built her nest
in the big elm tree; but my reveries
were broken by a movement among
the Indians and muttered ''non-gom,"
meaning now.
Match-ee-ninie arose and with him all
in their hands. Mr.. McIvor, who was
watching them, made a movement
toward the candle in the gunpowder.
The movement attractedsShe attention
of the Indians, and they now for the
first time comprehended the situation.
A minute later there was not an Indian
in the store. They had gone out as
silently and suddenly as they had come
in, leaving US in sole possession, but
with the candle burui1ss dangerously
near the powder. Mr. McIvor now care
fully approached the key, and with
steady hand raised the candle from its
dangerous candlestick. Not one moment
too soon, for scarcely had he lifted it
clear off the keg when the few grains Of
powder which had adhered to 1t came In
contact with the fame and were ignited;
but we were saved.
The sudden revulion of feeling took
the strength completely out of my legs,
and sat down helplessly on box, until
the voice of Mr.. McIvor ordering me to
shut the door and lock it recalled me
to my senses. Mrs. McIvor olasped her
husband around the neck and kissed
him passionately. He was not unmoved
for the moment: but suddenly he burst
out laughing, and said in his broadcast
Scotch:
did ye see the look O the auld diel
when he caught sight o the candle i the
pouther, Maggier" But Maggie did not
hear him; she had tainted, and the man
who had been cheerfully looking death
in the face for the last half hour now
became as frightened as child when
he saw his wife in fainting fit. "Wil
she come around, dye think" he asked
in tone of intense anxiety. There was
no need to answer him, for Mrs. McIvor
answered the question herself by sitting
up and bursting into tears.
For some time afterward we lived pre-
pared for siege, but the Indians never
made sign again of attempting to injure
US: in fact they became Mighty civil,
and in the spring, when communication
by water had been re-eotablshed, we
had no difficulty in securing our friend
Match-ee-ninie, who was safely trans
ported to the far west, where he soon
pinned away and died. OF the old woman
who had done us such service could
gather but little information. never
saw her again; she had completely dis
appeared. It was whispered that Match
ee-ninie, having found out that she had
warned US, quietly made away with her,
80 that practically she gave her life for
mine. Can ID therefore be wondered at
that prize her memory, especially as IN
her l have found through long expert
ence the one solitary exception to the
treacherous ingratitude of the North
American Indisns9
Shortly after these events Mr. McIvor
received charge of a district on the Dor
ders of civilization. Nothing would do
but that should accompany him to his
new charge, and 90 faworsbly did he TO
port Of me to headquarters chat rose
rapidly in the service, and eFemany years
had passed was IN charge of district Of