The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-27

her: Jim standing alone amid that RIM
of cruel faces.
She gazed pitifully at him.
"Go away. Dolly" said Big Ben
"you've nothing to do with him. He
thief"
Dolly's eyes sought Jim's for a denial
AS he met them with his own reck
less. defiant ones, something else fashet
into them, and then and there he uttered
downright lie: Don't you believe 'em
Dolly; l amt nothing of the sort" And
half involuntarily, he threw wistfu
glance at Big Ben.
Spite of his roughness Big Ben mus
have had a soft spot somewhere, for
bending down to Dolly, he said gently
"There, you see, Dolly, must hav'
been mistook. This ERE fellow. instead
of being thief, is wirtuous youth, al
innicent angel, in fact. Now run away.
So Dolly departed satisfied.
| After she left silence and hesitation
fell upon the men. The little scene haG
touched them. After whispered con
sultation the judge, stepping forward
cut the cord round Jim's wrist, saving
CURLY, "Here, you young scoundrel
we'll let you off this time. But cleal
out of this; we don't want no thieves
here"
Without word Jim turned on his
heel. Some men would have left the
place at once. Jim was made of differ
ent stuff. Expelled from the camp he
built himself cabin Oh the outskirts,
not trying to live the disgrace down, but
enduring it with the logged obstinacy
which was part of his nature. The
miners, even Big Ben, ignored him com
pletely; for Ben, for all that instant of
softness, had certain rugged fibers of
pride about him which led him to treat
thief with merciless justice.
The effects of this severely letting
alone" system were not very apparent,
which was no doubt the reason of its be-
ing carried on so long If Jim had only
shown proper spirit of penitence he
would have been forgiven. But, except
that he was trihe surlier, he went on
his way pretty much as before, even
Dolly being treated in public with savage
silence But as she was not alienated
there is reason to suppose that he mended
his manners when they were alone to-
gether. For together they still were at
times; and although muttered protests
went up from the camp on such occa-
sions not a man but had manliness enough
to refrain from making Dolly part of
Jim's punishment. So she and dim"
and Red Mustang had many a fine
scamper together over the prairie.
But there came time when Jim and
Red Mustang between them were to do
a fine work-a time when a sudden dan
ger doomed out, and Jim rose to it like
the brave man that he was-when with
clenched teeth he subdued the demon
within him, and proved that on occasion
he was ready, not for all he could get,
but to give up all that he had. For a
savage "whoop" rang out one night on
the unsuspecting camp. Men knew what
it was, and sprang to their feet with
snarl of rage. Rifle in hand they rushed
out.
"Injin," said the judge, coolly loading
his rife, and in the moonlight cleaned
the dusky painted figures. There was
little love lost between Injun and white
man. The "man-and-a- brother" theory
had not been propounded on either side.
1t was war to the knife on both. ''Steady!
boys, steady" said the judge, to whom
such scenes were by no means new.
Ready there? Now-at 'em!"
And sat 'em" it was Down swung
the muskets, out flashed the shot, and
with look that was not good to see
upon their faces the boys began their
work-sharp work-butchery. The saw
ages swarmed into the camp only to be
cut down. 1t was soon over. But the In
dams had fought bravely, and, old, tried
hand as he was, an uneasy light had
leaped to the judges eye. cit was a
close shave" he muttered. wiping the
great drops of sweat from his brow as he
watched the fleeing band - "a close
shave. A little more, and The
pause wac suggestive.
The day v1-as already breaking when
the judge turned in home. Hope the
little lass hasn't been scared" he
thought; and, involuntarily, a queer,
tender CLEAN passed over the weather
beaten face as he thought of his ''httle
lass"
Dolly he said, opening the cabin
door. There was no answer Dolly
and then again a little quicker, Dolly"
Again that night the men were aroused
by cry-an awful cry, wrung from a
strong man in pain; and when they hur-
ried forward it was to find the judge
with the fashion Of his face all changed,
pointing to the empty cabin, on whose
floor shone the CLEAN of tomahawk
That and the confusion of the place told
its tale ali too plainly-Dolly had been
carried off by the Indians!
And not man among them but shud-
dered, for Indian revenge is very hor-
r1ble thing at its best, and the pitiful
of little child would have
no weight with Blackfoot warrior on
the warpath, especially if the child's
people had defeated his own.
In the dazed silence Jim stepped for
with his shoulders we'll
squared and a resoiute look on his face.
He eyed the group rather scornfully.
Going to stop here all day." he asked.
'Bein' as this is just the right time to
give your horses rest. I'm off, And
so he was. he and Red Mustang together,
racing over the plain. But not before
l. ! -
grip, saying, with a totally unexpected
catch in his voice. ''Jedge, if l can I'll
bring her back Not much, but it
meant a great deal.
Thoroughly reused. the rest followed