The Portland daily press., 1892-12-13

mere Ei5s 81 W
.,You are very kind. Mr.. Hntchins,
to bring lis word of the trouble SO soon.
If you have time we will ride. up to the
shanty and report to mother. She Will
decide what is best for us. 6
Lee Hutchins wasnot preparedjto pc
hold the GOODNESS with which Lois Gil
bert met his announcement of the In
dian outbreak. He had expected to see
her grow pale and show feminine ter
ror. ! think, too, he was guilty OF
hope that she might faint away on re-
ceiving the news, just to afford him the
coveted opportunity to clasp her in his
arms and hold her there, like fiutter-
ing bird, for few delicious moments.
She did nothing, however. that he ex-
pected her to do, and he was fain to be
content to gallop away by her side ITO
the shanty on the bluffs
Mrs. Gilbert came to the door as the
young pair rode up, and Lee Hutchlns
was soon telling her all he knew OF the
Cheyenne raids
Mrs. Gilbert, like her daughter, was
not one to be easily excited and fright
ened, but from Lees account she felt
certain it would be the wisest course
that she and Lois could take to place
themselves in safer quarters. y,.,,s.
Her husband had gone to a little sta
ton about sixty miles northeast OF their
claim and would not return for day
or two. 1t would not be safe to await
his return to the shanty if the Indians
were coming in as large numbers as re-
ported. Had any one but Lee Hutchins
brought the warning, Mrs. Gilbert
would very likely have regarded it as
an idle Indian 'sscare," such as are not
infrequent ON the frontier. But she
knew there was nothing of the alarmist
in the ranchman's son, and she listened
to his advice.
AS soon as it was decided that she and
Lois should seek safety at Silas Jordan's
cabin, three miles down the river, they
began preparations to abandon the sod
dwelling.
They had only Hero on which to make
the journey to Jordan's, Mr.. Gilbert
having taken the horse and wagon.
They could not carry many articles
with them, but with Lees assistance
they took the precaution to hide some of
their best goods in small, dry cave up
in the rocky bluffs behind the shantyN
This accomplished, Lois made her
mother mount Hero, while she walked
beside her, her fathers large revolver in
her hand.
Lee was quite resolved that Lois
should ride his pony, and that he should
accompany them to the shelter of old
Jordan's blockhouse. But Mrs. Gilbert
would not permit it, as many others
needed the warning he was able to give
them.
mo, nor she said kindly but firmly.
s.We will get to Mr.. Jordan's all right.
Go and do your duty, Mr.. Hutchins;
warn others and save precious lives if
you can. Your pony is already tired,
and you mustn't go yard out of your
way. There are many women and inno-
cent little ones living over on Plum
creek whom you must warn against the
coming enemy. Go on, and God bless
you and take care of you"
With wave Of the hand the women
dismissed him, and there was no alter
native for him but to ride off in the di-
rection of Plum Creek settlement and
disturb peaceful homes with the trou-
blous news which he carried.
Mrs. Gilbert and Lois had not pro-
ceeded far, when the girl halted sudden
ly and said:
Mother, we forgot one thing"
ssWhat is that?"
"That can of powder, setting under
| fathers bed. If the Indians find that it
will put lot of ammunition in the hands
| of our enemies.
ssThat is true, Lois
"I'll run back and hide it with the
other things"
| Before her mother could reply Lois
sped up the little beaten path to the shan
ty. It took her only few moments to
conceal the can in the cave; then she hur-
ried back to HERDS side, and they re-
sumed their march in the direction of
old Silas Jordan's cabin down the river.