The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-05
A NIGHT RIDE.

| Yes, boys, they We lett the RESERVATION
an6 are killing and scalping ter bea
thunder. I met scout terday, over in the
Big Coolies, an he posted me-"
How many are thar of 'em, jack"
"Wal, as near as he could tell, thar wa
somewhars erbout thirty er thirty-five."
Glow are they of fer shooting ironsf e
didn't yer find out?"
II should say they was all heeled fe
keeps. The scout told me that they all hal
Winchesters, an hull lot of 'em had si1
got ter ride like sin Tomorrow, an gethel
in all the critters, an push 'em over intt
the Deep Creek country fer safety
hardly think the reds will navigate the1
way. So here's fer smoke, and then bed ,
The speaker, big Jack Burns, foreman Of
the L G. Horse Outfit, leisurely produced
pipe and tobacco as ceolly as if the murder
Gus Apaches were thousand miles away
| instead of thirty.
We were only seven men, counting the
Mexican cook, in the dugout attached te
the corral, and were employees of the big
| l. c. company; and well we knew what az
Apache outbreak meant, for we all had
suffered more or less from their cruel raids
But we had been intrusted with the horses
and we intended, if it were possible for hu.
man power to keep them out of the clutches
of the redskins to do SO, for we had all re
ceived many little kindneSses from the
company, and from the highest to the low.
est there was mutual good viii and friend
ly feeling-very different from some out
| fits, who treat their vagueros with far less
consideration than they do their horses OF
cattle.
Jimmie, did yer go down to the Cactus
ranch fer the six shooter cartridges?"
eyes; bet did, an got purity close ter a
Thousand rounds"
''Thet's kind er comforting. Did yer
hear tell of any news down thar?"
Nothing perticler. They was a-talkin
erbout tibet thar settler over on Antelope
Fiat; they allowed thet if trouble come
with the reds he would be in a purity tough
place, Specially as he are tenderfoot. I'd
hate ter see anything happen ter 'em. l
passed thar the other day and his leetle gal
come out and says, sorter anxious like:
Mister, hev you got a leetle gal?'
$50 / says, No, little sissy, hain't'
"tNor no leetle boy?' says she.
che war the first leetle un I'd seen fer
many day, an we he'd quite a leetle con-
fab, an then her mother come out, an she
war very pleasant lady, she war, an she
said she allowed that the leetle un war
lonesome for other leetle uns ter play with
They've got right young baby thar, tor
but the ieetle gal says that baby can't do
nothing but sleep an laugh an
II -
second big Jack had pushed open the door
and was looking intently out over the
moonit prairie.
what is it, Jack?" asked the boys as
they gathered outside.
ibid yer hear shooting?"
mo; but thar's shod boss a-coming
like blazes."
Yes, the thud. thud, thud of ironshod
heofs were now plainly heard, and away
out faint glimmer of dust could be dis
cerned.
Boys, I'm afeared thet thar's trouble
somewhars." continued Jack
wal, jedging from the way tibet boss is
a-hitting the trail we can mighty soon tell
now" said Hank Shower.
And soon the sight that greeted our ewes
showed us that there was trouble some
where, for out of the dust and glimmer
sprang a powerful white mare, while on
her back, securely tied to the heavy from
tier saddle, was the new settlers ''leetle
gal"
With astonished and anxious faces we
sprang to the mares side and lifted the
little maid out of the saddle; and big Jack
carried her tenderly into the Dr. govt, while
with wondering faces the rest US quietly
followed
Please, Mr.. Big Jack, Pve brought q
letter from pap"
"a letter, child! you've brought letter
twenty miles fer mel What in the name
o the Great Medicine war yer dad a-think-
in erbout ter send baby like you with
it,"
Il don't know, please, Mr.. Big Jack; per
haps he's hurt, cause his eyes were wet
and mamma was crying. Then papa wrote
letter and put me on old Nan and told
me TO keep on the wagon trail till got to
the lone tree and then head for the Black
canyon, and he gave me a switch to beat
old Nan, cause he said if Nan didn't run
good Baby Frank would never laugh any
more-and that would be awful So beat
her all the way and came drefful Quick"-
oho gOOSAlA AAOiAA GtiC mart UGdNlu2 SfQeS
the little one had ridden her for all She
was worth.
oval. give me Their letter, leetle IN, an
we'll mighty soon see what's wanted"
The letter had been securely fastened to
the little ones dress. but it was soon in
Jacks hands.
Sissy, don't yer feel like eatin bite of
grub and drinkin q cup of coffee?"
mo, thank you, SIR; but am sleepy and
very tired and"-
Juan, keep the child sort of amused fer
a mint, an, boys, come" and big Jack led
the way TO the far end of the room
Boys, here's the deuce ter pay" In q
low voice he read the letter:
ITO the boys at the Stone Corral-I was out
on the ridge at the back of my shanty. and not
over twenty miles away saw big band of
Apaches coming. They viii be here inside Of
three hours. My little girl Is good rider, and
the mare is sure footed and fast, so send this
by her, asking you for aid May God guide her
10 you.
If you cannot help rs our doom is sealed
My relatives live in l., Mich; write to
them in regard to my little daughter.
Hoping and praying you are in sufficient
force TO aid US FRANK STANTON
God knows l would not want help for
myself, but think Of ny wife and baby"
Tears were in our eyes as Jack finished
the short and rather incohe-ent letter. and
then-gocd heavensEto think that we
were only seven in all.
''Oh. boys. IL we were only e few norer'
What can we do, Jacks
"Wal, I'm afesred if we tried ter cit
help from the Cactus ranch it would be
too late"
DO the leetle gal know the truuhlesa
NO"
wal, let's ask her eff her dad hev got
shootin irons"