Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-11-23
oasn Tor the reservation again.

QaSn LOT the RESERVATION again.
When the search party that dropped
back found the lieutenant, they turned
sick to man. 1t was not till Sergeant
Dowd flung a saddle blanket over the grin
ming, liploss face that they had nerve
enough to touch the body.
The long, fast ride killed his best poiiy,
but Ramona was in the msin camp the
night before the second count. He went
straight TO Bonito's lodge, SCRATCHED. on the
door flap. bat cis..sred unssiminencss.
Where lave you been?" asked Bonitc
without greeting.
Gathering my ponies. Tell me your
price,
Ramona was wild eyed, tho banda was
gone from his hair and Bonito knew that
he lied. But Bonito was an old man Eow.
He counseled peace and tried to hold the
young men in check, lest they forced tho
whole tribo to war. So he turned to Tinta,
crouchcd by the fire, with the corner Of
her blanket held before her face, and w..is
pcred, Go talk to Ramonep'
Ramona heard the whisper and strobe
outside
Tinta rose and followed him in silence
II give ten ponies be said.
Too little.''
II give 10 ponies. He spoke more
fercely.
''Too little, - she said in tho same calm
voice. her head still Kid By tho blanket.
Twenty pcnics-no more. No man,
no spirit would give more He laughed
a harsh, nasty laugh.
She pecped from the blanket. The moon
shone full i'll his face ard on L q yellow
Feather that be held CHI his upper lip.
She caught her breath with II gasp; then
said softly as cooling dove: Keep the
ponies Give INC the Yellow Feather, and
III go with ycu!"
He lost his cunning in his avaricious,
vengeful joy and gave her what she asked.
She doubled tie stiff, dry lip with the
silky hair and showed it into the hea,.ud
medicine bag worn on her bosom Then
he seized her arm and dragged her to his
mothers lodge
The Issue day, )" next morning, was n
grand roundup by order Of the agent, and
all the Chiricahuas, including The papooscs
and dogs, gathered about the agency build
ing. There was to be recount for rations
and to fix definitely the number and names
of those in the war party.
Ramona and Tinta were there together.
They stood apart from tho others, and
neither spoke, but not for an instant did
he leave her side.
Finally Ramona was called. He was
head Of a family and had to speak for HIM
self and those under him. He entered he
building to wait his turn to answer the
questions of The issue clerk.
Then, quick as a cat, Tinta was by the
side of Sanchez. She whispered a few huf-
ried words and pointed to her breast San
chez stepped into the agents office and
gave the information rapidly. Then the
agent, with two Indian police, passed
from the office into the issue room, and
before Ramona had time to think of his
knife he was on the floor, tied like calf
1t was q neat, sudden job for Begin
ming, but how was it to end? The pulse
Of the Indians was at fever heat, and the
arrest Of a subchicf was dangerous even
when conditions we're normal. Still the
agent went boldly on. He took Ramone
out Of the building, through Il crowd of
suiien, scowlng bucks, past the Indian
calaboose to the commanding officer Of the
post to deliver q military prisoner.
Sanchez brought Tinta to the command
ing officers Office, and there, with pas
sionate hate flaming in those marvellous
eyes, she told the Mortified officers Ra-
inone's secret-and showed the proof.
The commanding officer held forth his
handkerchief to receive and cover the sick
ening evidence, but she shock her head,
with a nervous laugh, and thrust it back
in her bosom. 1t belonged to her, and the
commanding officer, wise at the moment,
humored her right. He even did more
granted the request that she might go to
the suardhousc and speak 10 Ramona, al
though he did rot understand why she
should wish to speak to him.
The officer CT the day went with her and
ordered Ramona brought outside. The
corporal of the guard unlocked the cell
door and beckoned to the prisoner. Rs-
mono had irons Oh his legs and wrists,
bat he followed, stepping short, to the
limit OF the clanking chain. His heart
was bad, and he hung his head. When
be got outside. he saw at glance why lie
was called He made one spring and quick
as a fash raised his arms and brought the
iron handouts down with crushing bloy,
between the voman's eyes. Thenhe leaped
like bobbied horse ON stampede, max
ing fer tho cllaparral
Now No. did a sentinei's duty. He
gave three short cries of 'Ha1t!'' HaltF'
"Halt' and shot an escaping prisoner
Allen Smith in San Francisco Argonaut.