Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-04-25

listen intentiy, hoping to hear cough
or sigh or a spoken word to tell hi.1
of the presence of his loved one.
As he cautiously moved onward a
vivid flash of lightning revealed to his
eyes IN object like crouchine form
near lodge in the center OF the vii
lage. Dropping PROSTATE upon the
! wet ground he peered through the
darkness toward the object, and eager
ly awaited the. next flash. It came. and
seated upon the ground near the door
OF lodge he saw the form OF an Indian,
his blanket thrown over his head to
protect him from the storm The heart
of the young soldier beat with renewed
hope as the truth burst upon him that
the Indian was guard, and that the
object of his search must be in that
lodge.
The guard must be disposed of.
Much as he dreaded the shedding of
human blood except in the line of duty
on the field of battle, he felt that he
must allow nothing to stand between
himself and the success of his mission.
Making detour in order to approach
the crouching sentinel from the rear,
he grasped his hunting knife firmly in
his hand and stole toward the unsus-
pecting savage. In the darkness he
could see the silent form but few
feet distant. and gliding noiselessly as
Il serpent he in a moment stood over
his intended victim. Not sound. not a
groan escaped the red man as he passed
from sleep into death, and raising the
flap over the entrance Brown entered
the lodge. He could see nothing in the
inky darkness, and crouching low
upon the ground he waited for light
ming flash. When it came it revealed
to him several forms lying wrapped in
blankets about the lodge. Moving
softly toward where three forms We're
lying under the same blanket, he
the fitful torches of heaven to further
guide him. The rain beat with low,
sullen roar on the lodge of skins, and
the ground trembled as the thunders
beloved their way through the
heavens overhead.
1t seemed an age ere the lightning
again lit up the rain-soaked earth and
created sickly glare within the lodge,
but by the dim light he saw the pale
face of his love. She had raised her
head from its pillow of skins, and the
soft blue eyes were gazing directly
upon him
In an instant he was beside her, and
as he bent his head to assure her that
it was himself and to caution her
against making any noise, her arms
glided about his neck and she softly
whispered:
7
come. While praying to Heaven that
You might come to my rescue a great
peace filed my soul, and felt that my
prayer had been heard and would be
answe, ed, and when the lightning
came 1 saw your dear face in the gloom
of the lodge"
He pressed a kiss on her lips and
whispered:
I'VE must not lose a moment, darl-
ing. Arise softly that you may not
wake those who sleep near you, and
let us away"
Il am secured here, Ned. A rope is
passed about my body and the squaw
who lies next to me is lying upon it,
With his hunting knife he severed
the rope and they passed from the
lodge. Moving silent as specters they
traversed the village and soon reached
the horse in its place of concealment.
AS they approached the animal gave
utterance to a low whinny of recogni-
ton, and it seemed to come as token
of cheer to their anxious hearts.
1--WE must use all haste, darling, for
discovery of your absence will lead to
immediate pursuit. It is terrible that
you must bear exposure to this storm
and the long fatiguing ride, but you
must be brave"
''Do not worry about my comfort.
DEAR" she replied. 81 am strong. and
the exposure will not harm me in the
least"
Unloosing the horse he assisted the
girl to a seat behind the saddle, and
mounting in front of her turned the
animals head toward the fort. Throw
ing her arms about him to secure her
self in her position, she said:
''Now, Ned, this is splendid seat
and you know I am an expert rider, SO
push ahead as fast as the noble horse
can travel with its double burden"
Then away to home and liberty"
he said, as he touched the animal with
the spurs.
CHAPTER XVIII
The horse did not seem to feel the
weight of his double load, and sped
over the ground at rapid pace.
How noble of you, Ned, to risk your
own precious life for me-" she said, as
they hew along. ''An eternity of love
and devotion could not repay you for
your work of tonight
lone smile from my darling one. one
word of love from her lips would amply
repay me for any undertaking, no
natter what dangers it might pre-
sent" he fondly replied. did the In
dams treat you harshly, Alice?'
NO, Ned. but o, / shudder to think
of the fate they held in store for me
and which would have met tonight
had not this storm come on. There is in
the band young half-breed Indian
who speaks fairly good English, and he
explained to me that many of the In
dians' horses have died lately from
some epidemic, and the medicine man
OF the tribe told them that the Great
Spirit was angry with the people and
demanded Q sacrifice to appease his
wrath. He told them that they nust
make captive palefsce girl, and out in
an open camp must build q great circle
OF fires, and that in the circle amid dane
ing and rejoicing the maiden must be
bound and trampled to death by