The Coconino weekly sun., 1895-03-07
A HEROINE UNAWARES
The Story of Western Emil
 grants Plucky Daughter.

The red sun hung above the dim, hay earth like a glowing ball of fire one smoky morning. Not breath of air stirred the rustling prairie grass, not breeze stirred the willing leaves upon the solitary tree by the spring. The soldiers guarding stage station c were chattcring together seated upon the shady sides of their tents.
 "There's three emigrant wagons blamed if there ain't!" exclaimed Pri- yate Knowles, incrcdulously.
 That's fact" declared Lieut.. Som- mers, lowering his field glass. "There they are, three wagons loaded with men, women and children and the whole country alive with Indians! Crazy people are not all in insane asy- lums."
 The men wondered and commented as the three wagons slowly drew near md halted near the spring. Perched upon the back of the huge gray leader, in the foremost team, was girl with a thin, white face, careworn and emotion less. The figure was that of child of perhaps fourteen years; the face was that of woman who had met with more disappointment than pleasure in this world. A man sat just within the white canvas cover of the wagon, while four or five children peered from the depths behind him.
 'How'd ye do?" was the mans cordial greeting, as they all descended. ''Seerns good ter stretch yer legs when you've been drivin' most the night"
 How arc you. stranger?" returned Private Knowles. Where do you think you're travelling to, anyway"
 "Wal, we heard as how there wus rood scttln, land bout fifty miles fur der on, an low there's where we're aimin' fur" answered the man conf dently.
 Are you idiots?" shouted Lieut.. Som- mers. "This country is full of rcd skins. They've wiped out nearly every stage station for seventy miles or more. They gave us call yesterday, as four poor fellows in the tent yonder testify. They're on the warpath on account of the little unpleasantness at Deer Lick, last week. Better stay here until they get guieted down."
 "No-upl Some one'n take the land afore us if we don't push on," was the sullen, determined answer.
 That's so. Smutty Joe writ letter ter Inderanny fer money ter scoot, an he won't stop fer no Injuns," said another of the men. We've got seven good sixteen-shooters, besides revolvers plenty, an reckin' we kin use 'em. Our wimmen folks ain't slow when 1t cums ter shootin' irons, l tell ye, an Jake's Nance is whole team with a rifle, you betl We'll go ahead"
 That's the talk" asserted the third man, while the women nodded approv- ingly, and the elf upon the gray lead CTS back laughed shrilly. 'If you fellers will jest let us bile the teakittle an water the bosses arter fodderin' 'em, we'll push right on."
 "It's no use to say any more to them. They're bound for the kingdom come, " said Lieut.. Sommers, walking away in disgust. "The commander better give orders to make 'em stay here, anyway. " But before the order was given the wagons were on their way across the prairie. The men watched the cloud of allsali dust which overhung the white-topped wagons until it disap- peared from sight
 'See to your arms and have your cartridge belts full. They are sure to call upon us before long, if they can reach us," was the order.
 The sun rose higher in the murky sky, hung like a ball of fire overhead, and slowly sank toward the dim west ern horizon.
 Still no news from the emigrants
 'sThey're dead - sure's thunder!' calculated Ben Long. "They never'd gone this time. A-h-h!" Each man followed Ben's eager gaze. Through the gathering twilight they saw the outline of horse and rider dash over a ridge mile away, An instant and it was gone, but the sound of horses .hoofs came nearer and nearer until out of the gloom dashed the great gray Header.
 His rider was elfin Nance Her face was triAe pale perhaps, but as emo tionless as when she left the camp IT the morning The call to boots anc saddles sounded before the painting horse stopped, and the troopers rar hither and thither in confusion ano haste.