The Coconino weekly sun., 1895-05-30
stands open, an, thar ain,t no 1njun.

stands open, an thar ain't no Injuns inside it!"
 The shot-riddled portal was flung wide, with the two little lads in the middle, the forlorn hope sought new refuge, their guns speaking death in the passage. Ike Dempsey fell in his own doorway shot through the brain. Pat Grogan fell in the roadway, and at the same moment the brave who had shot him reeled and toppled down from his saddle.
 With horrible sense of sickness Pete saw a savage horseman bury his tomahawk in the woman's head, and then snatch up one of the children and dash his skull on the doorstone. The other little fellow slipped from the hand that grasped at him and stum- bled over the cabin threshold, barely escaping bullet; sharp whistle cut the air. Pete felt stinging pain in the shoulder, and fell to the ground unconscious.
 With an exultant shout at the de. struction of this last enemy, the savage band swarmed from their places of at tack and hastily entered the buildings, slowing away whatever was easily portable and making sad havoc in Grogan's stock of liquors; but they were not yet far enough from the res ervation to allow themselves long stop. The store was burning fercely; to force his unruly following to hurry, Black Wing fired the saloon with his own hand, the wooden frame blazing like finder. One by, one the sheds and shacks were ignited; three or four wretches, with fresh, gory scalps dang ling at their belts, rushed over to apply the torch 10 the only remaining build ing, Pete Oberlin's shanty. A young brave stumbled over the mutilated form in the pathway, and with whoop of delight waved his keen blade over the thick black locks. Just as he stopped to his victim, an odd, long drawn cry arrested his arm in its mo- tion. A wild and dust-covered figure | sprang into the blood-crazed circle, pouring out torrent of guttural abuse and lamentation that somehow com manded attention
 The old woman-for it was Wawaga bent above the prostrate man, way ing off the armed braves, and felt for the faintest of heart beats; then rais- ing herself to her full height, shaking back her snalsy hair, and with rude, powerful majesty, she commanded in her own tongue:
 ''Go, while yet you have time! Be fore the morning has ended the soldiers will be on you. This man still lives. He is mine; do not touch him; you have the scalps of the others"
 When Pete Oberlin, lying in his own bunk, opened his eyes on the dim scene lighted by the fiickering fire, he thought he had gone through horri ble dream. Kicking of the covers, he sat up with vigorous jerk; but the sharp pain in his shoulder made hin grind his teeth in agony. At the same moment he became aware of dark figure crouched in one corner holding a bundle of white. His sudden motion and muttered exclamation stirred the quiet watcher; stumbling to her feet she bore her burden to the pallet and deposited it beside him. Him live, Ill boy" she announced gravely. Pete sank back beside the sleeping child, with choking sensa tion, half thankfulness for their escape and half horror at the suddenly con | jured picture of the boys mother and brother. He remembered how he was wounded. How had they two escaped scalping? How came Wawaga theret Were the redskins still at the station. If so, he must use the greatest caution Perhaps they had kept him for torture The woman anticipated his queries.
 "Injuns gone. You go now, fore come back." ~
 Pete started again upright, main taining his position in spite of tht shooting pain and painful dizziness.
 (Which way shall go, and how?" ht asked eagerly. II must take little Jim Did them raskils get all ther hosses?'
 ''White man keep still! Wawaga ge pony!" And the old woman drew tht tattered blanket around her ant slipped noiselessly from the room, leav ing Pete to his own busy thoughts She was gone but few seconds before she glided in again, muttering: Hin ready! You go fort; no find Injuns."
 Pete felt sick and faint; he wondered how he could keep himself and tn, drowsy child on the animals back ovel the many miles of rough road that lay between them and safety; it was i'm possible to remain in their defenseles position, so he must make the effort He could not imagine how the squav had dismissed his assailants, and ht expected their return with darkness tc finish their programme of vengeance.
 Wawaga herself carried out the boy
 With good deal of wrenching ant pain Pete clambered into the saddle the squaw lifted the boy before him the man gathered the bridle into hi' useful hand, encircling the child witt the same arm. Before he put spurs tt his horse and set out on his perilou' journey he leaned toward the stunteG and squalid bag at the horses head, say ing, hoarsely: You're good un, Wa waga! I'll do as much for you if ever