Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-08-13

magnetized by the touch, so fascinated
by the beauty of her form and face, as
to be wholly unconscious of the act.
Bowing by way Of apology for what he
was about to do, he said TO the captain:
Gould speak with you privately"
Certainly" replied the captain.
Come this way"
Il have come to warn you Of great
danger. 1t is one that you may be
guarded against, but doubt if the or
dinary precaution will meet it. Bouton' 5
gang and fnlly score of renegade Indi-
ans are in the mountains TO the south,
and they are fastening this way with all
the speed of their horses. "
How do you know this?''
II cannot explain it to you now, /"
said Louis Kyle, averting his face.
But you should give me your rea-
sons for your fears as well as the WAN
ing" urged the captain.
do not ask me to do that l want
you to believe in my integrity. To ex-
plain all might lead you to doubt all,
for the honor of ones own name should
be very precious -
81 understand you. Here, give me
your hand again. The captain took the
young mans hand and continued, 1T
is terrible thing, very terrible thing,
for brothers to be arrayed one against
the other ~
81 would die to save my brother,
said Louis excitedly, ''but better that
he and all of the name should perish
than that great wrong should be done. -
Il agree with you. Better that all
should perish than that a wrong should
be done Better the name should be
blotted out if its purity cannot be main
tanned But pardon the depression.
When men reach my age, they are apt
to philosophize. I do not want to be
considered garrulous. !"
''Nor are you. Your thoughts, Cap
tain brandon, arc suoh az I daily thirlr.
But you have warned me not to speak
of myself when more important mat
ters are concerned"
'You mistake me-" interposed the
captain. But the young man waved his
hand and continued:
From the fresh trails 1 passed not
two hours ago I am certain that we are
now under the eyes Of Bouton's gang. "
you could not be mistaken"
mo His Indian allies are scouting
within rife range and waiting for their
leader to come out F"
And when do you think they will be
here?"
Before another sun rises. +"
"And what would you adviser" The
captain spoke in lower tone than
usual, and, bending forward, he anx-
iously watched the young mans face.
''If there We're time, would advise
you to push rapidly to the west and so
shake these hounds from your trail. "
''But do you think, if we We're TO
break camp NOW and push ON with all
speed, that W. could do this?''
II do not"
What then?"
II would at once build strong cor
raj ON the oank of the river and place
within it all your wagons. stock and
other property"
THAT is sensible -
''And within the corral should erect
defense commanding every foot of the
inclosure and large enough to hold all
your people. "
Good again. "
A dozen good rifles can keep the
gang at bay"
Until all our provisions are exhaust
ed?"
"Yes, if you cannot get help in the
meantime" +"
''But where can we look for help?'
II will find it," said Louis Kyle,
clinching his hands, while his eyes
blazed with resolution.
but where can you find it?" asked
the captain, who still maintained his
quiet but deeply interested manner.
my father will come to the rescue +"
''He is only one man. :"
AYE, but he is giant in strength
and a lion Mt heart. We have a dozen
Indians and half breeds ON our place,
on every one Of whom we can count to
the death. These are all armed. But ]
should not wholly rely ON them. ]
should send couriers asking for aid to
the mining camps, 60 miles to the
northwest, and to the military posts at
Keogh and on the Yellowstone
You are born soldier; but your
plans involve long time, do they not?"
''Yes, to a man starving it would be
q long time, but it would not be so long
to strong, well fed men battling for
their lives and the honor of their wom-
en-" said Louis Kyle with an increase
of energy and earnestness.
when do you intend returning?"
Not till my horse is rested. "
About dark?" and the captain look
ed out at the sun sloping westward.
1T will be better after dark. +"
So expeditions were Alice and her sis
ter that in a very short time Louis
Kyle was set before the very best dinner
that the camp afforded and large enough
to satisfy the appetite Of a starved
giant Had his real purpose i'll coming
been suspected, the women-they were
nearly all young-would not have stood
there laughing and declaring that the
stranger was one of the handsomest men
they had seen since leaving home.
The sun seemed resting in a canopy
of opaline clouds on the crest of the
western mountains when Louis emerged
from the tent. So great was the change
wrought in these few hours that he
could scarcly credit his eyes. The tents
Were down ard the arbors scattered
about.
The corral was up in n semicircle by
the rivers side, and all the stock were
inside Of it, with the wagons chained
about the central point, where the stock
ade was being erected. The people were
working like beavers and with cool
ness that surprised and delighted the
young man. The tent in which he had
been sleeping was down and removed
within the stone inclosure five minutes
after be had left it,
lyon see we are acting ON your adj
vice." said the captain without stopping
in his work of rolling and lifting the
stones into place.
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