Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-12-06

search for stock or eatable freight. From car
to car they ran, thrustng their rifles into the
straw. "Uh,' said an old buck as his rifle
found something soft in one of the cars, and
Bankers felt hurt in his short ribs. Laying
Lold of the side OF the car the Indian began
to pull and strain. BY the merest chance
he had taken hold of the car door and now
as 1t opened he thrust his hideous head inside.
Bankers could have blown the top of the
Sioux's head of, but he knew that to fire would
be to attract dozen redskins, against whom
he could not hope to hold out long. The
women scarcely breathed. The baby, full of
paregoric, slept as though it had already
entered upon its final rest. The other two
Indians had given up the search among the
empty cars and gone back to the station,
where the agent, having reloaded all his guns,
kept the gang hopping and dancing about the
station platform. The old Sioux at the car
door cooked his head and listened. He must
have fancied he heard something breathe, for
now he put his hands upon the sill and leaped
into the car. He had scarcely Strengthened
up when Bankers rife barrel fell across his
feathered head and he dropped like beef.
The schoolma'am uttered faint scream and
that was the last sound that came from her
corner for some time. The Sioux neTer moved
a finger and Bankers, having removed the
warriors firearms and ammunition, gave ,he
gun to his wife and then covered the dead
Sioux with straw
THE RELIEF TRAIN.
burned to the ground and the rain had nearly
quenched the fire. Every attempt made By
the band to fire the station had ended in
failure and the Sioux were now preparing to
storm the fort. 1t was hard for Bankers to
keep quiet in the car while the agent cold his
life so bravely and so dearly to the Sioux,
but there were his wife and baby, and the
helpless schoolma'am, who had been per-
suaded by the Bankers to come to this wild
region, and he felt 1t his duty to protect
them as best he could. Presently Bankers
felt the stock car vibrate perceptibly as
though 1t were being rolled slowly along the
rail. His first thought was that the Indians
were pushing the empty cars down near the
station, and that they would set fire to the
straw, and then there would be no possible
escape. Now there was roar, as of an APP
preaching train, and an instant later great
dark object hove in sight and rolled past the
car. 1t was locomotive, drawing a dozen
box cars and running without n headlight.
The shouts OF the bcSiegeTs. the rattle of
rifles and the wild cry of the night prevented
the Sioux from feeling the vibration, or hear
ing the sound of the approaching train.
The agent, who had been severely
wounded, now crawed to the key and called
Ogalalla At the first attack he had wired
for help, and now he told the operator there,
he could only hold the place for a little while
longer. The agent was still at the key
when the engine, rolling up to the station,
3,
he felt the culver of 1t that help was at
hand Instantly the doors OF the box cars
came open and company OF government
scouts, all Pawnees except the officers.
leaped to the platform Just as the band OF
Sioux were making their last desperate
charge upon the station. Before they could
realize that reinforcements were at hand
the Sioux were beset by the scouts, who !
always fought to kill. The battle was short
and decisive, and when the Sioux fled they |
left more than half their number upon the
field.
THE CONDUCTORS PLIGHT,
Probably the most anxious man in the |
whole party was the conductor OF the special |
train that had brought the scouts from
Ogalalla. He had ridden all the way on /
the locomotive and the moment the train |
stopped he had leaped TO the ground and |
gone through a shower OF bullets to where |
the cottage which had been the home OF the |
Bankers had stood. The sight of the house |
in ashes made him sick at heart, but there |
was still hope; they might have taken refuge |
In the station, and facing about the fear |
less conductor fought his way to the door |
BY this time the Sioux were giving all |
their attention to the scouts, and the con |
ductor forced his body through the shot
rddled door. The agent lay upon the floor
in pool OF his own blood. but he was still /
alive. Where are they?" asked the con-
ductor glancing about the dark room.
among the stock cars. II they are still
alive" was the reply which came in a faint
whisper. II saw them leaving the house
al dusk--go TO them-Im--Pm all right"
and the conductor, having placed the
wounded man upon his bed, made for the
stock cars.
Bankers, where are you?" he called, and
Bankers answered, only two cars away.
Now the conductor lighted his white light
md climbed into the car. The brave Mrs.
Bankers greeted him with a smile that
Don changed to tears. for In the light OF the