The Norfolk weekly news. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1888-1900, 1899-03-30
VIII.
THE ANsw ER.

Weston kunuCl wnol tno snhTp report
of "a Winchester rifle split the stiffness,
accompanied by u scroooh that showed
an Apache had done duty rs n target;
then another and another until tho
guns seemed to be splitting from u dozen
different points.
Suddenly thoro was n jingle OF glass
In front of tho three startled ones, and
the %splintors flew into tho faces of Run.
dell md Edith. Pushing her aside, he
caught tho arm of her mother aud fore.
cd her, too, out of range.
"What does IL meant asked the lat
ter.
Your husband and tho cattlemen
have arrived not "A moment too soon. i
must give tn m help"
He started to climb out OF the win
dow, but Edith seized his hand.
eve may need you herol StayI'
"You are right, " no replied, stepping
back, with gun grasped, but seeing no
way in which to got in tho shot he
longod TO fire.
If there had been no shooting down
~ this time, there was enough now to
bring up the average. 1t was noticeable
that the shots rcccdod. There were four
white men who needed but "A few min
ntos to learn tho precise situation. They
found the dismounted Apaches mostly
Mt the front of the house, and they open
ed fire upon Thorn with II vengeance,
darling hithor and thither and exposing
themselves rcCklessly.
1t was not often that such II band of
maraudors were surprised, but 1T was so
in this instance. Had they known tho
precise number of their nssailants they
would have put up n bettor fight, but
the rapidity of the firing, tho vigor of
the attack and the h%ullabnloo created by
tho wrathfui ranchmon gave h I'M
preston that thoy outnumbered the
Apachos, who devoted their energies to
getting out of ont of tho worst traps III
which they were ever caught.
Their bronChOS had been left II short
distance off on tho open plain, i'll charge
of two of their number, who, rightly
interpreting tho cause of h tumult,
vaulted upon the backs of their ponies
and dashed away at headlong speed,
leaving their comrades to look out for
themselves. Frightened by the racket,
the other horses scattered i'll the dark
ness, their owners hurrying after them
as best they could. Nothing inspires
courage more than the sight of n fleeing
foe, and as the shadowy forms We're
seen scurrying Off the whites followed,
firing without being able to secure good
aim, but nevertheless doing execution
for, when the singular fight was over,
four of the dusky misCreants were
stretched ~lifeless on the plain, while
others limped out of sight with wounds
from which they could never recover
Convinced that all danger was over,
James Huntley and his companions
were admitted by the joyful occupants
One of the mon had received u Sigh
wound in tho arm, while n second dis
played a rel ridge along his cheek tina
showed how narrow his escape hat
been, and these made up the sum Of TIN
harm done.
The father Clasped his wife an(
daughter to his breast in turn, ant
thanked God that everything had conn
Ouu ~ Woll Wuou lOL - lthio ho ~
feared the worst. He was a5tonished t,
find Weston Rundell with his preciou
ones, but remarked:
~ knew that. wherever you were
you would give IA good account of your
self"
~ have done little, " he replied, EEK
oept to prevent Mrs, Huntley and Edit
from walking into the trap that tina
internal We.way-ma set for them"
"How was that?"
AS a matter of precautiop the doc
was secured, and the five men and tw,
women took positions to prevent an,
stealthy shot from reaching them. Thel
Rundell told of their experience witt
the young Apache, who had so complete
ly won the confidence of mother an,
daughter. His prudence and READINGS
of mind were commended by every on
of the male listeners, but the womel
their mistake it could hardly be ex
pected that they would unhesitatingl
admit it.
A comparison of expe. fence now dir
closed the curious fact that not one c
the -four men had fired at We-way ma
Most of the shooting had occurred a
the front of the building, where tn
main party were awaiting the appear
ance of the young Apache and his vic
Tins, One of the ranchers had splinter
ed the rear window, but in doing so b
aimed at a buck who in the gloom b
was able to discern wore no sombrerc
as did We-way-ma.
- think | saw him." remarke
Huntley, ''for u figure darted past m'
running at full speed and with a son
brero on his head"
why did you not shoot him." asl
ed Rundell.
sin the obscurity l feared he migi
be one of us, his headgear being ii
same, and before / could make oertai
he was gone"
at is too bad, " said Rundell disal
pointedly, for he is likely 10 turn I
soon with another band of raiders, al
us shall have all thjs To 90 over again.