Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-03-09
THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS THURSDAY, MARCH g. 1899.

ready to begin, she cast sweeping
scrutiny around the country. She had
no thought of any impending danger
hut was frightened to descry not far to
the northward party of Apache horse
men approaching on "a gallop.
She called out the alarming news to
her mother and then looked in tho op-
posite direction for her friends. The
forms of two horsemen far to tho sonth.
ward left no doubt Of their identity,
and she set the mirror to work with the
result that has already been made
known to the reader.
She was thus engaged intent in her
duties, when her mother, who was
closely watching the hostiles, called to
her that they were so near that it was
not safe for her to remain on the roof
another minute. Edith turned her star
tied gaze again to the northward and
was SO scared by tho near approach Of
the Apaches that she abandoned her
signaling in the midst of a sentence,
stepped through tho trapdoor, closed it
after her and hurried down the ladder
to her parent.
The latter had secured the lower door
and all the windows. As has been stat.
ed, they had Winchester apiece, with
plenty of ammunition, and both knew
how to use the weapons. The Apaches
halted beyond range, though Mrs. Hunt
ley believed she could reach them with
either Of the guns. 1t was agreed, how
ever, that no shot should bo fired until
absolutely necessary. There was one
chance in q hundred that the Indians
meditated no wrong, though as de-
termined to keep them at dista at
least until the arrival of some Of he
men, two of whom were in sight.
Naturally the attention of the women
remained fixed upon the party, whose
actions in more than ono respect were
singular. The group Of horseinen kept
their distance, and it was evident that
they were holding some sort Of council
Sometimes their bronchos reared and
plunged, - if they shared the excite
mont Of their riders, who gesticulated
and swung their arms with vigor that
showed their councils were violently di-
viGcd.
Mrs. Huntlcy and her daughter no.
ticcd that one Of the Apaches Wore a
sombrcro like those used by the white
men, and it was plain he was "A leading
disputant. His clothing, too, so far as
seen was of civilized pattern. These
peculiarities drew attention specially to
nina fact that led Edith to hunt up
the b nocular presented to her by Yves
ton Rundell and to bring it to bear on
the group.
1t was then that the two were aston
ished beyond measure by the discovery
that that particular Apache was their
old acquaintance We wayma. At first
they could scarcely believe their own
! eyes, but "a brief study through the glas;
.. removed the last doubt 1t was he be
You'd question.
In that bitter moment Edith recalled
the declaration OF the railway conductor
that the young buck would be a mem
Der Of the first rading gang that broke
away from the reservation and that tho
Huntley ranch would be the first visit
ed and the people would receive Nc
mercy from Weway fer no reason
than that they had acted the part Of
Her feelings were similar to those o.
Weston Rundell. Every vestige of faith
vanished, and there was nothing too il
to believe Of the migrate. Great was hel
nishment, therefore, when her parent
tried to find an excuse for his action.
You can see that an angry dispute
is raging among the party, and if | read
signs Alright We way ma is almost alone
i'll maintaining some position. What
more likely than that it is plea fol
consideration toward us"
Il admit, replied her daughter
"that the rule is that every Apache
who goes off on raid is hunting the
lives of innocent white people, But
why is We-way ma with the party IA
all: Why did he not stay at homer"
This was the crucial question the
mother had already asked herself ant
which forbade her gathering much hopt
from the situation. On the other hand
it was unquestionable that quarre
was raging among the dusky horsemen
1T is over the best method of bring
ing about our deaths, was the bitter
declaration of Edith, who was among
the most impulsive of Der sex.
While the wrangle was under way
and apparently at its height three o.
the Apaches withdrew from the party
and circled round to the southwark
What followed has been told, all of i
being seen by the mother and daughter
who required no one to interpret il
meaning to them
The disputation lasted long time
and more than once it looked as if thu
parties would break into fight among
themselves. So absorbed indeed wer,
, they in the wrangle that the stirring
= encounter a short distance off, in whicl
one of their number lost his life, receiv
ed little or no attention at their hands
; The sequel was in keeping with thu
y curious incidents of that afternoon ant
. night. Suddenly a calm fell upon the
= group, They bad agreed upon "a line o
action. While the rest remained station
AIRY one of their number rode forward
toward the ranch building He wai
We-way- ma in his sombrero, and whel
yet some distance oil was seen to b.
|. fluttering a white handkerch ef owe
4 his head, showing him to be approach
ing under flag of truce.
. He brings some message" said Mrs
Huntley. "What can it be?'
"A summons to surrender under
promise of good treatment to be follow
1 i q