Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-11-29

well, sergeant. what is it,
II saw An unusual light Il bit ago. sir.
in the woods below the Fort said the
sergeant, saluting.
What was it like?"
"Three fashes.''
Anything clse? asked the officer Of
the day, seeing that the sergeant hest
tated al. the door.
"Onc of the guards. just relieved, sir,
says that he passed out a white woman,
who gave him the countersign."
Did he recognize her?'
Not exactly, sir. for she walked as
if she was in a great hurry, but he thinks
it was the lady they call The Belle of
the Cascades"
Miss Loring:"
Yes. sir"
THAT may be. ! know she was in the
Fort tonight and .5at MIR. Selden gave
her the countcrsign. She is as cratic as
she is beautiful, and that is saying Il
great deal"
Pardon mo. Lieutenant" said the SER
scant, s~aluting again and coming back
halfAl step, but I'd like to know if Is
rumor that the men nave is true"
"What is that:'
THAT Mortcn's execution will be post
ponad.'
"lf it is. it will never come off. for only
the President can appoint another day.
However. regret to say there is no truth
in the rumor."
The sergeant saluted again and passed
ont. and the officer of the day turned to
the dilapidnted paper.
In flo meantime =. hp0v of Indians wnS
approaching each post. worming along as
quickly ana silently as SO many snakes.
Two hours from the time Florence went
out. she came in again, giving the coun-
tersign as before. This time she held
IL pistol in her hand, but it was neither
for silence nor defense.
In the center of the parade ground there
was IL flagstaff. and towards this she
FASTENED. Reaching it, She inhaled a long
breath and stopped to listen. All WAS
still. but for the ~throbbing of the water.
down on the shore. and the occasional
grating step of IL sentinel.
The flagstaff was white, and ever in the
starlight it was visible from all parts of
the Fort. Hundreds of black eyes We're
fixed on it. when Florence raised her
hand and pointed the pistol upwards.
bNuc uiu NV Siut HtT eyes, ubT Ulu Itl
hand 1rcmblc. With Il firm finger she
pressed the trigger. \ tongue of flame
shot into the darkness, and the report
rang through the camp.
This done. she ran with all speed to the
guardhousc. marked by a light in the
open door. \. smothcred cry. here and
there. told her that the guard We're being
overpowcrcd.
She heard the swift rush of feet and
the explosive breathing, that told her the
| Skagits were Fastening to the barracks
and other designated points.
Quick as she was, the Indians were
Mt the guardhouse before her. They had
dashed in. and before the amazed men
could think of resistance. or utter an
alarm. they were ovcrpowered. disarmed
and bound.
"Sergcant,' said Florence, approaching
that official, "these people will do no
harm. -Four hundred of them now hold
Fort Clark. They will not strike unless
they are resisted
But why have they Gomez" asked the
sergeant.
'They have come to prevent a murder.
You nave the key of Colin Morton's ccll!'
II have"
"Givc it TO me-"
Il can't. for my hands are bound, and
| would not give it 10 YOU if l could"
"Whcrc is it,"
IL will not tell.
Florence turned to an Indian. and told
him to search the sturdy sergeant. The
Indian did so, and the key was forthcom-
ing.
Selling it. she ran to the cell door and
threw it open.
Free she cried. Free. thank hcav-
on"
lie sprang out and caught her in his
arms.
I'VE have no time to lose. Before
noon we must be so far from Fort Clark
that pursuit will not be attempted.
Come"
She took his hand and hurried him out
of the building. in which he had so long
pinned. and into the fresh, pure air. They
left the Fort. and sped into the woods,
where the three flashes were first seen.
Here she halted and said:
Now. TO recall Long Lance and h:s
braves"
Cro he continually