Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-26

geant in charge Of the squad sent north
ward and at last made himself heard.
Send one man to tell the others to
follow us. She's way over the river.
They crossed the ford half an hour ago,
and we've got to swim for it,
Go you to the captain, Potts." he
cried Tell him Dr. Cranston says the
lady is across the river. Come on, you
Others!" and away the tore on the heels
of their new leader, straight for the
flooding stream. Into it, up to his with
ers. plunged Santee. Out of saddle and
into the torrent slipped his rider, with
a shout of encouragement, and in an
other instant the man and horse were
striking out for the upper shore, even
though sweeping away down stream!
Dripping, they scrambled up the rocky
slope. Again the doctor climbed into sad
die and, never waiting for his heavier
followers. tore away northward over the
turf. His eyes We're strained for sight
of that beloved form he prayed might
come in view beyond the big divide.
1t did.
Far over toward the twisting Red
Cloud road and well to the east of the
point where he reached the crest, Gram
ston caught sight of them, the lady
riding easily down the opposite slope
of the prairie, the stoid groom still at
his post perhaps a dozen yards in reaN
both unconscious of danger. Two miles
away to the north ran parallel ridge
that curtained the landscape beyond it,
Miss McCrea was heading toward a lit
tie clump of willows close to the road,
deep down in the swale, intending prob
ably to water her pet at the spring be-
fore turning homeward. But at the very
instant the doctor darted over the crest
his keen eye caught sight of swift NOV
ing objects just visible over the ridge
beyond-the trailing war bOnnets of
pair of braves" scurrying out of sight
He knew they had seen him, for In
dams see everything. He knew they were
pursuing her, and though still keeping
behind the cover of that ridge, hoped
to sWoop down upon her as she neared
the spring. Not an instant was to be
lost.
Almost frantic with dread he called
on Santee for one more effort and away
they bounded, eastward now, Cranston
waving his right arm in mad effort to
signal them their danger. His voice was
too weak, but at last the dull distant
thunder caught her ear, and looking in
the direction Of the sound she saw a
sight that filled siler with dsmay She
knew Santee at once, she knew who
the rider must be, and turned white with
horror at the sight of the gaunt figure
tearing toward her and saving the air
in wild gesticulaton. There could only
be one explanation; the fever had turned
the doctors brain-he had gone stark,
staring mad.
But what was this other--this heavier
thunder swift coming from the north?
One glance in that direction, one cry
from the lips of the groom and she saw
half mile away, little band of savage
warriors. heard their shrill, exultant
yells, and the lash fell on Beauty's quiv-
ering TANKS and away went horse and
girl and groom away in mad race for
the distant river, for the shelter of the
fort, away, away. terror lending wings
away until more than half the distance
up the ridge she heard the sputter of
carbine shots, the shout of her groom,
THE troopers. Miss" and refining around
in long curving sweep until she could
survey the field, Bess McCrea saw the
blue Jackets charging down the slope
firing wildly as they rode, saw three of
the indians scurying for safety. but, hor-
ror CT horrors! saw three others bearing
down full tilt on struggling horse and
PROSTATE man away back at the willows.
Santee had fallen and Cranston, he who
had ridden to rescue her. was practic-
ally in the hands of the Sioux
And then the woman who had fled be-
came the woman who dared How old
Shaughnessy, sergeant of "F"' troop.
used to tell Of it afterwards. He swore
her voice had the ring of the adjutant's
as she called them to her aid, and
straight as an arrow headed Beauty for
the spring. -Four of the squad tore on
after the fleeing Indians, the sergeant
and the other four drove iheadlong at the
charging braves, and then the PROSTATE
form amazed both parties by rolling
feebly over. A cheer of delight went up
from the squad. for Cranston's revolver
spoke once-twice. the leading warrior
swerved, his pony stumbled, then
sprawled on the truf. The others fairly
tore to the painted comrades aid.
snatched him up from the ground and
bore him away between them, the troop
ers yelling madly in pursuit
When Shaughnessy got back to the
willows, blown and triumphant. Miss Me-
Crea was seated by me spring, tanning
with somebody's campaign hat a pallid
face that lay in her lap. Nor was it
lifted when others came, even the post
surgeon himself. They sent for the am
bulance. and they lifted them both in.
and-Well, that was in May, and late in
September Fort Trayne had 'love of a
wedding so the women said, at which
F' troop appeared in full force in a new
suit of clothes and a state of semi-in-
ebriety.
A ROYAL EXCHANGE OF GIFTS.
| King Edward-Wel, nephew, I'm
greatly pleased with you. In fact I want