The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-12-17
A PLAN
FRUSTRATED
The Story of Whites and
Indians In Former Days.
Observation-Disclosures

wdChSOA DldhG anu 4LuAd Il SAlOA IOQG III
advance of the train. Side by side they
galloped away over the rolling prairie, lit
tie needing how fast or how far they
went.
Edna was an excellent horsewoman,
and the rich color upon her cheeks told
how well she enjoyed the pleasure of
free dash across the open prairie. AT a
challenge from her companion the horses
were put to their utmost speed, and away
they flew, neck and neck.
They knew not how far they had gone
when they drew rein and, while their
horses regained their wind, looked back
over the course they had come.
An exclamation burst from Blake's lips,
for the train was not in sight but away
in the distance came dozen dark horse
men, and even as the young man looked
back an exultant shout came family to
his ears. Almost through his clinched
teeth Blake Kissed:
Redskins, by Jove! Miss Fenton, we
must fly for our livesH'
Edna uttered little cry of alarm, and,
wheeling their horses, they dashed away
to escape the red demons in pursuit.
Already were their horses breathing
heavily from their rapid race a short time
before, and now they were fleeing before
the red Bedouins of the plains every one
of whom was mounted upon a feet horse.
Far away, directly in the path of the
fugitives, it seemed, hung the sun, huge
round ball of fire suspended but short
distance above the horizon.
"Oh, sir, do you think we can escape
those terrible creatures?" anxiously in
nuired the frightened maiden
Before replying Jackson Blake took one
long look back over his shoulder.
81 think we ean," he answered. eve
have fair start, and the sun is low. If
our horses hold out till it becomes dark,
we may succeed in Guiding them"
"Heaven grant we may" was the
prayer that Edna softly repeated.
Away across the plain raced pursued
and pursuers, and slowly the sun sank.
Every minute seemed an hour to the IA
tigued and terrified maiden.
CHANGING back occasionally, jackson
Blake could see that the savages were
slowly but surely gaining.
Finally the sun reached the horizon and
gradually sank from view.
''We shall elude them, Miss Fenton.
were the encouraging words that the dark
mustached man uttered. "ln the dark
ness we can circle and strike back for the
train"
Slowly a dusky gloom gathered over
the plains. Looking upward. Jackson
Blake laughed with satisfaction.
''There will be no moon during the first
part of the night" he observed, land
therefore it will be comparatively dark.
His words proved true. Night settled
over the Dakota plains, and darkness
yelled the fugitives from the eyes of their
pursuers In the gloom the man and girl
gradually drew to the left, hoping that
the redskins would pass them in the dark
ness.
Finally Blake drew rein.
Listen
They remained perfectly silent and lis
tened intently. A faint breeze famed
their faces. and the distant bark of
coyote came family to their ears. Then
all was still.
eve have eluded them" declared the
man. "Now we must double back. For
tune may direct US to the train"
Softly the maiden breathed a prayer
that the kind Father might direct them
Alright, and, trusting all to her companion,
she followed him through the darkness.
Slowly the painting, foam fecked horses
walked onward, guided by their riders.
The poor animals were nearly exhausted,
but it wouldn't do to give them breath
ing spell even now. First they must be
sure that they were out Of danger.
1t seemed that for hours they passed
onward Edna was completely bewildered;
She could not tell where she was going.
However she began to feel that their
pursuers were eluded and was mentally
thanking the all wise Being who had
allowed them to escape when suddenly
all around them, number OF dark forms
seemed to spring up out of the very earth.
Then through the night rang out yell
of triumph from the threats of dozen
Sioux, and ere they could resist both man
and maiden were dragged from their
horses.
Then Edna became unconscious. She
knew nothing of what happened until her
senses returned, and she found herself
lying upon the ground with both her
hands tightly bound. Near at hand
campfire was feebly burning. and by its
light she saw that she was surrounded by
the forms of many sleeping Indians. They
were in a little cottonwood grove upon
the bank of a stream.
A realizing sense of the full horror of
her position caused a sickening sensation
to creep over her. and for moment she
came near fainting again. She was
CAPTIVE in the hands of the bloodthirsty
redskins.
But where was her companion, Jackson
Blake? She asked herself the question,
and then shuddered with horror as an an
swer arose in her mind. He had been
murdered As she looked upon the sleep
ing forms she half expected to see jackson
Blake's scalp attached to a savage's CIR
die. But although no sight met her gaze,
she still felt sure that her companion had
been slain.
By the 1aring light of the campfire she
saw that beneath the rude rawhide
thongs that held her wrists together a
silk handkerchief had been placed, evil
IDENTIFY to keep the bands from cutting
and chatting her tender flesh. The hand
kerchief, she thought. had been taken
from the body of her companion, but such
care for her feelings upon the part of
red man was a great surprise.
The Indians were all sleeping soundly,
evidently little fearing the approach Of
foes or the escape of their captive Edna
struggled to break her bonds, but one at
tempt was sufficient, for it showed her
ludl SuCu lnluS was AhAPOoSibiS- ~ -
she thought that she might arise and steal
away, but she became aware that lariat
was fastened around her waist and at
tached to the wrist of an Indian near by.
AS she lay there trying to think of
some means of escape. she fancied she
heard faint sound in the darkness near
at hand She strained her eyes in that di-
rection, but for time could see nothing.
The fire sank lower till a dull red glow
given out by the embers was about all the
light visible. Then, near at hand she
heard a warning hiss, and among the
other shadows, seeming one of them, she
saw what appeared to be human form.
The next moment the dark form slowly
and silently advanced.
With her heart pounding heavily in her
breast, Edna watched this shadow. With
out the least noise it drew near. Finally
the trembling, excited girl was enabled to
make cut that it was a white man.
Without disturbing the sleeping In
dams, the daring intruder reached the
captive's side. The dull light from the
embers flashed upon the barred blade of
knife. The next moment the girls bonds
were severed.
In her ear the stranger breathed the
very softeSt of whispers, enJolnlng the
greatest caution. Then he lifted her to
her feet She would have fled from the
spot, but he detained her.
Cautiously they crept away and. with
out disturbing an Indian, reached the
shadows that lay just beyond the gradu-
ally diminishing circle of light In an
other moment they were Fastening away
through the cottonwoods.
Suddenly the sound of voices near at
hand arrested their fleeing footsteps. The
unknown rescuer quickly sank to the
ground, drawing the girl down with him.
They were near the edge of the timber,
and short distance away they could see
a dark form outlined against the sky.
NH, man rrns cnnn L.inn md evidently