Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-03-06

noted that the few rsAsA assAs Auns
about the premises al Gay, theii
rifles ever within reach, and that
often Mr.. Folsom took the glasses and
searched the road TO Frayne. She saw
that earth was being heaped up in
places against the ranch where the
walls were thin or made OF boarding
She saw that water and provisions
were being stored in the cellar, and
she knew that it could all mean only
one thng-that the indians were
again In force in the seighborhood
and that IN Indian siegs was immi
uent.
And all this time Pappoose, though
very brave, was so still and go intent
upon her duties. Even when supper
vas served for the ranch people IN the
kitchen that evening, as. the sun went
down, Jess noted that two of tho
men kept constantly in saddle, rid
ing round the buildings and anxiously
scanning the open prairie on every
| side. There were only six men all
told now, including Folsom (of course
not counting Hal. who was defense
less), altogether too small a number
to successfully protect so large a knot
of buildings against an insidious and
powerful foe.
Darkness settled down upon the val
ley. and, though calm and collected,
Folsom seemed oppressed by the deep
est anxiety. Every now and then he
would step forth into the night and
make a circui3 OF the buildings. ex-
change n word in low tone with some
invisible guardian, for. heavily armed,
the employees were gathered at the
main building, and the wife and chill
dren of the chief herdsman were as
signed to a tuom under its roof Par
ticularly did Folsom pet and encourage
the dogs. two of them splendid mastiffs
in whom Hal took unusual pride. Then
he would return TO his sons bedside,
bend anXiously over him and lay a low
ing hand on Pappoose's lustrous hair.
IT must have been ten o'clock and Q
night wind was rising making the oc-
casional cry Of the coyotes even more
weird and querulous. when they heard
the sudden. fierce challenge of Troop.
er, the keencst, finest Of the mastiffs
and instantly his bark was echoed by
the rush and Scurry Of every canine on
the place. The men on the porch
sprang TO their feet and Folsom
FASTENED out to join them. The dogs
had charged in the darkness toward
! the northeast. and somewhere out in
| that direction were now all furiously
| barking. Aloft the skies were heavilT
clouded. The moon was banked and
not a glinmer Of light shonc on earth
| or heaven. Suddenly. afar out over the
! prairie. beyond where the dogs were
| challenging, there was heard the sound
| of a pony's neigh. an eager appeal for
welcome and shelter. and Folsom
| sprang confidently forward. his power
full tones calling off the dogs They
! came back, growing. shifting. ONLY
| half-sarisfied. still hristling Mt the IN.
/ seen visitor. War ponies never neigh"
! said Folsom. 'Who are YOU. brother,
| friends" he called, in the Sioux
/ tongue. and faint voice nswercd
/ from the darkness. pony came Looping
/ dtnnly into view, almost running over
/ him, and in another minute an Indian
! girl, trembling with fear and eNhaus,
! ton. had topped from the saddle ard
/ claspcd the old traders hand.
Good God. Lizettc." he cried. "you
! again? What is wrong?" for her head
was dropping, her knees giving way be.
meath her, as the poor child whispered
| her answer:
Sioux coming plenty braves. IIids
! quick"
And Folsom bore Ter in his arm,
within.
ITO Be Continued