The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-06-28

from the first by a chain Of noun.
tains. The larger one was decorated
by fag-pole with stars and stripes
at the top and a figure with musket
and bayonet at the bottom. The
smaller one by little house, with
smoke Issuing from the chimney, and
woman beside 1t. Above all, its
head over the mountains pointing to-
ward the house, its tail extending
north OF the bigger stream. was a
comet-the totem" or sign Of the
0gallalla lover Of Mzette. The story
was told at glance. Burning Star
was already south Of the Platte and
lurking in the mountains near Fol
SONS ranch.
That night, toward ten o'clock, an
anxious council was held. Halbert
Folsom, fevered by his severe wound,
was lying half-unconscious on his bed,
his unhappy wife wandering aimlessly
about at times, wringing her hands
and weeping, evidently unbalanced by
the terrors that had beset her of
late and the tidings of that awful
Indian revenge along the Big Horn.
Silent, helpful, almost commanding,
Elinor spent the hours sometimes at
her brothers bedside, then at that
Of her sister-in-law when the poor
creature could be induced to lie still
moment. The burly little son and
heir, long since sound asleep In hts
cradle, was watched over by Jessie,
whose heart futtered in dread she
dare not say of what. Twice that
afternoon she had seen whispered con-
ferences between old Folsom and Lam
MON. She knew that for some bet
ter reason than that he was over
persuaded by Pappoose, Mr.. Folsom
had not carried out his project Of
sending them back to Gate City. She
saw that he made frequent visits to
the cellar and had changed the ar
rangement of the air ports. She
noted that the few ranch hands hung
about the premises all day, their
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, aud
the knew that It could all mean only
one thing--that the Indians were
again in force in the neighborhood,
and that an Indian siege was immi-
nent.
And all this time Pappoose, though
very brave, was so still and so intent
upon her duties. Even when supper
was served for the ranch people in the
kitchen that evening, as the sun went
down, Jess noted that two of the
men kept constantly in saddle, rid
ing round the buildings and anxously
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 number
to successfully protect SO large knot
of buildings against an insidious and
powerful foe, and even Of these six
there were two who seemed SO I'M
strung by tidings of the massacre as
to be nearly nervless.
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 circuit OF the buildings, ex-
change 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 room 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 low
ing hand on Pappoose's lustrous hair. |
1t must have been ten o'clock and
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
err, the keenest, finest of the mhstiffs, |
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 heavily
The moon was banked and
not glimmer of light shone on earth
or heaven. Suddenly, afar out over the
prairie, beyond where the dogs were
there was heard the sound
IF pony's neigh, an eager appeal for
welcome and shelter, and Folsom
'prang confidently forward, his power
'ul tones calling off the dogs. They
,ame back, growing, shifting, only
still bristling at the I'M
'een visitor. 'War ponies never Neigh"
laid Folsom. "Who are you, brothers
--friends?' he called, In the Sioux
ongue, and a faint voice answered
rom the darkness, pony came Looping
limly into view, almost running over
linn, and In another minute an Indian
rirl, trembling with fear and exhaus-
ion, had toppled from the saddle and ,
lasped the old traders hand.
Good Godl Lizette," he cried, you
gain2 What is wrong?" for her head
vas dropping, her knees giving way be-
cath her, as the poor child whispered
Ter answer;
sioux coming-plenty brAvesI Hide ,,
-quicki"
And Folsom bora her in his arms ,
vithin.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Americans by the Year 1000. ]
There will probably be from $780, !
10000 to 5O0,OO0,0oo people in Amer :