Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-07-05

nOCeQ tn8t the lew 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, and
she 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 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 number
to successfully protect so large 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 circuit of the buildings, ex-
change a 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 it's 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.
It 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
er, the keenest, 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 heavily
clouded. 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
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-satisfied, still bristling at the I'M
seen visitor. "War ponies never neigh"
said Folsom. "Who are you, brothers
-friends?'' he called, in the Sioux
tongue, and a faint voice answered
from the darkness, pony came Looping
dimly into view, almost running over
him, and in another minute an Indian
girl, trembling with fear and exhaus-
tion, had toppled from the saddle and
clasped the old traders hand.
"Good God! Lizette," 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! Hide
quick
And Folsom bore her in his arms
within.
ITO Be Continued