The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-05-17

another and smaller one separated
from the first by a chain Of noun
| tains. The larger one was decorated
by iag-pole with stars and stripes
at the top and 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, it's
head over the mountains pointing to-
v I'd the house, its tail extending
north Of the bigger stream, was a
comet-the totem" or sign Of the
0gallalla lover Of Lizette. The story
was told at a 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 his
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-
tersnces between old Folsom and Ian
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, and
She knew that II 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
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 anHously
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 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 its roof. Par
ticulariy 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 a
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 pony's neigh, an eager appeal for
sprang confidently forward, his power
full tones calling of the dogs. They
came back, growing, shifting, only |
half-satisfed, still bristling at the un-
seen visitor. "War ponies never neigh"
said Folsom. "Who are you, brothers
--friends?" he called, In the Sioux
tongue, and 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 Godl Iizette," 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 bravesl Hide
And Folsom bore her in his arms
within.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Americans BY the Tear 1000.
There viii probably be from $780,
noo 0oo IN 200 nm ono naonla IN Amer