Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-04-03

self and made n pitiful attempt to smile.
II guess I'm jest Il fool" she said. 81
been dreamin' about them lilies. You
wouldn't believe it, Mike. but used to
help fix 'em in the church when was n
kid" Then after moment she added,
II don't suppose / will ever >see one
again. That's what kinder broke me up.
When the boys turned in Mike made
Meg comfortable for the night, but in
the morning it was Diggs who built the
fire and brought her breakfast. He ex-
planned that Dummy had gone down the
gulch prospecting for bear
The bears were safe enough, however,
from the silent partner" for when MORN
ing dawned he had reached Willow
Greek, where he exchanged his WORKOUT
burro for n claybank horse of Roylston's
and pushed on, after snatch of break
fast, for the fort
Roylston called out after him TO keep
his eye open for Indians. 1t was laugh
ingly said, and Dummy waved his hand
in reply.
Claybank, tough and tireless, struck
the old trail to the fort at n jog which
promised to be perpetual. His rider was
preoccupied. thinking rather about the
end of the journey than the incidents of
the way. or he might have noticed a spy
on his movements; one who lay on the
ground when he passed, daubed over with
clay and SO covered with the sage brush
that there was hardly anything but his
wild black eyes to tell that he was hui
man.
As Mike disappeared on one side the
redskin rose, shook off his disguise and
gave n grunt of satisfaction, as he NOV
ed swiftly in an opposite direction.
There was one man less at the gulch;
one horse less at Roylston's.
-Four hours later Mike dismounted at
the post. The post-rider knew him well,
having sold him many pound of tobac-
co with more prosaic stores Of bacon ana
corn. But he grinned and looked at Mike
as though he had heard great joke
when the latter stammcred his commits
sion.
Fraid them amt in my line, Dunn
my
whats the matter with gettin' them
MT the fort. I'd do it myself if had your
pull"
Mike pulled out bag of dust" and
held it before the other.
81 reckon my pile is big enough to make
it worth your while"
Simpson said "All right" and went
out. In half an hour he had returned
with package that he transferred to
Mike for the dust. Ten minutes later
Mike had turned Claybank up the trail
toward Willow Greek. The trail ran
through the valley. From Roylston's to
the fort there was clear view with a
glass.
The sun was well down the west when
Claybnnk logged into Royston's. Mike
shouted. but, hearing no answer, dis
mounted and turned toward the hut.
There was blood on the ground and a
mans hat lay near II place where moe
casinel feet had trampled the ground.
Dashing to the door he found Roylston
in his own room, dead, and mutilated in Il
manner too horrible to describe.
In n moment he saw the whole truth.
The savages had RETAINED from firing
the cabin because it was in view from
the fort. Smoke would draw troop
down on them. He knew, too, that he
must have been noticed and that the trail
to the camp was well guarded. Had
they attacked the camp? His heart
stood still as he asked the question
Great heaven. how could he warn them
and signal the fort for aid? Mike could
think faster than he could talk. In five
minutes he had Il fire blazing under the
hut-a fire that sent up black cloud of
smoke. He knew that he had not done
this thing unseen, and must not linger.
He threw himself OH Claybank and LASH
ed the tired and frightened beast up
the trail for twenty rods. He then sud-
denly dismounted Mt the crest behind the
willows, and, giving the horse a parting
thwack. plunged on foot into the under
growth.
Sounds carry far in that air. Diggs
said that he heard shots in the distance,
but night closed in and no one came
At 10 o'clock, however, Jimmy. who was