The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-03-07

Turning backward ON the road. he at
length came upon the smouldering
ruins of the teams and the mangled
bodies of the entire family. except
Mile, his darling. of whom he could
not find the slightest trace. She had
evidently been carried of by the saw
age maraudcrs. with the horses and
such goods as they chose from the
lading of the wagons.
IL Joe had known in what direction
to pursue the cowardly and blood
thirsty Indians. he would certainly
have followed them single-handcd and
alone, but, fortunately for himself,
perhaps, he had no skill or experience
in following blind trails, and was COM
PEELED to abandon the pursuit. Grief
stricken. almost hcartbroken, he made
ment, where he told the tragic story
of his loss, and vainly endeavored to
raise party to accompany him in an
attempt to rescue his abducted love,
and take revenge on the murderers
of her relatives. The settlement could
safely upon such an errand.
AS the last atrocity was, however,
but one of long series of such iiend-
ish deeds, the government, after some
delay. sent detachment 10 punish
the guilty tribe, and Joe found means
TO Join il as a volunteer scout. But
his opportunities for revenge were
Il IN. fraf
any tidings of Mile, when the say
ages sued for peace, and obtained it,,
on the usual favorable terms.
For some time he continued to
make researches. but without avail.
All the Indians with whom he was
able to converse, denied that there
were any white women captives in
the tribes so far as they knew.
Determined TO remain near the spot
where the massacre occurred, in the
hope of eventually succeeding in his
quest. he secured the contract To
carry the mails to and from Rosevale,
then newly founded. and in this occu-
patton he had made himself so useful
TO the inhabitants of the village that
they felt almost as anxious for him
as for their letters and newspapers
and would have regarded his loss
from any cause of an almost irrepar
able calamity. He was wont also tt
act as expressman and general pur
chasing agent for the village, ano
many a much-needed article, unpur
chasable at the village store. wa'
brought by his trusty hands from
afar. On nearly every trip he had
number of commissions to execute
and many of the village matrons were
ready to aver that they could no
keep house without his assistance
thus rendered.
On the evening mentioned at tn
commencement of our story. Joe di
not keep his patrons long IN sus
pense. The more tardy ones ha
barely reached the post Office whe
cloud of dust in the eastern horl
ION gave the signal of his approach
and ere long he was unstrapping hi
; mail bags, and at the same time cN
changing greetings with his friends.
, whats the news, Joe:" asked a.
; inquisitivc citizen.
indians" answered Joe, brief.
, al did not see them, but / saw plcnt
| of their signs"
Are they on the warpath?'
That's the report. and l think 1T
true"
, "Are we in danger hcreg
' "Not at present. l think. The
4 haven't massed their forces, and TO
: a few weeks. at least. will conten
' themselves with raiding outlyin
: ranches and waylaying small trains 9
. emigrants and travellers, and perhaI
h mail carriers"
r you're not afraid, are you. Joe?'
! mo, indeed: but / shall be niue
9 disappointed if the red rascals perm
il me to make any more trips i'll peas
and quietness ! think should rattle
;, enjoy brush with them If they gay
q me a fair show; but there are a GOO
!. many places on the road where the
a might ambush and kill me before
had n chance to make any defense.
r Don't you think. joe" said sto'
II matron, you had better Jay on lot
n trip or two, till we see what the i
4 dams are going TO do? We had bett
, miss our mails for a while than To-
Ie you
70 "Timc enough for me TO lay Q
II when I am dead or disabled" repli'
is Joe. dryly. The post Office depar
D. ment expects me TO do my duty, al
Al shan't disappoint it."
o. And he started with his wea
"A horses TO secure the refreshmcnt al
: rest which he and they so much nee
- ed. BY his side walked Mabel Stever
n young lady whom everybody sa
- would make good match for Jc
At il he would only give up his TUT
~ search for Mile Stacey. and ma
IN the best of what chance and m
chance had thrown in his way.
H. Joe boarded with her father VII
a. in the village, and Mabel. an unusual
W well-brcd and intelligent girl. was !
n. dearest friend She sympathizcd dee
n