The Red Cloud chief., 1902-11-07
CHAPTER XVII.
A GrOan In the Dark.


When Paul Miller lcaped from his
pallet and rushed from the door Of
the hut. he was as insane as any
inmate OF 4 ma1house.
"Oh. stop. stop stop shrieked
Kate Willis. Where ara you goin-
where are you goiu g.
Laura. Laura. he shouted.
Laura Ga. ny goodness sakes
alive. does he know her. cried Miss
Willis. clapping her hands as a new
and wonderful thought burst on her
mild. 1T can't be-, mus, be-he is
the girls lover He must be aer
Paul" She shou.ad 70 some OF the
Indian portets LETT to look after the
camp.
stop hint"
The Indians were soon on him, had
him tied with .looseskin tho.gs and
carried him back to the shauty. where
he was lain or tle bed. Kate followed
them. sobbing frant!cally AID groan.
ing
He's dead. They've killed him
ard I'm 10 blame for IL. oh, what a
fool I've played all the way through"
He breathed and. placing her head
on his breast. she discovered that his
heart still beat. Sac placed the kettle
over the little oil stove and prepared
some nourishnert. bound up his head.
which was slightly bruised. and soou
had his eyes open. No sooner Was he
rational enough I recall what had
happened than he began { sob.
Don't take on sol" the kind-near,ed
woman said. Il tell ys. ye couldn't
have got a mile away from here! Ye
would nave died and We must know
IT."
But Laura. my darling. in the
power of that mani"
Say, let's you and | understand
each other. an then there won't be
any danger Of making mistakes. Are
you Paul Miller. who's been dead so
long,"
Il am Paul Miller and they may
have reported me dead"
From Fresno. California;"
Yes. from Fresno. California"
Aiof ySu n S"NNNANLA NdAAEQ
Laura Kean,"
"Yes-yes, IL was she you told
me had gone on-and I will"
Now. look here! | am your friend.
| am the best friend you and Laura
ever had aside from yerss.yes. II Yell
iist listen I me, we'll outvit the
whole caboodle an show 'en what's
what yit.'
Kate told him he must pretend to
be a great deal worse than ne really
was. and she would report that she
believed he was going TO die. He
at once fell in with the plan, With the
assurance that as soon as he was
strong enough he was TO start secret.
" for the camp where. Laura was
waiting for her companion TO Join
them.
Meanwhile there was a change in
guard. Cummius Vas relieved and
four men sent to take his place. The
Indians went with Cummins, and
Kate had four white men 70 contend
with.
she often ea~yestrDpped the four
men when az quarters, and gained
enough Of their plans 10 realize that
they must act promptly.
The very night the old Man OF the
Mountains, a. he called himself. so
suddenly appeared in the tent where
Laura MAS eypelling her urwelcome
sutton. they SET out. on aad on they
FASTENED owe the frozen snow. and
Pauls heart began 10 beat with pleas.
ure. But bark What are those omi-
rous sounds in their ears They have
been four or ave hours on the route
when they hear the sound OF feet
crushing the hardened snow.
Paul Kate whispered, we are
pursued Can you run
i can-and | can DO MORE cau
shoot"
Run first and shoot when you have
10. Gimme yer hand
The strong woman took his hand in
her " and they ran along the snow.
covered trail swiftly as hares. They
were almost at the point where the
river was crossed on the ice when
a voice behind them cried:
There they co."
"Halt-stop. or we'll fre!"
Saul wheeled around aud layeled
LIS rifle al M of the dark objects
! coming toward him. but Just "a his
finger vas ready 10 press the trigger
he was struck a blow between the
shoulders, which SEN him sprswling
in the snow.
IL was Cummins, going after rein
forcemeRts, who came up at this in.
OPP orIune moment.