Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-03-06

bushes, he wal suddenly surrounded
by a large party of Arapaho braves,
and though he fought desperately and
managed to kill two of them. they
overpowered him, and, having bound
him upon one of his own horses,
started for the village. They did not
reach it until next day, and meantime
Joe was closely watched, so that he
had no opportunity to escape. On ar
irving in camp he was delivered to the
chief, who ordered him to be bound
to a tree, and assembled a council
of braves to decide his fate.
While the warriors sat in grave de-
liberation, the squaws and children
amused themselves by insulting the
helpless prisoner, who bore their an
noyances and prosecutions with be-
coming fortitude. At length a squaw
approached, and she seemed to Joe
as being quite different from the rest.
She was much better dressed, cleaner
looking, and lighter in complexion,
though her face was dabbed with
the usual red and yellow paint.
She scowled angrily at the prisoner,
hurled some sticks and pebbles at
him, and objurgated him with the
choicest Indian explosives; but what
was his establishment to hear her, in
!, the midst of her violent TRADE, adj
dress him by name. Then she jerked
5 out in broken sentences mixed with
!, Indian, like this:
"Be careful-don't look surprised
curse me-spit at me-do anything to
deceive these creatures-your safety
E and mine depend on it-scowl and
look angry when you speak to me
D I am Mile Stacey. Be careful, and
we will both get free"
1t required all Joe's self command
to follow the cunning woman's direc-
t tions, and avoid betraying them both,
n but he succeeded. As she left and re-
turned to him from time to time,
s she gradually informed him Of the
decision of the warriors concerning
his case, which was that he should be
tortured as soon as a scouting party,
d then absent, returned, and also of her
plans for escape. So skillfully did she
S act her part, and SO we'll did he sup
port her, that not the slightest sus'
a picion was aroused.
=, When the camp was wrapped in
e slumber and darkness, Millie cautious
ly approached, cut the thongs where.
e with Joe was bound, led him swiftly
or1 ct1antly IN ,ubara hic WI fNrn
e horses stood waiting for them, and in
d a moment they were mounted and
away. Mile carried a suspicious
d looking bundle, and Joe asked her
n what is was.
l. "That's my baby, Joe; you wouldn't
4. have me leave that behind, would
is your"
There was no time to discuss the
question, for the camp was aroused
n and with whoops and yells the In
dams were preparing to pursue. Joe
Y. had no weapons, and they must out.
ride the savages or be lost; but their
horses were much superior in fleet.
ness to the ponies of the Indians, and
is once out of bullet range they were
safe. But before they could accom-
plish this, a volley was fired. Mile
uttered a cry of pain, and her child
,r too, screamed as if it had been hit:
1t but she bore up bravely and %rejoicet
that Joe had escaped unhurt. Like
the wind they fled across the oper
ps plain, until the sounds of pursuing
hoofs were no longer heard behint
them, when Joe drew rein and in
Ii quired into Miles condition.
it 81 fear I am badly hurt" she said il
&c a weak voice, ''and baby is so quie
er [ think he must be dead. May b.
We that would be better for your sake
I'd Joe-but I loved the little fellow, TO
~ [ am his mother. I had to MARI.
I White Wolf or die, and / wanted t.
live. You don't blame me, Joe?" sh'
ut asked in a piteous, pleading tone.
a 81 can't blame you, Millie," he sat
n tenderly.
err But there seemed to be a weight a
his heart as he uttered the words.
The hoof beats were again hear
,f in the distance, and Mile reused he1
ed self for another effort. But it was he
It. last. When again they paused for
nd breathing space she fell from he
horse, and when Joe dismounted t.
nv assist her he found her dead. He
nd child was also cold and stark.
d. Tenderly he kissed her lips, quietl
IS, he laid the dead mother and chill
id in the shadow of a clump of bushes
,e, and then resumed his fight, for TIL
lie yelling sayages still continued to pun
Ike sue. After a time, however, they CAV
is up the chase as fruitless. Then h
cautiously returned to where he ha
en- left the dead bodies, bound them upo
lily his led horse and slowly and sadl
lis made his way back to Rosevale, wher
,p- the dead were buried, amid the SYN
er- pathizing tears of the citizens, non
to of whom grieved more sincerely tina
re- Mabel Stevens.
at Years have passed, and Joe and Ma
.ot bel have long been welded, yet the
W. often visit a grave in the village cen
Ter etery, which they deck with tn
oh choicest flowers, and water with thei
M mingled tears.-The Boston Budget.
I'm