The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1902-03-20

bushes, he was suddenly surrounded
BY . large party Of Arapaho braves.
and though he fought desperately and
ovcrpowcred him, ami, having bound
him upon one Of his own horses,
started for the village. They did not
reach IL until next day, and meantime
Joe wns closely watched. SO that he
had no opportunity to escape. On ar
riving In camp he was delivered to the
chief. who ordered him to he bound
to n tree. and assembled 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
noynnces and prosecutions with he.
coming fortitudc. At length n 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 dabbcd with
the usual red and yellow paint.
She scow!ed nngrily nt the prisoner,
/
him, and objurgatcd him with the
choicest Indian explctivcs; but what
was his astonishmcnt TO hear her. In
the midst Of her violent TRADE. nd-
dress him by name. Then she jerked
out In BROKEN sentences mixed with
Indian. like this:
"Bc carcful--don't look surprised
curse me-spit nj me do anything tn
deceive these creatures-your safety
and mine depend on it--scowl and
look angry when you speak to me
I am Millie Stacey. Bc careful. and
we will both get free"
II required all Joe's self command
TO follow the cunning womnn's direc-
tions, and avoid bctraying them both,
but he succeeded. As she left and re-
turned to him from time to time,
she gradually informed him Of the
decision Of the warriors concerning
his case, which was that he should be
tortured ms soon as n scouting party,
then absent, returned, and also OF her
plans for escape. So skillfully did she
act her part. and so well did he sup
port her. that not the slightest sus-
picion was aroused.
When the camp was wrapped In
slumbcr and darkness, Millic cautious
~ approached, cut the thongs where
with Joe was bound, led him swiftly
and silently to where his own two
horses stood waiting for them. and In
n moment they were mounted and
away. Mile carried a suspicious
looking bundle. and Joe asked her
what In was.
That's my baby. Joe: you wouldn't
have me leave that behind. would
you?"
There was no time to discuss the
question. for the camp was aroused.
and with whoops and yells the In
dians were preparing To pursue. Joe
had no weapons, and they must out
ride the sayngcs or he lost; but their
horses were much superior In fleet
ness TO the ponies of the Indians, and
once out of bullet range they were
safe. But before they could accom-
plish this. u volley was fired. Millie
, uttered n cry Of pain, and her child,
too. screamed as IL II had been hit;
hut she bore up bra,ely and rcjoiccd
!, that Joe had escaped unhurt. Like
I the wind they fled across the open
, plain, until the sounds of pursuing
hoofs were no longer heard behind
them. when Joe drew rein and in.
quircd into Miles condition.
81 fear ann badly hurt" she said In
. a weak voice, "and baby In 30 quiet
r | think he must he dead. May he
. that would he better for your sake,
/ .Ioc-but I loved the little fellow, for
, am his mother. ! had To marry
| White Wolf or die, and ] wanted to
live. You don't blame me, Joe?" she
I asked in u piteous, pleading tone.
a II cant blame you, Millie," he said
: ,cndcrly.
r hut there seemed Ia he "a weight AT
g his heart as he uttered the words.
The hoof beats were again heard
" IN the distance. and Millic reused her.
Il self for another effort. But IL was bci
i last. When again they paused for d
d breathing space she fell from heI
horse. and when Joe dismountcd "a
v assist her he found her dead. Iiei
Il child was also cold aud stark.
/. Tendcrly he kissed her lips, quietly
4. he laid the dead mother and chile
Il In the shadow of u clump of bushes
.. and then resumed his flight, for tn,
e yelling snNnges still continued To pur
c sue. After time. however, they CAV,
s- up the chase as fruitlcss. Then h'
cautiously returned To where he ha,
n left the dead bodies. bound them upoi
IS his led horse and slowly and sadl,
is made his way back to l,oscyale, whcr,
D. the dead were buried. amid the sym
r. pathizing tears OF the citizens. non,
10 OF whom grieyed more sincerely thar
e. Mabel Stevens.
At Years have passed, and Joe and MA
Dt bel have long been welded. yet the,
~ often visit grave In the village ccn
rr etery, which they deck with tn
III choicest flowers, and water with thei
H. mingled tears.--The lIoston budget.
We "a rIoored Audrey.
~ "'rnu,hstnu. nhseryed AuIrev m