Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-07-30
Daughter
the Sioux
By GEN. CHARLES KING.
Copyright. 1902, by The Hobart Company
CHAPTER Vu.-CoNTINUED.

(liAI Elk Nll.-ION1lNIED.
There in dozen places were signs
old Indian trailers read as they would
read an open book. Places where,
pivoting on the heel, heavy foot had
crushed right and left into the yield
ing soil Of the roadway, making con
centric, circular grooves and ridges
of sandy earth, where, earlier in he
morning, Dams and Harney's dainty
footprints were the only new inn
pressions. For nearly so yards had
this obliterating process been carried
en-, and in a dozen spots, until the
road dipped over the rounding edge,
and, hard and firm now, went winding
down to the flats. Here Webb, with
Dade and Hay, returned, while Blake
meandered on, musing over what he
had been told. It's a government
heel, not cowboys" had Hay said,
hopefully, of the print of that pivot
ing lump of leather.
That gives no clew to the wearer,"
answered Blake. "Our men often sell
their new boots, or give their old
ones, to these hangers-on about the
post. SO far as I'm concerned, the
care with which the print has been
erased is proof to me that the ma jor
saw just what he said. Somebody
about Hays place was mighty anX-
ious to cover his tracks"
But a dozen "somebodies" besides
the stablemen hung there at all hours
of the day, infesting the broad We
Tanda, the barrOOm and stores, striv-
ing to barter the skin of coyote,
skunk or beaver, or, when they had
nothing TO sell, pleading for an un-
earned drink. Half dozen of these
furtive, beetle-browed. swarthy sons
of the prairie lOunged there now, as
the elder officers and the trader re-
turned, while Blake went on his way
exploring. With doWncast eyes he
followed the road to and across a
sandy watercourse in the low ground,
and there, in two or three places
found the fresh imprint of that same
bar shoe, just as described by Webb.
Then with long, swift strides he
came stalking up the hill again. pass
ing the watchful eyes about the cor
raj without a stop, and only check
ing speed as he neared the home
stead of the Hays, where, once again,
he became engrossed in studying the
road and the hard pathways at the
side. Something that he saw, or fan
cied that he saw, perhaps a dozen
yards from the traders gate, induced
him to stop, scrutinize, turn, and,
with searching eyes, to cross dag
onally the road in the direction of the
stables, then again to retrace his
steps and return to the eastward
side. Just as he concluded his
search, and once more went briskly
on his way, a blithe voice hailed him
from an upper window, and the ra-
diant face and cleaning white teeth
of Nanette Flower appeared between
the opening blinds. One might have
said he expected both the sight and
question:
Lost anything, Capt. Blalle?"
Nothing but-a little time, Miss
Flower" was the prompt reply as,
without pause, the tall captain,
raising his forage cap, pushed swift
ly on. But I've found something's, -
muttered he to himself, between his
set teeth, and within five minutes
post commander.
You saw it?" asked Webb.
'Ies. Three or four places-down
in the arroyo. More than that
Where's Hay?" he broke off sudden
ly, for voices were sounding in the
adjoining room.
Here, with Dade and the doctor"
"Then-" But Blake got no fur
ther. Breathless and eager, little
Sandy Ray came bounding through
the hallway into the presence of the
officers. He could hardly gasp his
news:
Major, you told me to keep watch
and let you know There's "A courier
ooming-hard! Mother saw him
too, through the-spyglass. She says
they-see him, too at Stabbcr's-
and she's afraid"
Right" cried Webb. Quick,
Blake; rush out half dozen men to
meet him. Those devils may indeed
cut him off. Thank YOU my little
man." he added, bending down and
palilhg the dark curly head, as Blake
went bounding away. Thank you,
Sandy. I'll come at once to the bluff.
Wen save him. Never you fear"
In less than no time, one might
say, all Fort Frayne seemed hurrying
to the northward bluff. The sight of
tall Capt. Blake bounding like a grey
hound toward his troop barracks, and
Eh1Irtinu hi, ,f
Maj. Webb almost running across the