Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-05-13
DAILY SHORT STORY
IOriginal.I
6 c ar e d.

fore a wholesale grocery house in St
Joseph, No. experimenting the load
ing of some wagons. \ boy of four
teen stepped up to him and asked:
Are you Mr. Brant that's going to
take the train TO Denver:"
II am
Il want to go with you. You see, my
mother she took my father out two
years ago. when 1 was little chap.
and she left me with my aunt. Father
he's dead now. and got to go out and
take care of mother"
Whats your name, sonny he
asked kindly.
Tom Hodge"
TON Hodge. 1 knew Tom Hodge OF
Denver well. So you're his boy. Well.
/ reckon / can take you along"
At that time there were still rowing
bands of Indians on the plains. though
they had become far less to be dreaded
than formerly The outfit was under
the protection of the wagoners. who
were all armed with rifles. John Brant.
owner, was the leader, bat the man
aGemCnt of the train was Left to n man
of the name of Conover. who looked
after the horses, the harness ana the
condition of the wagons. COnover was
very proud of having been born in an
almShOuSe and not having had years
schooling liz his life. He had attended
Il dance in st. Joseph with his trousers
tucked in his boots to shame one or
two men in dress suits. He disliked
Tommy Hodge because he was re-
fined little fellow. having been well
brought up. Tommy washed his face
and hands occasionally, a process that
ConOver regarded very effeminate, es-
pecially while on the plains. The CON
sequence was that the wagon master
was disposed To make u butt of the
boy.
One evening after n dusty days trav-
el Tommy said he would go to n creek
where he had noticed n good swim
ming place and take a bath. When he
had gone Conover remarked to the
men vino We're taking care of the
stock: I'm going to scare that boy
out of Il years growth. He's pcStifer
Gus little cuss and needs taking down."
Without delay he followed Tommy.
taking care to keep at n sufficient dis
lance. OF course no one would leave
the train without rifle. and both the
boy and the man carried one. Tommy
on reaching the creek laid down his
weapon. threw off his clothes and
plunged into the water. ConOvcr's
plan was to put himself beyond the
boy, then send him running to camp
stark naked. After taking his position
whoop.
The twilight was deepening into
darkness. and he could not see distinct
ly, so he listened. The Laundering in
the water ceased. COuover strained his
eyes. expecting 10 sec the boys white
body shooting through the gloom. He
saw nothing but the bouudless plain
lying like dark ocean about him. He
began to feel that sensation of lOncli-
ness which comes to one alone in Il
vast CXpansc, and loneliness is akin to
fear.
Suddenly his blood ran cold at the
sound of Il real whoOp. not the whoop
of Il white man. but the blood curdlinG
yell of an Indian. He started to rim
for camp. and as he did SO an Indian.
tbNlbliNNH Ia sltiN ullCC vi HIS it'Nt
mp near him. The savage was armed
only with tomahawk. which he BRAN
diShed. and ConOver expected to see it
fly from his hands and clcavc his
skull. He was so paralyZed with fear
that he dropped his rifle and was com
plctcly dcfcnSelcSS. Then he turned
and made dash for camp.
Running like the wind. lie was pass
ing the place where Tommy Hodge had
gone in to battle when close behind
him the pursuing Indian gave Il tri-
umphant yell. COnover knew that the
savage had got within distance to hurl
his tomahawk effectively. He was eX
pecting every moment to be laid low
by n blow when he heard Il shot. He
fully believed that he had been pierced
his Imagination that he fell and lay
partly stupefied.
When the party at the wagons heard
ConOver's whoop. they suspected that
it was he, attempting to frighten the
boy. but when they heard the Indians
whoOp they knew at once the danger
threatening both COnOver ana Tommy
Hodge. Mr.. Brant ordered the wagons
into corral, with the animals in the
center. and at the head of detach-
ment of his men went out to the as
sistance of those in peril. Hearing
nothing after the one shot that had
been fired, they gave up their com
panions as lost, but pushed on. Final
" they came to Conover. lying with
his face to the ground. They turned
him over and We're examining him
when they heard n voice from the
creek:
Hello, Are you our men?"
what in the name Of
I'm Dodge. Is he hurt:"
Cant find that be is
AN Indian was chasing him. Soon
as 1 heard the whoop l got my rife
and brought il down here out o sight