Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-12-13

to the ears.
"Injuns," he shouted. "Git out o.
here quick n mex fer the Corners!
Yell be all massacreed eff ye don't"
Then he whacked the wet flank Of
his horse with worn beech bough, and
off he went.
We ran to the house in great panic.
l shall never forget the crying Of the
children. Indians had long been the
favorite bugbear of the border country.
Many winters evening we had sat in
the freight, fear-faced, as my father
told of the slaughter in Cherry Valley;
and, with the certainty Of war, we all
looked for the red hordes of Canada
to come. in paint and feathers.
Ray" my father called to me, as
he ran. "ketch the COW quick an bring
'er long"
I caught her by the horn and brought
Ter to the door quickly. Mother was
throwing some clothes in big bundle.
Father met me with a feather bed in
his arms. He threw 1t over the back
of the COW and bound 1t on with bed
cord. That done, he gave me the lead
ing-rope to tie about her horns. The
hoofs of the flying horse were hardly
out of hearing when we were all in the
road. My mother carried the baby, and
my father his sword and rifle and one
of the little ones. / took the three
older children and set them on the
feather bed that was bound to the
back of the COW. They chung to the
BEDFORD. their hair flying, as the old
cow ran to keep up with US, for at first
we were all running. In a moment we
could hear the voices of people coming
behind One of the women was weep
ing loudly as she ran. At the first
cross-road we saw Arv Law and his
family coming, In as great hurry az
we. Arv had great pike-pole in his
hand. Its upper end rose 20 feet above
his head.
What We goin' t. dew with thet?'
my father asked him.
Coin t. run it through the fust In.
jun I see," said he. II We broke the
lock O. my gum"
There was crowd at Jerusalem
Four Corners when we got there
Every moment some family was arriv.
ing in a panic-the men, like my IA.
Their, with guns and babies and baskets
The women, with the young, tool
refuge at once in the tavern, while the
men surrounded 1t. Inside the line
were youths, some oddly armed will
clinoc n1,1hs Nys 1nf
only the sword my father gave m,
and mighty longing to use 1t. Ar
Law rested an end of his pike-pole
and stood looking anxiously for red
devils" among the stumps of the far
ther clearing. An old fint-lock, on the
shoulder of man beside him, had q
barrel half as long as the pole, Da-
vid Church was equipped with ak and
gun, that stood at rest on either side
Of him.
Evening came, and no sign Of In
dams. While it was growing dusk I
borrowed pail Of the innkeeper and
MIXED the COW, and brought the pail,
heaped with froth, to my mother. who
passed trimming cups Of milk among
the children. AS night fell. we boys.
moro daring than our fathers, crept to
the edge Of the timber and set the
big brush-heaps af1re, and scurried
back with the fear of redmen at our
heels. The men were now sitting in
easy attitudes and had begun to talk.
Don't b'lieve there g no Injuns
comm" said Bill Foster. "Ef they
wus they'd come"
"Cordin' t my observation" said
Arv Law, looking up at the sky, en-
juns mos gen'ally comes when they gil
ready"
"An' It amt when yer ready t. hey
EN-, nuther," said Lon Butterfleld
"B'lieve they come up n peeked Out
O. the bushes m see Arv with thet
air pike-pole, n med up their minds
they hedn't better run up ag'ln' it,
said Bill Foster. "Scairt 'em-thet'f
whut's tn matter"
Man ct meks light o. this pole
oughter hev t. carry it," said Arv, al
he sat impassively resting it upon hii
knee.
"cne thin s sure" said Foster; "'e
Arv sh'u'd cuff an Injun with thet all
he'll squ'sh i'm
"SQu'sh I'M" said Arv, with lool
of disgust. '"Tain't med t. squ'sh with
callate t. pint it at 'em n jab."
And so, as the evening wore ava,
and sleep hushed the timid, bette
feeling came over us. l sat by Ros
Merriman on the steps, and We ha,
no thought Of Indians. I was lookin,
into her big hazel eyes, shining in tn
freight, and thinking how beautiful
she was. And she, too, was look
ing into my eyes, while we whispere,
together, and the sly mink read m,
thoughts, know, by the look of her.
Great flames were now leaping higl
as the timber-tops at the edge Of tn
clearing. A dead spruce caught fir
as we were looking. The fame
threw over it lacy, shimmerina
cracking net Of gold. Then suddenl,
1t burst into red. leaping tower. 4
few moments, and the cavern Of tn
woods. along the timber side, wa
choked with fire. The little hamle
had become q spring OF light in tn