The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-06-16
s C A II e d
lorigina;l.l

ing of some wagons A boy of four
teen stepped up to him and asked:
Are you Mr.. Brant that's going to
take the train to Denver?"
81 am
81 want to go with you. You see, my
mother she took my father out two
years ago. when / was a 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.
TON Hodge"
TON Hodge. 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. but the man.
acemcnt of the train was left to a man
Of the name of Conover who looked
after the horses, the harness and the
condition of the wagons. Conover was
very proud of having been born in an
almshouse and not having had a years
schooling in his life. He had attended
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 we'll
and hands occasionally. process that
Conover regarded very effcminate. es-
pecally while on the plains. The con
sequence was that the wagon master
was disposed TO make butt of the
boy.
One evening after dusty days trav
el Tommy said he would go to a creek
where he had noticed good swim
ming place and take bath. When he
had gone Conover remarked to the
men vino were taking care of the
stock: I'm going to scare that boy
out of years growth. He's pestifer
Gus little cuss and needs taking down"
Without Celay he followed Tommy,
taking care to keep at a sufficient dis
lance. OF course no one would leave
the train without a 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. Conover's
plan was to put himself beyond the
boy, then send him running to camp
stark naked. After taking his position
the wagon master raised an Indian
whoop.
The twilight was deepening into
darkness. and he could not see distinct
ly, so he listened. The fioundering in
the water ceased. Conover strained his
eyes, expecting to see the boys white
body shooting through the gloom. He
saw nothing but the boundless plain
lying like q dark ocean about him. He
began to feel that sensation Of loneli-
ness which comes to one alone in a
vast expanse, and loneliness is akin to
fear
Suddenly his blood ran cold at the
sound of real whOop. not the whoOp
of white man, but the blood curdling
yell Of an Indian. He started to run
for camp, and as he did so an Indian.
doubtless in advance of his people, rose
up near him. The savage was armed
only with a tomahawk. which he bran
dished, and ConOver expected to see it
fly from his hands and cleave his
skull. He was so paralyzed with fear
that he dropped his rifle and was COM
pletely defcnseless. Then he turned
and made a dash for camp.
Running like the wind. he was pass
ing the place where Tommy Hodge had
gone in to battle when close behind
him the pursuing Indian gave tri-
umphant yell. COnOver knew that the
savage had got within distance to hllrl
his tomahawk effectively He was ex-
pecting every moment to be laid low
by blow when he heard a shot. He
fully believed that he had been pierced
by bullet. Indeed so powerful was
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 brighten the
boy. but when they heard the Indians
whOOp they knew at once the danger
threatening both Conover and Tommy
Hodge. Mr.. Brant ordered the wagons
into corral, with the animals in the
center, and at the head of a detach
ment of his men went out to the as
sistance of those in peril. Hearins
nothing after the one shot that hat
been fired, they gave up their com
panions as lost, but pushed on. Final
ly they came to Conover, lying Will
his face to the ground. They turned
him over and were examining hin
when they heard a voice from tn,
creek:
Hello! Are you our menu"
What in the name off,
''I'm Dodge. Is he hurt?'
Cant find that he isl
IAN Indian was chasing him. Sool