The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1904-05-11
SCARED


Joseph, No.. experimenting the load
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;H
''Iam.e
"Iwant 10 20 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 md
take care of mother
-ewhat's your name. sonnyy" he
asked kindly.
tom Hodge
Tom Hodge. | knew Tom Hodge OF
Denver well. So you're his boy Well.
! reckon | can take sou along"
At that time there We're still rowing
bands OF Indians on the plains. though
they Ind become far less to be dreaded
than formerly. The outfit was under
the protection of the wagoners, who
We're all armed with rifles. John Brant.
owner, was the leader. but the man
agemont of the train was left TO man
of the name of Conover. who looked
after the horses, the harness and the
condition of the wagons. Conoyer was
very proud of having been born In an
almshouse and not having had years
schooling in his life. He had attended
a 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 a re.
fined little fellow, having been well
brought up. Tommy washed his face
and hands occasionally, process that
Conover regarded very effeminate. es-
pecially while on the plains The con-
sequence was that the wagon master
was disposed TO make a butt of the
boy.
One evening after dusty days trav-
el Tommy said he would go to creek
where he had noticed good swim
ming place and take bath. When he
had gone Conover remarked 10 the
men who 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 delay he followed Tommy,
taking care to keep at a 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 he-creek laid down his
weapon, threw off his clothes and
plunged into the water. Conoyer'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 flounderlng 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 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 o real whoop, not the whoop
of white man, but the blood curdling
yell of an Indian. He started to run
for camp, and MS he did SO an Indian.
doubtless in advance of his people, rose
up near him. The savage was armed
only with tomahawk. which he bran.
dlshed, and Conover expected to see 1t
fly from his hands and cleave his
skull. He was so paralyzed with fear
that he dropped his rifle and was com
pletely defenseless. Then he turned
and made 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 Iadian gave 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 blow when he heard 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
Conoyer's whoop. they suspected that
II was lie. attempting to brighten the
boy, but when they heard the Indians
whoop they knew ut 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. Hearing
nothing after the one shot that had
been fred, they gave up their com
panlons as lost, but pushed on. Final
ly they came to Conover. lying with
his face to the ground. They turned
him over and were examining him
when they heard voice from the
creek:
''Hellol Are you our menT
"What in the name Of
I'm Dodge Is he hurtT'
Cant find that he IS"
IAN Indian was chasing him. Soon
as heard the whoop l got my rife
and brought It down here out O. sight.
saw the Indian chasing Conoyer and
nIf1nknd him You'lI find fba radsEin