Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-01
SIMMONS LOVE STORY
tOriginal.l
simmons, tell us a story"

"a love story" put in one of the par
ty, with a grin. while the others guf-
fawed.
"Fll tell you a love story if you like"
said Simmons sOberly. The others
looked at each other as if wondering
what Kind of love story the unro-
mantle Simmons would concoct Then
they AL agreed they would like to hear
it. THIS was the story:
''Ten years ago." began Simmons
"leastaways it was somewhere in the
eightiep-bein' out of job, was NOV
in into Arizona. l was ridin' alone
across the rOllin' country, feelin' kind
O. desOlate like, for l hadn't no rela-
tives except way back in Indiana, and
the circ9mspection wasn't calculated to
alleviate no SIGH feelin's, there bein' no
shrubbery but cactus, which is no more
affectionate than a porcupine. Shortly
before shutdown 1 was movin' parallel
with rise in the ground on my left
toward the west when someers on
tOther side Of it heered the crack of
rifle. follered by three more cracks
comm from someat different direc-
ton.
II was in the Apache country, and
this set me to thinkin'. II there was
disturbance didn't want to git into
it on the wrong side. Apaches haint
got no gratitude. and / preferred to
cast my fortunes on tother side. l
jist dismounts and climbs the rise and
yhnv, fhr k,l-a
through the cactus without bein' seen.
Right down below was two wagons,
with the stock and family Of whites
behind 'em, backed by the rise / was
on, while furder out was a small band
of redskins-twenty or more, l reckon
crawlin' up on to 'em, firm as they
crawled.
Il goes down to my horse, unslings
two rifles, includin' all the ammunition
l had-there was plenty Of it-and
goes back to the crest. The Injuns
had scattered--deploye as the sojers
say-into a thin line curved like bow
SOS to take the whites both center
and on either flank"
Simmons" interrupted one of the
listeners, do you call this love
story? l call It fightin' yarn"
"The whites" continued Simmons
imperturbably, was pretty much
flustered, for they never could tackle
the Injuns comm from sich different
p'ints. There was middle aged man
and woman about the same age, and
two young fellows about twenty and
eighteen, kid, boy Of twelve, and
gal. Every one Of the half dozen Of
'em had rifles in their hands, includin'
the kid. The ole man was tellin' 'em
not to fire till the Injuns got closer
could hear every word he said-not
to aim at the same savage and never
to fire without bringin' down a man.
He'd posted the gal on one extreme
flank and the kid ON the other, where
there wasn't but one or two Injuns for
each to watch. The Apaches wasn't
firm jist then; they was dom somep'n
more turrable; they was a creepin',
contractin' the line as they came.
When they got nigh the ole man fired
and dropped redskin. At this all
the others fired, dom damage, except
the gal and the kid. Jist then the front
line moved fore'ad and the two flank
Injuns closed in rapid. 1t seemed to
me time for the reserve to come In, so
I dropped the flank Injun goin' for
the gal, then turned to the one before
the kid, which l sent back with limp.
"Well, now. you'd oughter seen the
way them Injuns picked up their ears
and craned their necks to see where
the shootin came from. knowed the
smoke hung over where l was, for we
hadn't no smokeless powder then, so
moved purity quick dozen yards
to the right and let fly again, but l
didn't hurry, so 1 might bring down
an Injun every time. The family be-
low was equal astonished, but not a
one of 'em dared take their eyes off'n
the redskins to see what was up. /
keeps movin' about behind the cactus,
firm as rapid as l could convenient,
givin' the appearance Of a line fifty
yards from tip to tip. In less'n ten
minutes I'd dropped five Injuns, and
the family, havin' taken heart, dropped
as many more. I counted ten left.
Them ten drawed Off outen range and
held a powwow, lookin' up at the crest
where I lay In the cactus, not wastin'
no ammunition, therefore givin' no sign.
After awhile, likely concludin' there
warn't much force on the crest, they
advanced ag'in, usin' their ponies for
protection till they come within 200
yards, then made a dash for the wag-
ons.
''Of course couldn't tell which
brought down the most of 'em, the
family or me. All knowed was that
four Of 'em dropped, remainin' re-
markable quiet; two Of 'em dragged
themselves away; the other three put
'em on their ponies and galloped away"
The story teller ceased to speak,
having apparently reached the end Of
his story.
"Weil," said listener, didn't the
family show no gratitude nor nothin'r'
didn't have no time. We was
afraid Of more Apaches and lit right
out"
"But where does the love part come