The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-08-02
CHAPTER I.

iHc sCtue was IOHsiy enough, yet not
wi.aout a touch of beauty. For miles
around not a habitation could be seen !;
everything was silent and solitary; in
fact there was something incongruous in
the cleaning metals of the railway that
wound itself, snake-lke through the ver
dure-clad country and the little wayside
station had very desolate air save when
sone big express train drew up for few
minutes to board the small mailbag or
such stray passengers as the nearest set
element beyond the hills had to send on
the road to civilization.
There were only a man and youth in
charge of this depot, yet on this particu-
lar day the rough platform had fair
complement of people. Strengthening
Individuals they were, all clad alike in
soniber kind of uniform, and sitting for
the most part In stolid, gloomy fashion
1t was only when they moved in obedl-
ence to the sharp, rough voice of man
WHO seemed to be guardian to the whole
party that the clink of iron revealed the
TACT that these men were prisoners. The
msu II. charge of the little railway sta
zion had eyed the gang obviously as they
mad aiighted from special carriage in
the last express.
AZ seems mean," he said to himself, "to
eat when maybe It's hours since they have
tasted food. There's one of them" he
unused on, glancing toward the end of the
row, that looks fair done out. Not
bad face that, neither; must have been
handsome. At any rate, he don't look
like the others
The man about whom he mused was sit-
ting with his hands clasped between his
fnees and his eyes fixed almost abstract
edy on the distant beauty of the land
srape. AT first it would have been easy
TO have classed him in with the rest Of
his companions, but the eyes of the north
cornfryinen has been acute. There was
distinct difference In this one prisoner
srom the Others. Hewas slighter, more
delicate build, and, though his face had
Y worn. sad expression, there was nothing
evil in 1t.
he seemed to be one by himself, for the
man further noticed that, as the warders
SssssSsai 50 and fro, or stood speaking 10
each other, there seemed to be kind Of
mule conversation passing between their
charges.
The thought flashed through the mind
OF the station master thar it was a dam
gerous looking gang, that upon which he
was gazing, and even while this thought
crept into definite form he sprung to his
feet
Al at once that line Of gray-clad an
toniata was q moving mass. The still sum- |
mer air was broken by discordant voices
and brutal cries. The two warders were
surrounded
The attack had been SO swift, so unex-
rected, that they were taken off their
Kuard. Before they had time TO get AZ
nhesr revolvers their arms were pinioned. |
sand the weapons had been dragged from
sthsm.
Ihe station master was not one to stand /
soy and see such things without joining |
IN. lie rushed from his Office across the |
line. Everything passed in horrid, con-
FUSED fashion before his eyes, vet he had
instantly noted that the man who had at
tracfed his attention as being different
from the rest was not one of those who
had brought on the assault.
This man was standing apart. leaning
IN half-dazed fashion against the shed.
His feet were chained together. vet ALI at
once. as the man from the Office sprapr
on TO the platform, he, too, moved for.
ward. Swift as lightning he pushed him
self into the struggling throng. With
such heavy loads about his ankles 1t was
not easy for him TO move, yet a kind OF
asupsrhuEan strength passed into his veins
rs ne pulled or the man who was trying
20 choke the life out Of the poor creature
lying at his feet.
mol" he cried, and his voice sounded
strained and hoarse, and yet was full of
authority. You shall not murder him
Hc has done you no HARM What do Won
'want-your freedom? Well, take It while
you can; but don't stain your hands with
an innocent mans blood y
His words were greeted BY a storm of
cries, some menacing. some exultant. 1t
looked for . moment to the station mas
ter as II he, too, would lie on the ground
beside the salf-strangled man who. but
moment before, had been guardian to this
'unruly crowd but the common sense that
lay beneath his words struck home sud-
denly.
Having robbed the warders Of their
keys, - well as their weapons, II was an 4
<axy matter to unlock the chains from
the fest Of all the prisoners, and in an in.
clxdibly short time the station platform
held none Of them save that one who, at
risk Of his own life, had stood between his
1ate comrades and murder.
Not knowing exactly how to act, the
otation master had watched these pro-
csedings standing aloof. He was ready to /,
Aave rushed to the wardsrs assistance
had be not been forestalled in this. AS II
& was, be busted himself pouring hot
water between the pale lips of the younger
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