The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-06-21
cHApTEI, XIV.


ehouf six miles from Rocky Creek, and
~raIted for darkness to favor the consum-
Enatioa Of their purpose. Henderson,
s1ucA 20 his regret, was now deprived Of
the sn2iety of Kate Martin, as she had
continued her way homeward under the
escort Of Joe Sawyer.
That Mr.. Henderson is done for"
said Joe, sullenly.
II Cont quite apprehend your mean
Nng. Joe.r replied Kate, demurely.
''Ife'S smashed; he couldn't take his
eyez OF from you a minute" returned
%awyrv
s-Nonsense, Joe."
s.Yau can say nonsense as much as
-vuu please, but that won't convince me
that Henderson don't love the ground you
psalk on" added Sawyer, obstinately.
g~CcIne, shall be angry with you,"
said Kate.
THAT won't make no difference to me-"
answe- ed Joe. II shall stick to you just
efe same NY gratitude won't be put out
by getty show of anger on your part"
-Shlr you go to the Tory rendezvous
to-paorrowf' inquired Kate, eyasively.
~I ..ali go if you do"
'-Bc assured that shall not. But here
I'VE arc at the settlement. What will
you dap
~7St~n my horse into the pasture, and
Bef those who love to fight, go to war.
When can serve you, / shall be ready
and proud to do So" was the rejoinder.
IL was dark when Kate reached home.
Tler rc.nrn was anxiously expected, and
,Gcessis ned much joy
Nothing Of particular interest had
kransp.rpd during her brief absence. Mr..
Martin called her his "braye girl" and
his -heroic Kate" while the good horse.
Victor, who had proved so faithful SER
Ranf, as suitably cared for.
Kate related the story of her adven-
CIlrcs 20 attentive auditors, partook of re-
fresimrnts, and was about to retire when
an unexpected and painful scene occur
red There was loud knocking at the
~outer door, and Mrs. Martin opened it.
"A man wearing the uniform of a subal-
Enrn oiicer entered, followed by ten or a
dozen Dragons. Their entry was hurried
and uneeremonious and their locks unpre-
possessing. Kate and her mother grew
pals, tut the pastor remained calm.
Hooking at the anxious group before
chem. with a glowering eye, the officer
aAid, iiterrogatiyely and not very courte-
Aously
~Your name is Martini
II is,s replied Mr.. Martin.
'1tYou're the man we're after said the
inf1icer. laconically.
-Fc. what objectr asked the pastor.
ITO punish you for your canning hy-
pocrisy,r returned the man, impatiently.
Several of the dragons moved forward.
Kate iuterposed her own person between
her father and the ruffian crew, and COM
naanded them to offer him no indignity,
Ef they made any pretensions to the name
s.uf men and Christians.
stand away, miss; your advice amt
wanted at present" added the leader,
with a sneer, though not a little snrpris--
4md at she beauty and herosm of Kate.
by whose orders do you actT' she
asked, firmly.
@By Col. Ferguson's," replied the man.
sTas4n go and tell him that you find
Esre onIy two defenseless females and
vcnerrhle servant of God" rejoined Kate,
energesically.
..And get put under arrest for my
,Gronble2" said the leader, with sneer.
we didn't come here to hear you or
your father preach sermons, my pert
damsei. Men, seize the rebel and bind
him.
s4Stand aside, my dear Kate" said Mr..
Martin, embracing her afectionately.
-sWhen we cannot resist injustice, we
unjust suffer 1t with Christian meekness.
n must submit to these men; no alterna-
Give remains. Your eanest appeals will
out provoke thei- malice. Soldiers, am
ready, like Paul not only to be bound.
but to die in the cause Of truth and
righteousness"
While the good pastor was speaking,
ne gently put Kate from him, and the dra-
.gocns Instantly seized him.
The house was searched, and everything
THAT was eatable dispatched without cere-
rsnony. Many small articles Of trifiing
value were also appropriated. by the soi-
diers, and concealed about their persons.
One Of the boldest OF the party demanded
Kate's finger rings; and another attempt
ed to pull the plain gold ornaments from
her ears; piece of cruelty which the
maiden barely escaped. She Immediately
,unfastened the baubles and threw them to
sfhe fellow who had resolved to possess
I1hem; remarking as she did so, that he
smnst be unworthy the name Of soldier
wxha could descend to the meanness Of
robbing women of their personal orna-
xnents; and that cause must be indeed
had which is defended by men Of such
yrinciples."
The leader here interfered, and ordered
fhe ornaments to be restored, reminding
che men that they were ordered not to
4ake anything away; but every moment
shey became more dangerous, and finally
IL was proposed that they should shoot
MIR. Martin on the spot.
This proposal was hailed with shouts
of applause by the majority; and the