The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-07-16

upon hts knees beside them, HIS eyes
already moist with sympathy, his anx-
ious fingers feeling for a possible
heartbeat. A moment OF hushed,
breathless suspense followed, and then
he began fiinging terse, eager COM
mands across his shoulder to where
his men were clustered.
Here! Carson, Perry, Ronk. lay
hold quick. and break this fellows
clasp" he cried. briefly. The girl
retains spark of life yet, but the
mans arms fairly crush her"
With all the rigidity of actual death
those clutching hands held their tena-
cious grip, but the aroused soldiers
wrenched the interlaced fingers apart
with every tenderness possible in such
emergency, shocked at noting the ex-
preston OF intense agony stamped
upon the mans face when thus ex-
posed to view. The whole terrible
story was engraven there-how he
had tOiled, sgoniZed, suffered, before
finally yielding TO the inevitable and
plunging forward in Inconsistencies
written as iegibly as though by pen.
witnessed much of death and suffer
| ing, bent tenderly above him, seeking
for some faint evidence of lingering
| life. The anxious lieutenant, bare
| headed under the hot sun-glare, strobe
hastily across from beside the uncon-
| sciouS but breathing girl, and stood
| gazing dOubtfully down upon them.
ANY life, sergeant?" he demanded,
his voice rendered husky by sympathy.
He doesn't seem entirely gone, sir"
and Carson glanced up into the Off
GERS face, his own eyes filled with
feeling. Il can distinguish just a wee
bit of breathing, but it's so weak the
pulse hardly stirs."
What do you make Of it?"
Starving at the bottom, sir. The
only thing 1 see now is to get them
down to water and food"
The young officer glanced swiftly
about him across that dreary picture
of sun-burnt, desolate prairie stretch
ing in every direction, his eyes paus-
ing slightly as they surveyed the tops
OF the distant cottonwoods.
Sling blankets between your horses, -
he commanded, docisively. Move
quickly. lads, and we may save one OF
these lives yet"
AS if by some magic discipline the
rude, effective filters were rapidly
made ready, and the two seemingly
lifeless bodies gently lifted from of
the ground and deposited carefully
within. Down the long, brown slope
they advanced slowly, a soldier grasp
ing the rein and walking at each
horses head, the supporting blankets
securely fastened about the saddle
pommels, swaying gently to the meas
ured tread of the trained animals. Be
meath the protecting shadows Of the
first group of cottonwoods, almost OF
the banks of the muddy Bear Water
the little party let down their sense
less burdens, and began once more
their seemingly hopeless efforts at re
suscitation. A fire was hastily kin
died from dried and broken branches
and broth was made, which was forced
through teeth that had to be prieC
open. Water was used unsparingly
the soldiers working with feverisl
eagerness, inspired by the constant ad
monitions of their officer, as well a.
their own curiosity to learn the fact
2 hidden behind this tragedy.
1t was the dark eyes of the CIR
which opened first. instantly CLOSING
again as the glazing light swept int
them. Then slowly, and with wonder