The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-08-22
MORE EFFECTIVE
AV1 THAN RIFLES.

IN single prairie schooner from st.
Joseph, Mo-, to cross the plains" OLD
John Henderson, his wife, two daugh-
tiers and little son We're the members
of the family, and Herman Harris, a
young plainsman was to act as guide.
Betsy Henderson, the Oldest daughter.
was aged nineteen, her sister Belle ff-
teen and Ben seven. The party started
on the 25th Of June.
Dad" said Ben, as they We're about
to cross the Missouri river, "what'm |
goin' to do Fourth % July?'
We'll be out on the plains on the
Fourth"
won't have nothin to fre?"
"Tll let you shoot my revolver"
II want some rockets N crackers. n
things"
I'm afraid you'll have to go without
'em this year.
The girls were listening to this con-
versation, and Betsy begged her father
to take along some fireworks, but the
old man said he had no money to burn
up that way and no room to carry the
stuff. He resolutely declined.
Now, Herman Harris had been pick
ed up at St Joseph to be with the par
ty for matter of a few weeks, when
it was expected he would separate
from them, and they would have no
further mutual interest. 1t never oc-
CURED to John Henderson that there
could possibly be any stronger tie be-
tween them than the journey. He
didn't reckon on but two girls and a
young man to encounter the dangers
OF new country together When Bet
sy Henderson was told that Herman
Harris was to be their guide and, eX-
cepting her old father, sole defense
against Indians and cutthroats she
brought great big pair of eyes to bear
on him. She might as we'll have lev
eled a revolver, so far as his future
freedom was concerned, for he figura-
lively threw up his hands, while she
figuratively went through him for his
heart.
The second evening out Herman in
formed Betsy that he had something to
show her, and, taking her to the wag,
on, they stopped, and there, tied up
against the wagons bottom, was a
bundle.
what is it?'' asked Betsy, looking
at him with her haring eyes.
whats the first thing ever heard
you say you wanted?'
Il don't know"
II do; l heard you ask your father
for fireworks to celebrate the Fourth
with"
$50 I did"
II went off and got 'em. There
wasn't room in the wagon so put ZEN
up there
The big eyes took ON certain soft
ness, and that was the beginning of it
couple of dollars worth of fireworks
The party had been out a week whe1
they met returning train, from which
they received information that there
were some hostile Indians farther OF
and they had better turn back. A
least they had better make a detour
Henderson listened to this grimly
thought of his wife and children at the
mercy of savages and was inclined t.
turn. He finally concluded to make the
! detour.
The next evening an Indian was de
serted on the horizon. 1t was after sun
set, and the form of the warrior stoot
out in silhouette against broad STRIP
of red left on the horizon. Then anoth
er appeared near the first and anothe
till Henderson counted twenty siIhou
cites. His heart sank within him.
The line, scattered over half mil,
of alkali dirt, moved toward tn,
schooner, on whose white top the las
light Of day was lingering. If the In
dams were hostile death = horribl
death-was certain. The old maj
wrung his hands. The Indians came OF
to within rifle range, then sent singh
, shot
There was nothing to do but get be
hind the wagon, distribute the rife!
and die Every member took a rife
including little Ben, who found a con
venient rest on spoke. Harris tool
position midway between the front ant
rear wheels. The Indians advanced
with scattering fire. They did no
know the weakness of their enemy. I
was now getting dark.
Suddenly Herman Harris threw dow
his rifle and, taking his knife from hi:
! belt, cut the thongs that held the bun
die under the wagon.
drop your rifles" he said to the 9th
ers. well try these"
To the mother and her children b.
gave roman candles, to the fathe
rockets, while, taking a pinwheel, b,
passed under the wagon and, getting
! up on the other side, fastened 1t to thu
wagon with nail through its center
Then, scratching a match, he ignitet
the fuse.
The Indians stopped and wondered
In the center OF the schooner they saw
a great fiery eye throwing out spark:
on every side. Then fountain O.
sparks scared into the air, and on
popped star. In a moment there
were several such fountains, all shoot
ing stars. But the most frightful dem
onstration was stream of fire direct
cd ovor fbof,. heads o,,t &c -,-A..h