The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-10-31

leaned e to rest. No insignia OF
rank served TO distinguish him from
those equally dusty fellows plodding
gloomily behind, but a broad stripe OF
yellow running down the seams " hts
trousers, together with his high boots.
bespoke the cavalry service, while tho
front OF his battered campaign hat
bore the decorations OF two crossed
sabers, with a gilded u" prominent
between. His attire was completed by
a coarse blue shirt, u%nbottoned at the
throat, about which had been loosely
knotted a darker colored silk haudker-
! chief. and across the back Of the sad.
! die was fastened a uniform jacket, the
single shoulder strap revealed pre-
senting the plain yellow Of a second
lieutenant.
Attaining to the summit OF a slight
knoll. whence a somewhat wider vista
lay O%utspread, he partially turned his
face toward the men struggling along
in the rear, while his hand swept
across the dreary scene.
II that line OF trees over yonder
indicates the course Of the Bear Wa
ter. Carson" h0 questioned quietly,
where are we expected to bit the trail
leading down to the ford?'
The sergeant. thus addressed, a lit
tie stocky fellow wearing a closely
clipped m~oustache. spurred his
exhausted horse into a brief trot. and
drew up short by the officers side. his
heavy eyes scanning the vague dis
lance, even while his right hand was
uplifted in ~perfunctory salute.
There's no trail know about along
this bank. sir" he replied respectfully.
but the big cottonwood with the dead
branch forking out at the top is the
ford guide"
They rode down in moody silence
into the next depression. and began
YEARLY climbing the long hill opposite.
apparently the last before coming d.
rectly down the banks OF the stream.
AS his barely moving horse topped the
uneven summit. the lieutenant sudden
ly drew in his rein, and uttering an
exclamation Of surprise. bent forward,
staring intently down in his immedi-
ate front. For a single instant he sp-
peared to doubt the evidence OF his
own eyes; then he swung hastily from
out the saddle. all WEAKNESS forgotten.
MY Cod" he cried. sharply. his
eyes suspiciously sweeping the bare
slope. There are two bodies lying
here-white peoplel'
They lay all doubled up In the coars
grass. exactly as they had fallen. tho
man resting face downward. the
slender figure Of the girl clasped vice.
like In his arms. with her tightly
closed eyes upturned toward the glar-
ing sun. Never once questioning but
that ne was confronting the closing
scene Of grewsome tragedy, the thor
oughly aroused lieutenant dropped
upon his knees beside them. his eyes
already moist with sympathy his anx'
ious fingers feeling for a possible
heartbeat A moment Of hushedl
GREATNESS suspense followed, and then
he began ninging terse, eager com.
mands across his shoulder to where
his men were clustered.
Here, Carson, Perry. Ronk, lay
hold quick, and break this fellow
clasp" he cried. briefly. The girl
retains a spark Of life yet, but tbs
mans arms fairly crush her.
with all the rlgidity Of actual death
those clutching hands held their tena
cious grip, but the aroused soldiers
wrenched the in~terlaced fingers apar.
with every tenderness possible in sucf
emergency. shocked al noting the ex
preston Of intense agony stamped
upon the mans face when thus ex
posed to view. The whole terrible
story was cngraven there-how h
had toilod. agouized. suffered. betort
finally yielding 10 the Inevitable AM
|piunging forward In uncunsciousnesa
written as legibly as though by a pen
Carson. who IN his long service hal
witnessed much OF death and suffer
Ing. bent tenderly above him. seekinI
for some faint evidence 81 lingorin.
nfc. The anxious lieutenant, bart
headed under the hot Bun -glare, st7od
hastily across from beside the uncOr
scious but breathing girl, and sloo
gazing d|oubtfully down upon them.
ANY life. |Hergoautg" he demanded
his voice rendered husky by sympathy
"He doesn't seem e~ntirely gone, sir.
n Carson glanced up into the on
GERS face. his own eyes filled wit
feeling. Il can distinguish just a We
bit Of breathing. but its 80 weak "a
Of pulse hardly stirs."
what do you make Of no"
u. Starving al the bottom. air tn
n. only thing / see now Is to get theI
m down 10 water aud food"
a. The young officer glanced swift
,e about him across that dreary pictul
Of un.burnt, desolate prairie stretc
ing in every direction, his eyes pau
-, ting slightly as they surveyed the TOT
A. OF the distant cottonwoods.
IN sling blankets between your horses
he commanded. declsively. Mo-
quickly. lads. and we may save n
n. these lives yet"
CTO BIC CONTINuEDD