Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-12-19

Their.
She put up her hand. I'VE got to 70 |
If he comes, but'-she rose YEARLY
"if he didn't offer pay for our improve
ments how could we go or get through |
the winter or build again next spring?
Our moneys gone"
Look a-here, Dallas" began her IA
Their GROSSLY, they amt no use t worry
th' way you do. Winter Is clost. 1t
amt likely tn man'll come along this
late, an ef he don show up pretty
soon he amt got chanst, cause when
his six months Is gone Anil make an
other trip t. Bismarck, contes his
entry, hev it Cancelled an file. Then
Yves safe"
She silenced him, for Marylyn was
entering. and quit the shack outside,
before the warped door, she paused.
Hes always so sure OF himself. bur
he can't do anything. And Marylyn-
oh. | wish there was some one with us
now--some one that d help us If any
thing went wrong"
or a sudden, looking down at her
hands. her eyes fell upon the crimson
stripes left across her palms 10y the
pillow, and, in fancy, n horscman was
riding swiftly toward her from the
east again, while she leaned on the
cross brace and waited.
Twenty miles" she said thoughtful.
ly--"twenty miles" and turned the
marks under.
Sun baked, deep OF rut and straight
rs the fight OF Il crow lay the road
that led northeast from the swift,
shoally ford of the Missouri to the cat.
Tie camp at Clark's. 1t began at the
rough panking upon which the rickety
ferryboat, Wheeling like some asth-
matte monster. discharged its load of
soldiers or citizens and ran up through
the deep cut in the steep, caving river
bank. From there over the western
end Of the Lancaster quarter, across
the coulee under a hub depth OF mud
dy water-at the only point whore
the sumac grown sides sloped grad
ually-it took It's level, verving
way.
Twice only in its course did it touch
the ravine curvnC along near by it
once, six miles from the ferry landing.
where on the limbs of a cluster OF
giant cottonwoode that grew in the
bottom Of the gully score of Indian
dead were jashed, their tobacco pipes,
jerked beef and guns under the blanket
wrappings that hid them, and again at
Murphy's Throat four miles farther
up where the coulee narrowed until 4
man standing in It's bed with arms
outstretched could place the tips of
his fingers against either rocky wall.
| Beyond the Throat the crack in the
plains grew wider and shallover, vecr-
/ ed out to the eastward and at last
came to an abrupt end in high mead
! ow below the distant river bluffs
| For decades The road had been a
| buffalo trail, foot wide and half as
deep, that in the dry season guided
the herds in single file from the cak-
| ing meadow to the distant waters Of
! the Missouri Then the travee poles Of
Indian tribes gave 1t the semblance Of
wagon track, the center Of which
was worn bare by the hoofs OF laden
. ponies and the feet of trudging squaws,
and finally the lum boring carts of trad
ers, the Studebakers Of settlers and
those heavier wagons that roll IN the
rear of marching men made Of the
track a plain and hardened highway.
Down it that morning, approaching
TO the accompaniment of loud talking
the tramping of horses, the cracking OF
whips and the jiuglng of spurs. came
a long procession. Yet so absorbed
was Dallas in her blowing that not
until the head of Its column was close
upon her and there was barely time &c
go to the brides of the frightened
mules did she see IT.
A tanned, unkempt officer led the
way, with baying foxhounds running
about him. On either hand rode hi,
staff and his scouts, Arickaree Indian.
in patched breecheS and dusty blan
kets. And behind full bearded, al
military look gone from their boots
hats and uniforms, came the cavalry
riding two and two and flying torn anC
faded guidons.
Dallas had no chance to view thu
front of the command. for the mule!
claimed all her attention by haulin.
back on their bits. But now the,
quieted little, and she was free t
watch the dozen or so musicians VIII,
came next, mounted, with their bras
instruments in hand. She saw tina
these men were nudging one anothe
and directing at her glances whicl
We're bold and amused.
Something of her fathers hatred o
soldiers stirred her. She grew defiant
yet only for moment The must
clans trottcd by, and now Indians wcr
passlng-men, women and children
whose stolid faces disclosed no hint o
grief or hatred for their captivity
The braves, twenty in number, forme,
the head of the band and kept no oI
der OF march as they spurred forwar
their ragged, footsore ponies. Thci
Springfield rifles. knives and toma
hawks had been taken from Them bu
they still carried their once gay lance
and shields of buffalo hide covere
with rude pictures of the chase an
battle. But, though on other occasion
: these would have betokened the fire.
warrior, they now only emphasized b.
contrast the blankets that trailed IN
gloriously from their wearers shou
ders to the ground and the droopin
feathers of the conquered chiefs.
A war priest, whose string of bears