Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-02


screened his eyes with one pasicd
hand and sank back Imply into Colo
mel Cummings arms. Lounsbury
swept the cot clean Of maps, and they
laid him there.
His father was dead" said the com
manding officer-"dead and naked
scalped. mutilated, full Of arrows eiid
rife balls. The house and barns were
| burned"
ANY women?"
"Two-gone."
Jameson put out his arms "My
mother" lie cried imploringly. "My
| poor little mothcr."
Lounsbury knelt beside him, feeling
| shaken and half sick.
"If could only a been there. Blu,
was way of Mt ST. Paul. I knew
something was wrong when the letters
stopped"
But you must buck mp, Jameson,
said the colonel, $50 you can help u.s."
II will Oh. I Will"
How'd you get down here?" said
Lounsbury.
II didn't eat for a long time. wa.
crazy. The snow blinded me, and
was hungry Rut didn't leave the
river. | knew enough for that. They
found me"
"You think the women are alive
colonel ?" asked the storekeeper
Undoubtedly, and with the othel
half of the very band we've got here
somewhere mp in the Big Horn coun
try" He took turn up and dowr
the room.
| MAY l ask your plan?"
I'VE are In fine shape to talk terms
to the cnptors. III send command
TO them, demanding the women. II
they are not surrendered III han.
four of the redskins I've got here
Lame Foot. the medicine man, am
Chiefs Standing Buffalo Canada JOIN
and Shoot a tho. Trce--all ringlender
Then the rest Of the band will be pu
on a reservat ton. If the Jameson wo
men are alive and they send 'cm In
won't hang the chiefs
when III the command stnrtT'
Three hours after we get an inter
prefer. I've sent word up to Custer Il
Lincoln, Rut the delay! Think wha
Ii means To those women!'
at WINS about two women that
wished to speak" said Lounshury. II,
felt apologize. however, the one dan
ger was so trhng beside the other.
| Colonel Cummings listened. "Thos
girls had better come here he salt
as the storcSeeper finished. 'Thel
they'd he safe enough. | remembc
| seeing one OF 'em the day we got back
| She was fine looking young woman
There are two arguments agains
their coming. sir. For legal reason
It's best they should not vacate til
shack or leave the claim"
Il see
"And. again. the father is--wcll, he
rather sore about the war;
"You don't say"
$50 il you could give me Il coupl
Of men TO take my place now and the
during the nieht-the situation is tea.
porary. you see. the father II be bac
in few days"
There are very strong reason
against my acting in the matter. II
here to keep an eye on the Indians
The settlers are expected to go to tn
civil authorities when they have quar-
rels. Now, I'd like to mix up wit
Shanty Town. for instance. Our guard
room In damned with men whov
been drugged over there with vii
whisky. Yet can't. I can only pur
ish my men"
II know that's So"
"Of course l shan't see defenseles
women suffer-
Lounsbury was piqued. Not alto
gether defenselcss, colonel. But I can
stay ut the shnck"-
True. true. Why not ask Mrs. Maj
tin, Major Appleton's sister, to go over
Then you might guard from the barr
II they have one"
That's splendid suggestion, sill
1t would solve the difficulty"
I'D be glad to speak to Mrs. Mnrti
about It." He thought moment, pas,
ing a hand over his clean shaven fac,
You'd have to be relieved even ther
John. should think"
Not at all
But You might In that case II
drew Lounsbury close and spoke wit
his lips in the storekeeper's ear. "Br
you understand" he said aloud as h
concluded, that know nothing abo,
It, II hear Of 1t I shall be very di
pleaSed-very."
Lounsbury was wringing his han
and ready to bolt.
"All the same. John. wish the civ
authorities could get Mt the man"
II wish so too He leaned owe
Jameson.
Good luck" said Colonel Cumming
going back to his maps.
:. "Thank you"
;. And Just at that moment. as I.oun
Il bury swung round on his heel, thel
|, rang ont from the river n single rist,
shot. 1t echoed sharply against II
q barracks and went dying away upo
- the bluffs.
y To BE CoNTINUED.)