The Huttig news., 1909-02-27
and krew by the stopping of the

numbered score or more, and must have been headed for the water-course ahead
 Prof. TodhuHter's first idea was to push cn and gain. if possible. the shel- withstand the inevitable attack, but he lad not gone far when the Indians reappeared so much nearer than be- fore that it became evident that there would be no time for this. In the clear air of the plains he could now see them with some distinetness, al though they were still three or four miles away. It was clear that with the overwhelming odds of at least ten to one in their favor they would not wait until night, but that they were planning an open attack which could not be delayed for more than fifteen or twenty minutes, even if the caravan were to be kept moving at it's best speed. There would thus be no time to reach shelter. and there was no oth CT cover in sight-only rolling prairie with low knolls rising here and there from it's own face.
 So he again called a halt, and sum- moned his little fighting force of two men and a boy
 Boys" said he, slowly we've got ter take keer of ourselves the best way we kin. an there ain't much time ter spare. This ain't much of pitch for Todhunter's Great Moral Wax Works, but my rule is to allus give the best show I kin fer the money, an please the public"
 And Matthias, whose professional re- lation to the entertainment when on exhibition was that of ticket taker, re- sponded with dismal grin:
 Well, guv'nor, this'll be the fust time I ever tried to let in all the dead heads I could.
 Their arrangements were soon made. The professor chose spot near at hand where his movements were con cealed by knoll, and then hastily ar ranged his three wagons in triangle with the horses in the center, barri- cading his wife and little girl behind a wall Of bedding and supplies within the tilt cart. Sam was sternly counted out of the defending party, to his ab solute despair. Nothing but an adroit appeal to his ehivalry had kept him from absolute revolt.
 No, Sam," Todhunter had finally said; you stay in the cart with your ma an sister, an take keer O them
 There were precedents for this sort x.f q l.t. .t ences of Comanche Dick, so Sam re- luetantly yielded This left an effec- tive garrison of three men, opposed to an attack from perhaps ten times that number. There were plenty of guns, to be sure, and the Indian of the if ties was only occasionally supplied with that weapon, and still employed very largely the aboriginal bow and sarrow, but the odds were fearfully against the attacked.
 The professor finally broke the anxious silence:
 "Ef we could only have reached cover he said. Then they couldn't 1 have told whether we was three or l thirty; but out here we can't make no l show at all.
 Sam 'ud count one for looks sug- gested Matthias an he's bout as safe out here as in the cart
 Bully for you. Mat" cried the quick -eared lad. thrusting out his head 'Lemme come ont, pop. I kin fire gun jest as well as if I was growed up" In another instant he had climbed down among the men.
 "Ah, Sammy" said his father, pat ting him proudly on the head. you're we want ten"
 Sam was looking at the legend on one of the wax-works vans, and his face was luminous with an idea
 "B'gosh we've got 'em." he cried
 Todhunter stared.
 'Yes, we've got en- shouted the lad. What's the matter wtI George Washington" And he pointed at the van
 Forty years later the trio would have automatically responded Hes all right" but the formula was as yet QuDDI0. put odfu I0ednlHS WdS C1edT to them at once The idea of free performance of Todhunter's Great Moral Wax Works was repugnant to the managerial mind of the professor. but its utility under the circumstances was obvious to him.
 It was an inspiration, and with des perate haste all hands set about car rying it into effect. Tn a twinkling the vans had been opened and a great variety of celebrities, both Of peace and war. had been unwrapped and pre- pared for action. Their uniform cheer fitness of expression brought solid encouragement to the hearts of tle lit tie garrison. They looked so human and appeared so calm and confid and unterrified that fear seemed temptible beside their magnificent ez ample They were very generally clad in military uniforms. which gave a certain sense of protection through association of ideas. In a very short time they had been effective.y be- slowed.
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