Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1909-02-05
an aarful stiffness hang orer the scene.

placed the objects within and beneath
them group of horsemen suddenly
appeared to him in the distance and as
suddenly vanished in thin air.
"Rurales!" calculated Lane. Il Won
der if they are chasing Apaches. That
internal mirage gives you no idea of
distance or direction If the red devils
have got away from Crook and Slip
ped by these greaser rangers over the
border, they'll sure be making straight
for the Ghost range and by this very
trail II so, I'm at the best place on 1t
to meet them, and here l stay till the
coast is clear" Turning to the red
cross on the rock, he reflected. Per
haps. after all, it's a case of 'Nebo's
lonely mountain"
Lane had hardly reached this conclu-
sion before he found 1t justified by the
sight of mounted Apache in the re-
gala of war emerging from u hidden
dip in the trail below the fertilization.
Lane dropped behind the parapet. evil
IDENTIFY before he was observed, as the
steadily increasing number and loud
ness of the hoof beats on the rocky
trail Indicated to the listener.
Crawling back to his horse and bur-
ro he made them lie down against the
upper wall and picketed them with
short lengths of rope to the ground, for
he foresaw that danger could come
only from the mountain side Taking
his Winchester, he returned to the par
apet and, half seated. half reclining
behind it, opened fire on the unsuspect-
ing Apaches. The leader. shot through
the head, fell from his horse. which
reared and backed wildly down the
trail. Other bullets must have found
their billets Also but because of the
confusion which ensued among the In
dams the prospector was unable to
| Of action. In flash every rider
had leaped off his horse and, protect
ing himself by its body, was scram-
bling with his mount to the protecting
declivity in the rear. The prospector
was sorely tempted to pump his car
tridges into the group as it poured
back over the rim of the hollow, but
|
of horses alone. knowing that he could
be attacked only on foot and that every
one of his slender store of cartridges
must find human mark If he would
return to the States alive. They've
got to put me out of business before
they can go on" he ruminated. IAN
Apache is a good deal Of a coward
when he's fighting for pleasure, but
just corner him. and. great snakes and
spittin' wildcats, what a game he does
put up. must save my cartridges, for
one things sure-they won't waste any
of theirs. They're not as good shots as
white men. for ammunition Is too
scarce with them for use in gun prac-
tice, so they won't fire till they've got
me dead to rights. Let me see. There's
about a dozen left in the party, and
have fifteen cartridges. That's three in
reserve for my own outfit if some of
the others fail to get their men. Those
red devils enjoy skinning an animal
alive as much as torturing man. and
you can bet they won't save me any
bullets by shooting Nance and jimmy"
i Reasoning that the Indians would
not dare to attack by way of the open
trail in front and that 1t would take
some time for them to make the de
tour necessary to approach him from
above, since they would have to leave
their ponies below and climb on hands
and knees over jutting lodges and
around broken granite blocks. Lane
coolly proceeded to drink his coffe,
and eat his lunch of hard bread and
cold bacon rind After he had finished
he gave lump of sugar to each Of his
animals and pressed his cheek with ar
affectlonate hug against the side of his
horses head.
"Old girl" he said. I'm sorry We
can't take parting drink. for I'm
afraid neither of us will reach oul
next water hole. But you can count
on me that the red devils won't ge
you"
Then, going to his pack. he undid i
and took out a double handful of vel
low nuggets and number of canva:
bags. These he deposited in the pot
hole and, prying up the fiat stone o
the fireplace, laid 1t over them ant
covered the stone with embers.
"It's ten to one shot that they fin
. ! ish me-" he reflected. "but the wages