The Huttig news., 1910-01-08

q numbered al secre or more, and must l have been headed for the water-course | ahead
 l Prof. Todhunter's first idea was fo 1 push on and gain, if possible, the shel- ter of the trees before attempting to 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 distinctness. al l though they were still three or four miles away. It was clear that with he 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 he de'ayed for more than fifteen or twenty minutes. even if the caravan were to be kept moving <, is best speed. There would thus be no time to reach shelter, and there was no Q; h. CT cover in sight-onlv 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 i ter take keer of ourselves the best way We kin. an, there ain't much time ter spare. This ail't much of a pitch l for Todhunter's Great Moral Wax l Works. but my rule is fe alus give the best show I kin fer the money, an l please the public
 1 Ard Matthias. whose professional re- .ation to the entertainment when or exhibition was that of ticket taker, re 1 sponded with dismal grin:
 Well, guv'nor, this'll be the fust time l ever tried to let in all the dead heads I could
 Their arrangements were soon made The professor chose a spot near at hand wEere his movements were con ceaied by knoll, and then hastily ar ranged his three wagons in a triangle with the horses in the center, barri- eading 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 chivalry 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 of thing among the myriad expert ences of Comanche Dick, so Sam re- l luctaatly yielded. This left an effee- tive garrison of three men. opposed to an attack from perhaps ten times that number. There were plenty of guns l to be sure, ard the Indian of the if l lies was only occasionally supplied with that weapon, and still employed very largely the aboriginal bow and arrow. but tie odds were fearfally against the attacked
 The professor finally broke the anxious silence: =. | Ef we could only have reached cover" he said. Then they couldn't have told whether we was three or thirty; but out here we can't make no 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 cared lad, thrusting out his head. "Lemme come ont. pop. I kin fire a 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'goshl we've got 'em." he cried.
 Todhunter stared.
 Yes, we've got 'em," shouted the lad What's the matter v.tL George Washington? And he pointed at the van.
 Forty years later the trio would have automatically responded: He's all right" but the formula was as yet uuUOl put Ddlii llSGnlAAS was SlCdl to them at once The idea of a free performance of Todhunters Great Moral Wax Works was repugnant to the managerial mind of the professor, but it's 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. In twinkling the vans had been opened and great variety of celebrities, beth of peace and war, had been unwrapped and pre- pared for action Their uniform cheer fitness of expression brought solid encoura cement to the hearts of tie 1t tie garrison. They looked so hu7a and appeared so calm and conf and unterrifed that fear seemed temptible beside their magnificen, ample. They were very generally c in military uniforms. which gave certain sense of protection through association of ideas. In yer short time they had been effeetive.y be- slowed