Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-10-16

eheT ulStresSeu appearances. thSh
lack Of vigilance. rendered him care,
less. They seemed too weak to resist,
TOO exhausted to fight; the cold pluck
ing at their hearts had seemingly al
ready conquered. 1t was this impress
sion which caused him to act reckless
ly. rising to his feet, rife in hand. d.
rectly in their track, batting their ad-
vance with stern command.
Hands up! Quick now, the three
of you! Don't wait. Dupont; I've got
the drop!"
The white man was In front, a huge.
shapeless figure in his furs, his black
beard frosted oddly. He stood motion.
less, astounded at this strange appa.
ritlon In blue cavalry overcoat, which
had sprung up SO suddenly in that
wilderness. For an instant he must
have deemed the vision confronting
him some illusion of the desert, for he
never stirred except to rub a gloved
hand across his eyes.
BY all the gods, Dupont" reared
the Sergeant impatiently, do you
want me to shoot? Damn you, throw
uI your hands!"
Slowly, as though his mind was still
In dream. the mans hands were lift.
ed above his head, one grasping a
short, sawed-off gun. The expression
upon his face vas ugly, as he began to
dimly understand what this unexpect.
ed hold-up meant There followed an
instant If ofInnna In, x.,t,s.l.l
forgetful OF Fughes, who still re-
NAMED lying quiet in the snow, took
step or two forward, rife at Shout
der. The two indians, swathed in
blankets, but with arms appraised,
were In direct line, motionless as stat.
ues. He could see the CLEAN OF their
dark eyes, and even noticed the figure
of the girl straighten in the saddle.
Dupont gave fierce utterance to an
oath. Apparently he failed to recog.
nize the soldier, but as Hughes rose TO
his knees, suspicion leaped instantly
to his brain.
"A hold-up, hey!" he said coolIy
Hughes. you sneaking old coward.
come out into the open once. What
is 1t you want?"
Nothing to that, Dupont" returned
the Sergeant, glancing back question
ingly toward his companion. your
old partner is here under my orders.
! am Sergeant Hamlin, Seventh Cav.
airy. Throw down that gun!"
What! YOU"
Yes, you are my prisoner. I've fol.
lowed you from Dodge. Throw down
the gun!"
1t dropped sullenIy into the snow,
Now, Hughes, go ahead, and dis.
arm those Indians"
The cowman shuffied forward re-.
volver in hand. circling to keep safe
ly beyond the reach Of Dupont, who
eyed him maliciously. The latter was
so buttoned up in buffalo coat as TO
make 1t impossible for him to reach
weapon, and Hamlin permitted his
eyes to waver slightly, as he watched
the Indians. What occurred the next
instant came go suddenly as scarcely
to leave an impression. II was swift,
instructive action. primitive impulse.
An Indian hand fell beneath its blan.
ket covering; there was fash OF
fame across a pony's saddle; Hughes
sprang backward. and went Keeling in.
to the snow. Hamlin fred. as the saw.
age lodged between the horses legs,
sending him spraying, and. ignoring
the other Indian, swung about to GOV.
er Dupont Swift as he moved. he
was too late. With one desperate
spring backward the white man was
behind the womans' pony, sheltered
by her shapeless figure, gripping the
animals bit The second Indian
dropped to his knees and opened fire
With sudden lurch forward the Ser
geant plunged headlong in the snow.