The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-12-26
cOeyEaotT 1879 eY>A.c.nrcluRo & ca

men on foot, Keeling as they tramped
forward, their heads lowered in utter
WEAKNESS. The girl alone was in sad
die, SO wrapped about in blankets as
to be formless, even her face con
cealed. The name in which she
sWayed to the movement Of the pony,
urged on by one Of tie Indians, was
evidence that she was bound fast, and
helpless. At sight of her condition
Hamlin felt his old relentless purpose
return. He was plainsman enough to
passed through before reaching such
extremity, and was quick to appreci-
ate the full meaning Of their exhaus-
ton, and to sympathize with it. lie
had passed through a similar baptism,
and remembered the desperate clutch
of the storm-king.
But the sight of that poor girl sway
ing helplessly in the saddle, a bound
prisoner In the midst Of those rufiians.
who had murdered her father before
her eyes and who were bearing her
to all the unspeakable horrors Of In
dian captivity. instantly stifled within
him every plea OF mercy. No matter
what they had suffered, they were a
ruthless, merciless gang Of cut
threats, and thieves, fleeing from JUS
tfce, deserving Of no consideration.
Yet their distressed appearance. their
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
sion which caused him to act reckless
ly, rising to his feet, rifle in hand. d.
rectly in their track, hating 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.
rition In blue cavalry o~vercoat, 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" roared
tho Sergeant impatiently. do you
want me to shoot? Damn you, throw
up your hands!"
Slowly, as though his mind was still
In a dream, the mans hands were lift
ed above his head. one grasping a
short, sawed-off gun. The expression
upon hts face was ugly, as he began to
dimly understand what this unexpect-
ed hold-up meant. There followed an
instant Of silence, In which Hamlin
forgetful of Hughes, who still re.
NAMED lying quiet In the snow, took
a step or two forward. rifle 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 u~tterance 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 coolly
Hughes, you sneaklng 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 gum"
What! You"
Yes. you are my prisoner. I've fol.
lowed you from Dodge. Throw down
the gum"
1t dropped sullenly into the snow.
Now. Hughes. go ahead. and dis.
arm those Indians"
The bowman shufied forward. re.
volver in hand. circling to keep safe.
II beyond the reach Of Dupont, who
eyed him maliciously. The latter was
50 buttoned up In a buffslo coat as to
make 1t impossible for him to reach
q weapon. and Hamlin permitted his
eyes to waver slightly, as he watched
the Indians. What occurred the next
instant came SO suddenly as scarcely
to leave an impression. It was swift
instructive action. primitive impulse
An Indian hand fell beneath its blan.
ket covering: there was a flash oil
fame across q p0ny's saddle; Hughes
sprang backward. and went reeling in
to the snow. Hamlin fired. az the saw
age lodged between the horses legs
sending him sprawling. and, ignoring
the other Indian, swung about to GOV
or Dupont. Swift az he moved, be
J was too late. With one desperate