The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-02-27

hgures, and finally rode off up the
ridge, unconsciously following the
tracks left by the fleeing Indian. If
the girl ever occurred to him, he gave
no sign Of remembrance, and she ut
tered no word. Lying on her side, her
eyes wide open, she watched him ride
away, across the barren space, until
the slow-moving pony topped the
ridge, and disappeared on the other
side. Twice the man turned and
glanced back into the valley, but saw
nothing except the black blotches on
the snow. Molly made no motion. no
cutlery. She preferred death there
alone, rather than rescue at his hands.
Scarcely conscious, feeling no strength
in her limbs, no hope pulsing at her
heart, she closed her eyes and lay
still. Yet wrapped about as she was,
her young body remained warm, and
the very disappearance of Dupont
yielded sense of freedom, awoke a
strong desire to live. Her eyes opened
again, despairingly, and gazed across
the barren expanse. She could see
Hamlin lying face downward, the yell
low lining of his cavalry cape over his
head. 1t seemed to her the mans
foot moved. Could she be dreaming?
No! He actually drew up one limb.
This evidence that the Sergeant
still lived gave her fresh strength and
renewed determination. She strug.
gled to move her own feet; the left
was free, but the right was caught
firmly beneath the pony. She strug-
gled desperately, forgetful OF pain, in
the faith that she might save Ham.
lin. Little by little she worked the
imprisoned limb free, only to find it
numb and helpless. She lay there
breathless, conscious that she ached
from head to foot. Beyond her the
Sergeant groaned and turned partial
ly over upon his side. Tugging at the
blanket she managed to free one arm.
gripped the name of the dead pony,
and drew herself into a sitting pos
ture: Now the blood seemed to surge
through her veins in new volume, and
she labored feverishly to release the
other hand. At last she undid a knot
with. her teeth. and slipped the
blanket from her. beating her hands
together to restore circulation Her
right leg still was too numb to stand
upon, but she crept forward, dragging
it helplessly behind her over the snow,
to where Hamlin lay.
The girls heart seemed to stop
beating as she looked at him-at the
white, colorless face, the closed eyes.
the discoloration of blood staining the
temple. Yet he lived; his faint breath
was plainly perceptible in the frosty
air.
20 Cod" she sobbed. what can Il
dol"
1t was an unrestrained cry of an.
guish, yet there was no hesitation.
She had forgotten everything except
that helpless figure lying before her
on the snow-her own danger, the sur.
rounding desolation, the dead forms
accentnating that wilderness tragedy.
With bare hands she bathed his face
in snow, rubbing the flesh until it
body against his, her lips speaking bis
name again and again, almost hys.
terically, as though she hoped thus to
call him back to consciousness. Her
exploring fingers told her that it was
no serious wound which had creased
the side of his head; if there was no
other he would surely revive, and the
discovery sent her blood throbbing
through her veins. She lifted his head
to her lap, chatting his cold wrists
frantically. her eyes staring again out
across the barren snow fields, with
fresh realization Of their intense lone.
Illness. She choked back a sob of de.
spair, and glanced down again into
Hamlin's face He did not stir but his
eyes were open, regarding her in be.
wilderment.
Molly" he whispered, forgetting
rs this really you? What has hap
pened?"
The girls eyes filled instantly with
tears, but she did not move, except
that the clasp of her hands grew
stronger.
Eyes, am Molly; please do not
move yet. You have been hurt, but 1t
is all right now"
"Hurt!" he lifted his head slightly
and stared about; then dropped it
again with sigh of content. "Oh,
yes, now I know. Hughes shot me
from behind" He struggled upright,
in spite of her efforts at restraint.
feeling beside him for the rifle. DIV.
pont was there, behind that dead
pony. What became of Dupont?"
She dropped her face in her hands,
her form trembling.
"He-he got away. He thought you
were dead; TOTO make sure he came
over and kicked you. Then he took
your rifle, and the only pony left, and
rode off," 49,.
"And left your
"Yes-he-he never thought Of me;
only-only how he should escape With
tho vnouov uovoH vr0roH n1~1v