The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-02-20

I'll Hughes eyes barely topped the
surface. Hamlin Icy outstretched q
foot below, watching for the slightest
sign of treachery. The cowman stared
up the depression, blinking his eyes
in the snow glare. The impatient
Sergeant gripped his arm.
well, what is it? Are they COM
ing?"
you bet, an about dead, from the
looks of EN-. Them fellars amt look
in fer nuthin'. l reckon / could stand
up straight yere an they'd never see
me. Take look yerself; it's safe
| 'nough."
Hamlin drew himself up, and peered
out over the snow, but still gripped
the others arm. With his first glance
up the valley there swept over him a
strange feeling Of sympathy for those
he was hunting. 1t was a dismal, de-
pressing picture-the bare, snow.cov-
cred hillsides, and between, founder
ing weakly through the drifts, the lit
tie party of fugitives, the emaciated
ponies staggering with weakness, the
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 manner in which she
swayed to the movement of the pony,
urged on by one of the 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
realize what suffering those men had
passed through before reaching such
extremity, and was quick to appreci-
ate the full meaning of their e1haps-
ton, and to sympathize with it. He
had passed through similar baptism,
and remembered the desperate clutch
of the storm.king.
But the sight of that poor girl sway
ing helplessly in the saddle, bound
prisoner in the midst of those ruffans.
who had murdered her father before
her eyes and who were bearing her
to all the unspeakable horrors of In
dian captivity. instantly stifed within
him every plea of mercy. No natter
what they had suffered, they were
ruthless, merciless gang of cut
threats, and thieves, fleeing from JUS
tice, 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
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, 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, huge,
shapeless figure in his furs, his black
beard frosted oddly. He stood motion
less, astounded at this strange appa-
rition in blue cavalry overcoat, which
had sprung up so suddenly in that
'wfldernes. For an instant he must
have deemed the vision confronting
him some illusion of the desert, for he
never stirred except to rub gloved
hand across his eyes.
"By all the gods, Dupont roared
the 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 his 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, rife at Shout
der. The two Indians, swathed in
blankets, but with arms appraised,
were in direct line, motionless as stat.
ues.a 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, bat as Hughes rose to
his knees, suspicion leaped instantly
to his brain.
"A hold-up, hey" he said coolly
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.
I am Sergeant Ramlin, 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"
It dropped sullenly into the snow.
Nov, Hughes, 60 ahead, and DIS
arm those Indians
The bowman shuf1ed forward, re-
volver In hand, 'circling TO keep safe
~ beyond the reach of Dupont, who
eyed him maliciously. The latter was
so buttoned up in a buffalo coat as to
make 1t Impossible for him to reach