Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-05-15


The Mere Presence of Hamlin Was an
Assurance of Safety.
little alley-way next the hotel. l know
now how foolish / was, but then I
was reckless. 1t was dark and saw
and heard nothing to warn me of dan
ger. 1t was in my mind that my
father had been lured on to the open
prairie behind the hotel Suddenly
was seized roughly, and a cloth
whipped over my face before could
even scream. heard voice say:
Damned if it amt the girl! What
will we do with herr and then Du-
points voice answered gruffly: Hell,
there amt anything to do, but take
the little hussy along. She'd queer
the whole game, an we've got an extra
horse They jerked me forward so
roughly, and was so frightened that
that l must have tainted At any
rate l remembered nothing more dis
| tinctly until we had crossed the river,
and was on horseback wrapped in
blanket, and tied to the saddle. Some
one was holding me erect; I could not
move my arms, but could see and
| hear. 1t was dark, and we were NOV
ing slowly; there were two Indians
ahead and a white man riding each
side of me. They thought me uncon-
scious still, and spoke occasionally;
little by little recognized their voices
and understood their Words
Her voice broke into sob, but the
Sergeant's eyes were still gazing vigil
lantly out over the snow-clad hills.
"It is hard to tell the rest" she
said finally, "but learned that it was
not robbery. but the betrayal of trust.
My father was guilty. and yet at the
same time victim. l only got the
truth in snatches, which had to piece
together, although later learned 9TH
or details. Mrs. Dupont had bled my
father through some knowledge she
| had gained of his sisters family. I
cannot even imagine what this could
have been, but 1t was sufficient for
her purpose. He gave her all he
had, and then-then she heard of this
| government money being sent to Rip
| ley. She had known about that for
several days through the Lieutenant.
| and had ample time to arrange the
| plot. My father must have been crazy
to have entered into the scheme, but
he did, he did. The woman compelled
| him to it."
81 understand, Molly" broke in
Hamlin. anxious to spare her the de-
tails. They were to pretend robbery.
but with the Majors connivance. An
officer impersonating him was des-
patched to Ripley by stage This
would prevent any immediate pursuit.
Later the Major was to be released,
to return to Dodge with his story.
The projection of yourself into the
| affair disarranged the entire plot, and
then a quarrel occurred, and your
| father was killed"
| Yes; it was over what should be
done with me; although l believe now
they intended to kill him, so as to re-
tain all the money. The older | lian
fired the shot treacherously.''
And Connors?"
Dupont killed him; they were both
drunk, and the soldier fired first, but
missed"
And after that?"
She covered her face with her
hands.
| cit was all dream of continuous
horror. yet through it all, do not
recall consciousness of physical tor
ture. seemed to be mentally numbed,
my brain blank. 1t was realization
of my fathers guilt more than my own
danger which affected me-that and
his death. They were not unkind nor
brutal. Indeed do not clearly re-
call that was ever spoken to, except
when some necessary order was given
One night heard them discuss what
should be done with me: that / was
to be hidden away in Black Kettles
camp. Generally Dupont spoke to the
Indians in their own tongue, but that
night he thought me asleep. IL had
no hope left-not even faith that you
could ever rescue me-"
| Hamlin's hand clasped hers firmly,
bul his eyes were riveted on some
thing il the distance
Wait" he said, checking his horse
what is that? See; down in the val
ley of the creek! Is it not moving
body of menu"
CHAPTER xxxlv.