Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-05-16
u-contInued.

,hn.sassD for nj the q po.s. an indian hShs, o Sda
CHAPTER lI-contInusd.
NO! Oh, of course not. Nothing
that goes on out here yer drifts east
Of the Missouri. Lord! We might as
we'll be serving a foreign country
Well, listen: was at Washita then,
inc had the story first hand. Dugan
was a lieutenant In d Troop, out
with his first Independent command
scouting along the Canadian. He
knew as much about Indians as a COW
does of music. One morning the
young idiot left camp with only n
trooper along-Hamlin here-and he
wal a rookie to follow up what look
ed like a fresh trail. Two hours later
they rode slap into q var party, and
the fracas was on. Dugan got a ball
through the body at the first fire that
paralyzed him. He was conscious, but
couldn't move. The rest was up to
Hamlin. You ought to have heard
Dugan tell it when he got 80 he could
speak. Hamlin dragged the boy down
into q buffalo wallow. shot both
horses. and got behind them. 1t was
all done in the jerk of a lambs tail.
They had two Henry rifles. and the
rookie kept them both hot.e He got
we never knew how many. There
were twenty In the party. and they
charged twice, riding their ponies al
most to the edge of the wallow. but
Hamlin had fourteen shots without re-
loading. and they couldn't quite make
1t. Dugan said there were nine dead
ponies within q radium Of thirty feet.
Anyhow it was Eve hours before D.
troop came up. and that's what they
found when they got there-Dugan
laid out, as good al dead. and Hamlin
shot twice, and only ten cartridges
left. He'll" he added disgustedly.
"and o never even heard Of it east
of the Missouri"
There was az flush Of color on the
s~ergeant's cheeks. but he never mov
ed.
There was nothing else to do but
what i did" he explained simply. ANY
OF the fellows would have done the
same If they had been up against It
the way / al May l ask" his eyes
first upon one and then the other in
quiringly. what 1t was you wanted
OF me?"
Mcdonald drew q long breath.
Certainly. sergeant. sit down-yes.
take that chair"
He described the situation in q few
words. and the trooper listened quiet
ly until he was done. Travers inter
rupted once, his voice emerging from
q cloud Of smoke. As the major con-
two gravely.
How old 10 your daughter. sir?"
I'm her twentieth year"
Have you a picture Of the young
lady?"
The major crossed over t. his ia
tigue coat hanging on the wall. and
extracted q small photograph from an
inside pocket.
This was taken = rear ago." he ex
planned, '.and was considefed a good
likeness then"
Hamlin took the card In his hands.
studied the face . moment. and then
placed It upon the table.
You figure she ought to leave Rip
~ ON the 18TH" he said slowly. Then
I shall need to start at once to make
Dodge In time"
You mean to 60 then? OF course,
you realize l have no authority to or
der you on such private service"
That's true. I'm q volunteer. but
I'll ask you for . written order Just
the same In case my troop command
er should ever object. and Ill need .
fresh horse; I rode mine pretty hard
coming up here"
You shall have the pick OF the
stables. sergeant" inter1ected the cav
airy captain, knocking the ashes
from his pipe. Anything else? Have
you had rest enough2"
.Four hours" and the sergeant
stood up again. 'All I require will be
two days r%ations. and q few more re-
volver cartridges. The ONE I'm on
the better"
It he heard Travers' attempt At
conversation ~ tho two stumbled to-
gether down the dark hill, he paid
small attention. At the stables, aided
by q smoky lantern, he picked out .
t~ough-looking buckskin mustang. with
an evil eye: and, using his own saddle
and Birdie, he finally led the half-brok-
en- animal outside.
That buckskin's the DEVILS own"
protested Travers. careful to keep to
one side.
'I1l take 1. out Of him before morn
Ing" was the reply. Come on, boy!
easy now-easy! How about the ra-
tions, captain"
Carter will have them tor you at
the gate Of the stockade. Do you know
tho trailf'
We'll enough to follow-yes."
Mcdonald was waiting with Carter,
ana the dim CLEAN Of the lantern .
vealed his face.
Remember. sergeant. you ara to
make her turn back II you can. Tell
her I wish her to do so-yes. this let
ter win explain everything, but she
II : pretty high-spirited girl. and may
take the bit In her teeth-imagins
she'd rather be here with me. and
al that. II she does 1 suppose you'l
have to lot her have her own way
the Lord knows her mother always
did. Anyhow you'll stay with her TIN,
she's safe.
aure wil," returned the sergeant,
Uathet1ng mp his reins. "Good-by Il