Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1913-04-03
CHAPTER VI.-contInued.

Then 1t came to him in a sudden
Dash of intelligence-he was alone;
RlNs a-Nxcept for the girl. They were
out there yet, skulking in the night,
planning revenge, those savage foe
neutrality-suspicious., Cheyennes, Ogallas.
They had been beaten back, defeated,
smitten with death, but they were In
dams still. They would come back for
the bodies of their slain, and then
what? They could not know who we're
living, who dead, in the coach; yet
must have discovered long since that
1t had only contained three defenders.
They would guess that ammunition
would be limited. His knowledge of
the fighting tactics of the Plains
tribes gave clear vision OF what would
probably occur. They would wait.
scattered out in wide circle from
bluff to bluff, lying snake-like In the
grass. Some of the holder might creep
In to drag away the bodies of dead
warriors, risking a chance shot, but
there would be no open attack in the
dark. That would be averse to all In
dian strategy, all precedent Even
now the mournful wailing had ceased;
Roman Nose had rallied his warriors.
instilled into them his own uncon-
querable savagery, and set them on
watch. With the first gray dawn they
would come again, leaping to the
coach's wheels. yelling. triumphant,
mad with new ferocity-and he was
alone, except for the girl.
And where was she? He felt for
her on the floor, but only touched the
Mexicans feet. He had to lean across
the seat where Moylan's body lay,
shrouded In darkness, before his crop.
ing fingers came in contact with the
skirt of her dress. She was on the
front seat, close to the window;
against the lightness of the outer sky.
her head seemed lying upon the wood.
en- frame. She did not move, he could
not even tell that she breathed, and
for an instant mis- dry lips failed him
utterly, his blood seemed to stop. Good
God! Had she been killed also? How.
In Heavens name, did she ever get
there? Then suddenly she lifted her
head slightly, brushing back her hair
with one arm; the faint starlight
cleaned on a steel barrel. The Ser
geant expelled his breath swiftly, wet.
ting his dry lips.
Are you hurt?" he questioned
anxiously. Lord but you gave me a
scare!"
She seemed to hear his voice, yet
scarcely to understand, like one
aroused suddenly from sleep.
What! you spoke-then-then
there are others? IL am not here
all alone?"
mot If you count me-" he said a
trace of recklessness in the answer.
81 haven't even scratch so far az |
know. Did they touch your"
No; that is, am not quite sure:
lit was all so horrible l cannot re-
member. Who are you? Are you the
the soldier?"
"Yes-l'm Hamlin. Would you mind
telling me bow you ever got over
there?"
She Strengthened up, seemed to no
tice the heavy revolver in her fingers
and let it fall to the floor.
"Oh, 1t Is like a dream-an awfpl
dream. couldn't help myself. When
the Mexican rolled off on to the floor
l knew he was dead, and-and there
was his revolver held right out to me
In his hand. Before l realized | had
1t, and was up here-I-l killed ONE
he-he fell in the wheel; II can
never forget that!"
Don't try" broke In Hamlin earn.
estly, You're all right" he added
admiration in his voice. And so Il
was you there with the small gun.
heard it bark. but never knew Con.
Zales was hit. When did 1t happen ?'
"When-when they fired first. It
izyss all smoke out there when | got
torSe widow; they-they looked like
--tGgaSwild beasts, and 1t didn't seem
to me was myself at ALL"
The man laughed lightly.
"You did the right thing. that's all.