Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-10-24
Illustrations A III. Barnes


YET their distressed appearance. their
lacK or vigilance, rendered him care
Tess. 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, rifle in hand, di.
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!"
Inc white man was in front, a huge,
shapeless figure in his furs, his black
beard frosted oddly. He stood motion
less. astounded at this strange appa-
rltion In blue cavalry overcoat. which
had sprung up SO suddenly in that
wilderness. For an instant he must
nave deemed the vision confronting
him some Illusion of the desert, for he
never stirred except to rub a 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 MS race was ugly, as he began to
d1mly understand what this
ed hold-up meant. There followed an
instant OF silence, In which Hamlin
forgetful OF Fughes, who still re-
mained lying quiet in the snow. took
a step or two forward. rifle at shout
DER. The two Indians, swathed In
blankets. but with arms appraised
we're In direct line, motionless as stat.
ues. 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 recop.
nize the soldier. but as Hughes rose to
his knees. suspicion leaped Instantly
to his brain.
"A hold-up, heyl" he said coo,1v
hughes. o sneaklng 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 NV orders
am Sergeant Hamlin, Seventh Cav.
airy Throw down that gun!"
What! You"
Eyes, you are my prisoner. Two ro1.
lowed you from Dodge. Throw down
the gui
1t dropped sullenly into the snow
Now, Hughes. go ahead, and dis
arm those Indians"
The cowman shufHed forward re.
volver In hand, circling to keen safe.
~ beyond he 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
a weapon. and Hamlin permitted his
eyes to waver slightly, as he watched
the Indians. What occurred the NEXT
Instant came go suddenly ais scarcely
to leave an impression. It was swift.
Instructive action primitive impulse.
An Indian hand fell beneath it's blan.
ket covering; there was a fash of
flame across a pony's saddle; Hughes
sprang backward. and went reellng in.
to the snow. Hamlin fred, as the say.
age lodged between the horses legs,
sending him sprawling. and, ignoring
the other Indian, swung about to Gov
er Dupont. Swift as he moved, he
was too late. With M desperate
spring backward the white man was
behind the womans' pony. sheltered
by her shapeless figure. gripping the
animals bit. The second Indian
dropped to his knees and opened are.
With a sudden lurch forward the Ser.
geant plunged headlong in the snow.