The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-01-23

ment of delay might increase the girls
danger he was yet soldier and plains
man enough to realize the wisdom Of
| the old scout There were at least
four men in the party pursued, two of
them Indian warriors, the two whites
desperate characters. Without doubt
they would put up fierce fight, or, II
and disappear.
I "Of course you are right, SAM" he
replied promptly. only am so afraid
of what may happen to Miss Molly"
| Forget 1t. Thar's nuthin' goin' ter
happen to her while the bunch is on
the move. If that outfit was all Injun,
or all white, maybe thar might. But
the way it is they'll never agree on
nuthin', 'cept how to git away. IT
amt likely they ever meant ter kill
the Major, 'er take the girl erlong.
Them things just naturally happened,
an now they're scared stiff It'll take
day er two for 'em to make up their
minds what to do"
What do you imagine they will de-
eide, SAM"
Wall, thet's all guesswork. But
reckon I know what I'd do if was in
tibet sort o fix an bein' chased fer
murder an robbery. I'd take the easy
way; make fer the nearest Injun vii.
lage, an leave the girl thar"
you mean Black Kettles camp"
II reckon; he's down thar on the
Canadian somewhat. You kin bet
those fellars know whar, an thet's
whit they're amin for, unless this
yere Dupont has some hidin' out
scheme Of his own. Whar did you say
he raRched?" H..
Buffalo Creek" .-..
"Thet's the same neighborhood;
must we been in cahoots with those
red devils to have ever run cattle in
thar. We've got to head 'em off afore
they git down into that kintry, er we
won't have no scalps to 60 back home
with. Let's mosey erlong, boys"
The day grew dark and murky as
they moved steadily forward, the wind
blew cold from out the northwest, the !.
heavy canopy of cloud settled lower in
a frosty fog, which gradually obscured
the landscape. This mist became so
thick that the men could scarcely see
hundred yards in any direction, and
Hamlin placed a pocket compass on
his saddle-pommel. The trail was less
distinct as they traversed wide
streak of alkali, but what few signs re-
manned convinced WATSON that the flu.
gitives were still together, and riding
southwark. Under concealment Of the
fog his previous caution relaxed, and
he led the way at steady trot, only
occasionally drawing rein to make GER
tain there was no division of the par
ty ahead. The alkali powdered them
Srom head to foot, clinging to the
horses hides, reddening and binding
the eyes, poisoning the lips dry and
parched with thirst. The two troopers
swore grimly, but the Sergeant and
scout rode in silence, bent low over
their pommels, eyes strained into the
mist ahead. 1t was not yet dark when
they rode in between the first sand
dunes, and WATSON, pulling his horse
up short, checked the others with up
lifted hand.
"Tharll be a camp here soon," he
said, swinging down from the saddle,
and studying the ground. "The wind
has bout blotted it all out, but you
kin see yere back o. this ridge whar
they turned in, an they was walkin'
their horses. Gittin' pretty tired, I
reckon. We might as well stop yere
too. Sergeant, an eat some cold grub
You two men spread her out, an rub
down the bosses, while Hamlin an I,
poke about bit. Better find out all
we kin, Brick fore it gifts dark"
He started forward on the faint
trail, his rifle in the hollow of his arm.
and the Sergeant ranged up beside
him. The sand was to their ankles,
and off the ridge summit the wind
swirled the sharp grit into their faces.
Whats COMM Sam; storm?"
Snow" answered the scout shortly,
"a blizzard of it, er l lose my guess.
Fore midnight yer won't be able ter
see yer hand afore yer face. I've been
out yere in them things afore, an
they're sure hell. II we don't git sight
O. tibet outfit mighty soon, t amt like
ly we ever will. I've been expectin'
that wind to shift nor'east all day
then We'll get it," He got down on his
knees, endeavoring to decipher some
faint marks on the sand. 1.-TWO of EN-
dismounted yere, an Injuu an white
"a big Teller by his hoof prints-an'
they went on leadin' their bosses.
Coin into camp, I reckon-sure.
here's the spot now. Well, I'll be
damned"
(To be Continued.)