The citizen., 1913-09-19

,ack OF vigilance, rendered him care
,eSs' Ihey seemed too weak to resist
100 exhausted to fight; the cold pluck.
ins at their hearts had seemingly al
ready conquered. 1t was this impres.
SION which caused him to act reckless.
~ rising to his feet, rife in hand. di.
rec'iy IN their track, halting their ad
vance with stern command.
Hands up! Quick now. the three
OF you! Don't wait, Dupont; I've got
the drop!"
The white man was in front huoa
shapeiess figure in his furs. his black
beard frosted oddly. He stood motion
iess' astounded at this strange appa
rition in blue cavalry overcoat which
nau sprung up so 6uddenly in that
wilderness. For an instant he must
nave deemed the vision confronting
MIN some Illusion of the desert. for he
never stirred except to rub a gloyed
hand across his eyes.
BY all the gods. Dupont" roared
the Sergeant impatiently do YOU
want me to shoot? Damn Won throw
up your hands,"
Slowly, as though his mind was stiu
IN dream, the mans hands were lift.
ed above his head, one grasping a
snort, sawed-off gun. The EXPRESSION
upon his face vas ugly, as he began to
dimly understand what this unexnact.
ed hold-up meant. There followed an
instant of silence. in which Hamljn
forgetful of Hughes. who still re-.
mained lying quiet in the snow tool
step or two forward. rifle at shoul.
der. The two Indians, swathed in
blankets, but with arms upraised
were 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 recoe.
nize the soldier, but as Hughes rose to
his knees, suspicion leaped instantly
to his brain.
"A hold-up, hey!" he said coollv.
Hughes, you 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
1 am Sergeant Hamlin, Seventh Cav.
airy. Throw down that gun!"
What! You"
yes, you are my prisoner. I've fol,
lowed. you from Dodge. Throw down
the gum"
1t dropped sullenly into the snow
Now, Hughes, go ahead, and dis
arm those Indians"
The cowman shufled forward. re-
volver in hand, circling to keen safe.
ly beyond the reach of Dupont, who
eyed him maliciously. The latter was
so buttoned up in buffalo coat as TO
make it 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 so suddenly as scarcely
to leave an impression. 1t was swift
instructive action, primitive impulse
An Indian hand fell beneath its 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 fired, 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 one 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 fire
With sudden lurch forward the Ser
geant plunged headlong in the snow.