Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-01-21
Joe BAKERS
GIRL
BY M. QUAD
BY M. QUAD
Copyright, 1913, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

Copyright. 1913, by Associated Lit
II erary Press. II
That was the way she was referred
to in a general way-"Joe Bakers girl
and there were plenty OF soldiers.
transfers and others who did not
know that her name was Mary.
A girl Of about eighteen when
knew her-siight. blue eyes. short.
curly hair a strong face. dressed for
climbing. riding aud walking. and one
who commanded both admiration and
respect the moment you laid eyes on
her. She had a handshake for officer
and private alike. and to us and all
others who came that way she was
border queen.
For weeks the Indians Of Idaho had
been sulky and sullen and threa tening.
We had not seen the girl for month
when sergeants guard was dis
patched to East Butte to cut and haul
telegraph poles for the line which was
to connect the fort with the outside
| world.
Two miles east of the cabin we
made our camp and began work, but
the Indians were ready sooner than
we had planned for. On the second
| night Of our stay we were fred into
| at midnight and routed out Of camp
with the loss Of two men killed. We
were falling back in the direction Of
| Bakers cabin when we were joined
| by Mary. The Indians pressed US
| every foot of the way, and but for the
darkness of the night and the girls
familiarity with the lay of the ground
not one Of US would have ESCAPED.
We were no sooner sheltered by the
cabin than it was clear that we must
stand siege before the door could
be opened again.
"Well." said Joe Bakers gal when
we had canvassed our situation and it's
chances, I'VE must put up with things
as they are and do our best. The In
dams have encircled the cabin and will
be on the watch the rest Of the night.
but they will make no move till day
light comes. Let us sleep if we can"
She went to her room. and the four
of us lay down ON the floor and mapped
until daylight came
In the larder there were about Eve
pounds of bacon. nothing else. There
was no telling how long we should be
cooped up to live on those scant ra-
tons. and by common consent we
| INIT ~
cooked their morning meal in leisure
~ manner. and it was some time after
sunrise before they made their first
move. 1t was band with Chief Char
lie In command. and he knew Baker
and the gal even better than we did.
Baker had hunted with him and on
one occasion had saved his life, and
he called at the cabin on various occa-
sions and had been hospita bly, received
He was therefore probably in earnest
when he advanced alone and unarmed
to within few feet Of the cabin and
said to Mary:
I'VE are on the warpath against the
whites, and we mean to kill. kill, kill
until all are dead or driven away.
Your father saved my life. and an In
dian never forgets. | do not want harm
to come to you. and you shall take
your horses and ride away to the fort
in safety"
But what about the soldiers?" she
asked from one Of the Ioopholes.
They cannot CO." he replied. 1.-The
soldiers are here to make war on US
to shoot us down, to make US obey Or
ders we do not like. We have only
hatred for them. / know how many
there are in there-four. They have
their guns and will fight but we shall
kill every one. Come out. and we will
send you safely away"
II shall remain here and help the SOL
diers to fight you!" answered the girl.
'"Then you will be killed with thern!'
The chief turned away and went
back to his warriors, and ten minutes
later there was circle or fire all about
the cabin. 1t was not long before two
Of the soldiers were dead.
With only three of us left to guard
the cabin, another attack must over
come US. 1t was hours before we heard
from the Indians again. and we were
almost certain that they had drawn Of.
out the slightest warning. they rushed
for US as before. The demons were on
the roof and battering at the door and
firing in upon us from some of the
loopholes. when suddenly things turn
ed dark with me.
There was no more fighting that
night. Consumed by thirst and rack
ed with pain. remember nothing ex-
cept that Mary spoke hopeful and SYM
pathetic words now and then. and that
she had the guns distributed around 50
as to cover as many loopholes as pos
sible in case Of an attack. When
morning came the Indians asked for
a parley and offered to send her to the
fort. | did not know it. being out of
my head with fever She scorned the
offer. and for three hours the cabin
was under heavy fire. A rush would
have followed the fusiIlade. but as
they were gathering for it a half troop
Of cavalry from the fort. headed by
Joe Baker. came galloping to the res
cue, and the Indians were routed. 1t
was ten days before knew all
about It.
A great Indian war was upon the
land. the girl had been sent hundreds
of miles away for safety. and when
peace came again she did not return.
1t is like dream to me-three dead
men. one grievously wounded. white
faced girl moving about and making