The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1914-02-19
ZOE BAKERS
GIRL
By NJ. QUAD
Copyright. 1918. by Associated LII
erary Press.

| "a
knew her-sIight. blue eyes. snort
curly hair. a strong face. dressed tor
climbing. riding and walking. ana 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 a
border queen.
For weeks the Indians Of Idaho had
been sulky and sullen and threatening
We had not seen the girl for montn
when sergeant's 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 fired 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 II was clear that we must
leto eli no
be opened again.
WELL said Joe Bakers gal when
we had canvassed our situation and Its
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 II 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 five
pounds Of bacon. nothing else. There
was no telling how long we should be
cooped up to live on those scant ra-
lions. and by common consent we
went without breakfast The Indians
cooked their morning meal In a leisure
ly manner. and it was some time after
sunrise before they made their first
move. 1t was band with Chief Char
lie in command. and be 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 Hospitality received.
He was therefore probably in earnest
when he advanced alone and unarmed
to within a 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. I 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 loopholes.
They cannot CO." he replied. 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
oilers to fight your answered the girl
Then you will be killed with them!
The chief turned away and went
back to his warriors, and ten minutes
later there was a 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.
when. an hour before sunset and with |
out the slightest warning, they rushed
for us as before. The demons were on
the roof and battering at the door and |
hring In upon Us from some of the |
loopholes. when suddenly things turn
ed dark with me.
Inere 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 so
as to cover as many ioopholes as DOS
sible In case Of an attack. When
morning came the Indians asked for
q parley and offered to send her TO the
Tort | did not know it. being ont of
my head with fever She scorned the
offer. and for three hours the cabin
was under a heavy fire. A rush wonld
have followed the fusillade. but as
hey were gathering for it a half troon
Of cavalry from the fort headed by
Joe Baker, came galloping to the res.
cue, and the Indians were routed. II
vas ten days before knew all
lbout II.
A great Indian war was upon tho
and. the girl had been sent hundreds
u miles away for safety. and when
'eace came again she did not return.
L Is Ike a dream to me-three dead
men, one grievously wounded. a white
aced girl moving about and MAKING