The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-01-23
ZOE BAKERS
GIRL
By M. QUAD
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1918. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

III WYE Ao"Ss ASAos " IL
erary Press.
That vas the way she was referree
to in a general way-"JOe Baker, girl
and there were plenty Ut soldiers.
teamsters and others who did net
know that her name was Mary.
A girl of abou: eighteen when !
knew her-slight, blue eyes,. shorA
curly hair. a strong face. dressed for
climbing. riding and walking. and 0ns
who commanded both admiration and
respect the moment you laid eyes On
her. She had a handshake for offices
and private alike. and to us and al
others who came that way she was q
border queen.
For weeks the Indians Of Idaho had
been sulky and suIlen and threatening.
We bad not seen the girl for Y month
when q s%ergeant's guard was dis
patched to East Butte to cut and haua
telegraph poles for the line which was
to connect the fort with the outside
world.
Two miles east Of the csbin w
made our camp and began work. but
the Indians were ready sooner than
we had planned for. On the Second
night Of u stay we were fired int
at midnight and routed ont Ut camp
with the loss of two men killed. We
were falling back in the direction Vt
Bakers cabin when we were joined
by Mary. The Indians pressed "
every foot of the way. and but tor the
darkness of the night and the girls
familiarity With the lay of the ground
We were no . sheltered by the
ca bin than 1t was clear that We must
stand a siege before the door cOuld
be opened again.
"Vell." said Joe Bakers gal wbea
we bad canvassed our situation and its
chances. 1--WE put up with things
al they are and do our best. The In
dams have encircled the cabin and wiz
BE- OF 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 Va lay down ON the floor and mapped
until daylight came.
In the larder there were about Owe
pounds Of bacon. nothing else. Theye
was no telling how long We should be
coOped up to live on thOse s.ant .
lions. and by common consent We
went without breakfast. The indians
cooked their morning meal in q leisure
y manner. and It was some time after
sunrise before they made their trse
move. 1t was q band with Chief Char
lie in command. aud be knew Baker
and the gal EVEN better than We did.
Baker had hunted with him and an
one occasion had saved his life. and
he called ut the cabin on various orca-
si0ns and had BEEN Hospitality received.
He was therefore probably in earnest
when he advanced alone aud unaruleA
to within a few feet Of the cabin and
said to Mary:
I'VE are on the warpath against the
whites. and we e 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 ~ the fort
In safety"
but what about the soldiersr' che
asked from one Of the i0opholes.
''They cannot CO." be replied. The
soldiers are here to make war on U.s.
to shOot Us down. to make 10 obey "
ders we do not like. We have only
hatred for them. / know bow many
there are In there-fOur. They have
their gums and will 6ght. but We shall
kill every one. Come ont, and We win
send you safely away"
n shall remain here and help the SOL
diers to eight yOu!" answered the Girl.
Then you will be killed with themr'
The chief turned away and went
back to his warriors. and ten minutes
later there was q circle or Ore all about
the cabin. 1t was not long before two
Of the soldiers we're dead.
With only three Of us left to guard
the cabin. another attack must OvW-
come us. It was hours before we heard
from the Indians again. and We wepe
almost certain that they had drawn -.
when. an hour before sunset and with
out the slightest warning. they rushed
for us as before The demons YER -
the roof and battering 1t the dior ana
irinE in upon DC from some Of the
looph0les, when suddenly thinGs turn
ed dark With me.
There Was no mor lighting that
night. Consumed BY thirst and rack
ed with pain. remember nothing ex-
cent that Mary spoke hopeful and sym
pathetic words now and then. and that
she had the gums distributed around ~.
az to cover az many ioOpholes % poe
sible in case Of an attack. When
morning came the Indians asked for
q parley and offered to send her to the,
fort. did not know II. being ont uf
head with fever. She scorned the
offer. and for three hours the cabin
under a heavy tire. A rush would
have followed the fnsillade. but a.
they were gathering for It a half troop
OF cavalry from the fort. heuded 81
IN A~.nM,A- - Ne-..a-- ETA ID 49,