The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-05-01
Joe BAKERS
GIRL
BY M. QUAD
BY M. QUAD
Copyright, 1913, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

That was the way she was referred
to In a general way-"Joe Bakers girl
and there were plenty of soldiers
teamsters and others who did not
know that her nameawas Mary.
A girl of about eighteen when
knew her-slight. blue eyes. short,
curly hair, strong face. dressed for
climbing, riding and 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 a
border queen.
For weeks the Indians Of Idaho had
been sulky and sulen and threatening.
We had not seen the girl for a month
when a 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 We're 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
were falling back in the direction of
Bakers cabin when we We're 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
abin than 1t was clear that we must
stand a siege before the door could
be opened again.
We'll" said Joe Bakers gal when
we had canvassed our situation and its
chances, 1--WE must put up with things
as they are and do our best. The In
dians have encircled the ca bin 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
VI bO"u vi lLG lOOi anu
| 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
L.. ~. ca
sunrise before they made their first
move. 1t was a 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 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:
We 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
diam never forgetS do not want harm
TO come to you. and you shall take
your horses and ride away TO the fort
in safety
'Hut what about the soldiers" she
..,,.I tt,, lo,,b,l,.
"Thry cannot 20" he replied The
soldiers are here to make war on us
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.h.. n",tn ,rntnar ort,c; must over
l. ,,.,.. ,,,,t,,r., W., b..rd
fr,,, tn. Indians ,,r,tn and we war.
,Ir,,os. ,.,r+,i,, th,, ,r.r had drawn off
whom q, b,rr h,fnro sunset .nd with.
go, ~, ,.I;,,,,,.+ ,,.,r,,i,,,, tb.,y rush.i
r,r haf,r. I'M, d.,rous ,,ara nm
th,. noe ,,,a h.,++or,r,, -, ,n,, d,,r aud
srir, in n,,on II. fran, soma of IN.
InornoIos u.h,n suddanIr +bi,,cs +urn
"a d,r,, ,.i+h ma
Thare was M uore frhtinr that
rirbt Consumed nv thirst aud rack
al with min rop,anbar r,,bir, av.
cant thar Mary smoke houafuI and sym.
nothatio words now and th.u and thar
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