The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-19
CHAPTER l.
The ToueE of . Child.

my sacred oath, not to betray
 what Ihave discovered here
 At these words from the pris- oner asshout arose inv hich oaths and xnocking laughter mingled like the growling and snapping of hunger mad dened wolves.
 -sThen if must dieyS' Gledware cried, his voice In it's shrill excitement dom mating the ferocious insults of the ruff Hans, tsdon,t kill the child You see she is asleep. and she's so young only i've Even if she were awake she wouldn't know how to tell about this cabin. For Gods sake don't kill the little girIY'
 Since the seizure of Gledware the child had been lying on the rude table in the midst of g greasy pack of cards cards that had been thrown down at the sound of his galloping horse. The table supported also much of the booty captured from the wagon train, while on the dirt floor beside 1t were prizes of the freebooting expedition too large to find resting place on the boards. Nor was this all Mingled with stolen gafments, cans and boxes of provi- sions, purses and bags of gold were the Indian disgutses in which the high waymen from No Mans Landshad de- seended on the prairie schooners fon their tedious journey from Abilene, Kan. toward the south west
 '.Shut upp' roared a tremendous voice. The speaker stepped forward.
 You know I am something of an orator or guess you wouldn't of made me your leader Now, as long as I'm your leader I'm going to lead. But amt never unreasonable, and when talk is needed I'm copious enough. I am called Red K1mban,' and my broth CT, wonder, he is knowed as Kansas Kimball, What else is knowed of us is this-that we wasn't never wont to turn loose a spy when once ketched. Here is a man who says he is Henry GIedware, though God knows if that's so. He comes galloping up to the door just as we are in the midst of game. stakes all my share of the spells on the game, and Brick Wf1lock is in a fair way to win it, that l admit but in comes this here spy
 The prisoher in a frenzied voice dis claimed any purpose Of spying. That morning he had driven the last wagon of the train, containing his invalid wife and his stepda ughter, for the child lying. on the table was his wife's daughter. At the alarm that the first wagon hads been attacked by Indians he had-turned about his horses and driven furious1y over the prairie, he knew not whither All that day he had fled, seeing no one, hearing no pursuin g horsebeat At night his wife, unable in her weak condition to sustain the terrible 5oltfng, had expired. Taking nothing from the wagon but his sad dle, he had mounted one of the horses with the child before him and had con tfnued his flight, the terrific wind at his back
 ssWell, pard,' said the leader of the band waiting until he had finished, '.you can't never claim that you ain been given your say, for do admire free speech. [ want to address you reasonable and make this plain and simple as only man that has been alleged te be something of an orator can accomplish. My men and me has had our conference, and it's decided that both of you has got to be shot and Immediate The reasons is none but what a sensible man must admit, and such take you to be- am sorry this has happened, and so is nay men, and we wish you we'll It's hard saying, pard, but whatever your intentions 8 spy you have proved. For what do
 
 Herawe sit playing with our booty for stakes and our Indian togs lying all about You couldn't help knowing that we was the Indians that gutted them wagons and put up the fight that left every man and woman dead on the field except that there last wagon you are telling us about
 You see, pard." Red KiabalI went on, you are losing sight of the point. Us fellows has been operating for some years, but whatever we do Is blamed on the Indians. That there is a secret that would ruin our business if it got out Tomorrow gang of white men will be depredatiRg in the Washita country to get revengefor tcday's mas sacre
 Again GIedware protested that he wouId never Detray the band.