The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1915-02-17
GERONIMO'S REDSKINS
BY OSCAR W. EDLINo.

u III ltAlAhb accNS-
1.-The previous winter l had been en-
ployed away up north in Canada, with
in sight of the glaciers glinting on the
Banff mountains. and got the iced air
so incorporated in my system that l
lelt like a cold-storage plant.
AS soon as the snow blockade was
raised in the spring | turned south
ward was not particular where ]
went so long as it was near the trop-
les. accepted a place in southern
Arizona, a stand which can give Sa-
hara hints on the tropic business
IT'S a great place for acquiring
thirst. or even adding to one already
acquired was sitting in the shade
OF the water tank one day. the con
tents Of which | had been absorbing
at brief intervals. | wondered If !
would ever have enough animation in
me to go north again.
81 found 1t too much work to think
with the expanding mercury almost
lifting the glass tube of the thermome-
ter out of its socket and so | fell into
a doze. How long | nodded | do not
know, but a swarm of insects settling
on me as II / were made of fly-paper
awoke me.
AS | stirred. my little dog also
came out OF his usual comatose condi-
ton. for the heat had made US both ex-
cessively weary. and dragging himself
over to a post he leaned against it for
support and barked feebly. l heard
noise behind the house. Before
could get up to investigate, l found
the cause standing before me in the
shape OF several painted Indians.
Il was familiar with the sight of In
dians, but could see that this bunch
were not friendly visitors. although
they grinned at me. Their grin said
plainly. You are ours
How do you dor | asked as soon
as could swallow a sudden infiamma.
ton in my throat
How dor one OF them grunted in
reply. 'Whiskl Bottle whiski Mouth
dry; want drink
Whisky? Certainly and | brought
out a quart bottle which I kept for
snake bites. Immediately 1t was pass
ing from mouth to mouth; and 1t was
all gone when a second crowd of paint
ed faces galloped up alongside. There
was a full score more OF them and |
felt awfully lonesome.
THE empty bottle was circulated
among the last arrivals; each rider
gravely taking smell. More. bring
more whiskyl' some OF them shouted,
and when l explained that l had no
more. they looked crushed. The first
six who had merged the contents ap-
peared happy over the discontinue of
their comrades, and one of them point.
ed to the big, dripping water-tank and
said, plenty water. take heap. all you
want
This did not seem TO comfort them
any. and l saw that they reproached
me for being a temperance man.
knew that l would have to suffer for
their loss, and the sight of some
scalps dangling from their belts did
not reassure me.
After some confusion in rummag-
ing through the place was put along.
side my desk. There was a brief con.
fab in Apache between the leaders. one
of whom was Geronimo himself. and
then one of them. dressed like a white
man, sat down and wrote a message
on one of my blanks. Turning to me
when It was finished he said in good
English:
Look here, young fellow. we want
you to send this dispatch 10 the cap
tain ct Fort Bowie. and. mind you. no
monkeying on the wire Send just that,
no more and no less Obey US and
your life will be spared; but If you
send any warning beside this. we will
comb your hair for you. picked ~
some telegraphy at the Indian school
And with that lie laid the blank be.
fore me and at the same time pointed
pistol toward my head
There was nothing for me to do but
obey and read the telegram
TO Captain -. Fort Bowie:
Geronimo, with large force mas Just
passed south on the way TO surprise the
mining settlement Ia Crystal GuIch. Som.
ask you for Gods sake order your troops
there TO the rescue at once. Please an
swer. AGENT"
Il had direct wire connection with
the fort and | soon raised the operator
there and began transmitting the dis
patch, wondering as | did so. what its
object was. l concluded that it was
to put the troops on a false chase, and