The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-03-25
Copyright, 1914, BY Associated Lit
~ erary Press.

| AS the girl stood on the yeranda wait
ing for her horse six of the men OF
A troop came riding up under com
mand of Corporal Haynes. They halt
ed thirty feet away. and as she look
ed them over she gave start Of sur
prise, and Il flush overspread her face
Next moment her cheeks went white
and she gasped as if choked for breath
The corporal's hand slowly lifted. and
his head was uncovered for an instant,
and Private Harkins whispered to Pri-
vate O'Brien:
"And did you see that. Jim? BY
smoke. if our corporal and the colonels
daughter haven't met before then !
don't know a jack rabbit from long
drink Of whiskyv'
.And the corporal isn't bit easy In
his mind added the other.
1t all took place in minute. and
then Captain Cline rode up. followed
| by the girls horse.
The two riders went galloping away.
followed at a distance of 100 yards by
the escort. Now and then the pace
| was slackened down a bit to breathe
the horses. but no halt was made I'M
| til the Devils basin was reached. The
escort halted forty yards from the rid
ers. and the men sat about ION the
| rocks. Meanwhile Corporal Haynes
| climbed to the top of a great bowlder
and surveyed the country about with
his keen eyes. 1t was three-quarters
l nd
! said:
| Men. see to your arms and lie close.
I'm going up to report to the captain"
did call you?" he harshly asked
as the corporal came to halt and sa-
luted.
NO. sir" was the reply, but !
thought it best to tell you that ! have
made out Indians beyond the basin to
the north
Its all nonsense"
But there are Indians skulking
about. sir persisted the corporal.
"Go back to your men, was the sui
len reply.
When he had reached the troopers he
quietly said:
MEN. / have been up to the captain
to report that there is band OF at
least fifty Indians skulking down this
way from Red Bird pass. They have
seen us. and they are after us. We've
got good cover, and we can stand EN-
off for the day.
but when night comes ?" asked one
of the men. though without a tremor
in his tones.
Get quietly ready was the reply.
MeanwhileN there was an argument
bet@,een the captain and the colonefs
daughter. He sought to assure her
that nothing had been seen and that
there was not the slightest danger;
but to his annoyance. she persisted in
believing that there must be good
grounds for the corporal's report. This
annoyance made him delay matters,
and nearly half an hour had passed.
and it was very much against the
grain when he shouted for the soldier
to approach and sneeringly added:
well. corporal, isn't it about time
your Indians showed up?"
I'VE shall hear from them in ten
minutes.' was the reply. "but if we
mounted now and rode. fast we would
find the way open" said the corporal.
With downcast eyes.
Back. you impudent vagabond!"
Numbered the captain with outstretch-
ed arms. III break you for this the
minute we get back"
I The corporal turned his gaze on the
girl for few feeting seconds: then
his head and shoulders dropped in
helpless way. and he saluted his officer
and retired. s
Bang. bang. bang. went the carbines
of the troopers. anc the corporal came
running up the hill to seize and drag
the officer under shelter and to say
to the girl:
..Yon must crouch down here and re.
main quiet. They can't get ut You TIL
they have killed the last one Of us!'
BY and by she missed the reports Of
the carbines. and the sound of foot
steps echoed in her ears.
Gomez" said the corporal as he lift
ed her up.
lob. Robert. and have you beaten
them Off 2" she exclaimed.
"No. My men are all dead. and the
Indians will rush US in a minute.
and WE'VE 95a
He put his arms around her waist
and assisted her to the rock, on which
were the remains Of her break fast.
The steaming. heaying. mysterious
Iake was thirty feet beneath them.
Better this than that" he said as
lie pointed from the lake to q score Of
Indians advancing.
'.yex, better this!' she murmured as
she took fast hold Of him and put mp
her face to be kissed, and the savages
stopped N their advance and shriekttl
and screamed their disapp
ny and 81 they advanced and lookedF
down into The lake. hut 4 had 10 saogy