The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1915-02-17

You are sending wrong: you are
posting the fort!'
mo, | am not, | answered him.
you lie What did you say Just
them And he showed his gun under
my nose
1.-The operator at the fort asked ne
o repeat that word and 1 did so; that
s all. Didn't you hear il?
He looked hard at me for a Few
seconds. but as | had spoken the truth
did not finch and returned the gaze
quite steadily.
"Oh, was only trying to brighten
,ou. he said with a laugh. Where
ire you nowY
Here, | said, pointing to the place
where had left of, with the key open.
That's right Finish it, said he;
md did so. getting o. X. from the
'ort
Within ten minutes thereafter the
iort called me. The reply was short.
expressing thanks for the Information
md saying that the troops would leave
,or Crystal Gulch at once. When l
had o. KID 1t the fort man asked me
or more information regarding the In
fans
The Indian ordered me to write
Town every word, and he would not
permit me to answer 1t until he had
written the reply. Then he would fol
ow the copy closely with his eyes.
and at the same time listen intently to
ny sending.
When the wiring was ended, the
elbow explained the business to the
others. who grunted their approval and
Immediately all went out of doors ex-
,ept my operator friend, their places
being taken by three others.
Il heard the gang outside ride OF,
but in which direction they went was
unable to tell as my guard would not
allow me to look out. They we're not
sociable fellows. speaking seldom to
each other, and putting in silence on
their pipes like factory chimneys.
What were they keeping me for? I
wondered. Had they some other use
for me that they did not kill me at
once?
Three long oppressive hours passed
thus. the figures OF the Indians dimly
visible through the dense tobacco
smoke enveloping us. Then they arose
and. Selling me. bound me to my chair
and left the room.
Il heard the clatter OF their horses
feet and realized with surprise and
great relief that they had gone and l
was yet alive. Waiting a few minutes
to make sure they would not return.
| wriggled loose from my bonds. which
had been carelessly tied. and cautious
ly peeped out of the window. A half
mile to the north l could see the four
Indians riding away.
They remained in sight for ten min.
utes more at least, when they dropped
from view down in a valley. was glad
had seen the direction OF their going.
so that could report it to the fort.
For while the troops we're speeding
south to Crystal Gulch, the Indians
we're riding north and very likely
woull attack the ranches along Chico
creek. which were not far above the
fort and could not be attacked with
lmpunity while the troops were there.
81 was at the telegraph key in an
instant and called the fort furiously
The operator there replied in a few
minutes and was not long in explain.
ing what had happened. The informa.
ton astonished him. Excusing himself
he ran and informed the commander
AT length he returned and told me
that the captain had sent only little
more than half OF the company sta
toned there to Crystal Gulch and had
retained the remainder, who would
start directly for Chico creek
The next day some soldiers arrived
by train and stopped at my station to
guard the railroad property until all
danger had passed. l learned from
them the conclusion of the affair and
the narration surprised me. Geroni
mos telegram had told the truth!
The Indians had tricked me into
believing it was Hei
The four fellows who had guarded
m had purposely gone north so long
as they were within sight of my sta
ton, and my life was spared so that
could observe them and report it to the
fort.
The main body OF Indians had gone
southwark three hours before. but hat
concealed themselves on the way SC
as to avoid the returning soldiers
whom they expected to be recalled
and then attacked Crystal Gulch early