The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-01-07

GERON|MO'S REDSKINS
BY OSCAR W. EDLINc.

nave an WIN 1eTOhluiO ?
warriors the summer they broke loose
from their reservation, which, perhaps,
is worth telling about.
1.-The previous winter 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
felt like a cold-storage plant.
"As soon as the snow blockade was
raised in the spring / turned south
ward. | was not particular where l
went so long as it was near b trop-
les. | accepted a place in southern
Arizona, a stand which can give Sa-
hara hints on the tropic business.
Its a great place for acquiring a
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. l wondered II /
would ever have enough animation In
me to go north again.
Il found 1t too much work to think
with the expanding mercury almost
lifting the glass tube of the thermome-
ter out of it's socket and so ! fell into
a doze. How long nodded do not
know, but a swarm of insects settling
on me as If | we're made Of fy-paper
awoke me.
las | 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. / heard a
noise behind the house. Before /
could get UP to investigate, | found
the cause standing before me In the
shape of several painted Indians.
Il was familiar with the sight of In
dams, but / could see that this bunch
we're 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 infamma-
ton in my throat.
How dor one of them gTunted in
reply. Whiskl Bottle whisk! Mouth
dry; want drink
Whisky? Certainly and brought
out a quart bottle which / kept for
snake bites. Immediately 1t was pass
ing from mouth to mouth; and it 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 a smell. More, bring
more whisky some of them shouted
and when | explained that | had no
more, they looked crushed. The first
six who had merged the contents ap-
peared happy yer 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 10 comfort them
any, and | saw that they reproached
me for being a temperance man. ]
knew that / 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 vas Geronimo himself, and
then one of them. dressed like a white
man, sat down and wrote a message
or one of my blanks. Turning to me
when 1t was finished he said in good
English:
Look here. young fellow. we want
you to send this dispatch to the cap.
tain at Fort Bowie. and, mind you, nc
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 up
some telegraphy at the Indian school
And with that he laid the blank be-
fore me and at the same time pointed
a pistol toward my head.
There was nothing for me to do but
obey and read the telegram.
T Captain -. Fort Bowie:
Geronimo, with a large force. has tust
passed south on the way to surprise the
mining settlement in Crystal Gulch. Some
ranchmen brought me the news, and they
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. | concluded that it was
to put the troops on a false chase, and
privately resolved to notify the fort
If | could.
Was the young Indian really an
operator and could he detect me If /
should add a warning to the message?
He was now standing over me and |
looked up at him. His eyes met mine
as | did so. and a smile passed over