The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-12-14

| ASASNAA w lllC 1lC VI III
| Indians.
She came up the slope with an easy
springing step that told of youthful
buoyancy. From under the hem of he
neat gingham dress peeped the toes o.
small, blue-beaded mOccasins. Having
reloaded her pistol, she raised hel
head to look up at the rider. He was
lifting his hand to touch his hat witt
perfunctory courtesy. Then he saw
her face-calm, proud, wildly beauti
full.
He removed his hat, with sudder
change in his manner that brought {
gleam into the girls blue-black eyes
The glare of the midday sun exposed
the lines in his strong, plain face an(
the pallor under its tropical tan. From
the white hairs that Silvered his thick
ruddy locks at the temples, his age
might have been put at thirty-five OF
forty. But this sign Of middle age was
contradlcted by the clear hazel eyes.
A trifie disconnected by the girls
cool scrutiny, he brusquely demanded
What is the trouble hereW
She looked from his cavalry puttees
to his army saddle and the butt of his
rifle. 81 guess you needn't worry about
your scalp" she assured him, her rich
contraltO voice as soft as it was sweet.
ly mOCking. you came near getting q
hair brand, l see. But you're safe
enough now if you keep close"
The raillery brought slight flush in
to his sailow cheeks. Yet his gaze did
not finch before her look of disdain.
He asked another question: "Have
they taken the agency"
mo. We saw this bunch I'D the
bank. Reggie cut loose at them before
Pere could stop him."
Perez Ah-your father. The
other man fired at them first, you saw"
Can you blame him? He was along
when the agent was shot down, last
week. You may have heard of the
Yes. Still it was wrong for him to
invite an attack, with a woman in his
party"
"Oh, I'm only a quarterbreed, you
know" replied the girl with ironical
Itghtness. Besides, Reggie thought
the party was trying to head us off.
Don't worry. Charlie Redbear crawled
up the road half an hour ago. The
chances are we can hold out until he
fetches the police" A rifle shot pune
tuated the remark.
The rider looked over the coulee
bank across at the jagged crest of the
butte. 'If they slip over there" he
said, "this position will become unten-
able. The butte is the key to the stu
alton"
he looked at the girl, between con-
Germ and swiftly growing admiration of
her remarkable beauty. Her eyes were
like blue-black diamonds. An almost
mperceptible film of old-gold enriched
the cream and rose of her cheeks. Her
jet-black hair was of French fineness.
The curve of her rather large mouth
was perfect.
But the red lips were again parting
n disdainful SMILE She replied with
out seeking to conceal her scorn: 'If
you're afraid they'll take the butte.
Tou might get away by bOIting down
he coulee. Well do what we can to
lraw their fire."
"YOu will?" he said. THANK you for
'our suggestion. l believe I'll follow
t. Kindly step aside"
She stood mOtiOnless, her ewes gilt
ering with cold contempt of his cow
lrdice. Unchecked by the look, he
eaned forward in the saddle. The
mare leaped away like a startled deer.
)nce clear Of the gulley she swerved
harply and raced away down the cOu-
ee. The flight was so unexpected, so
aring and so swift that the fugitive
ad been borne good fifty yards down |
long the foot of the near slope before |
he Indians opened fire on him.
The girl had crept forward and |
rOuched in the entrance of the gulley
0 peer after him.
''The coward" she cried. 1.-The cow
rd hope they get him."
But before one of the many bullets |
Ould find the leaping, receding mark.
lare and rider shot out of sight behind
clump of willows. At once the firing
eased.
The blond young man under the bush
lanced around at the girl and called
eeringly: Il say, Marie, hOw's that
Or a bobtail visit? Took him for a
Gentleman? That's the word" she
rocked. Conduct becoming an officer
nd gentleman"
"Officerg' he repeated. "You don't
lean to say"
"Yes," she asserted. "He's an army
fficer. 1 could see it sticking out all
yer him."
The man stared at her in blank
but suddenly bethOught
ImSelf to roll over and send a bullet
Inging up the cOulee.
The girl continued TO peer down the
veI bottom. After several moments
al and rider dashed into view, rae
g directly across the cOulee. Though
le Indians at once opened fire, the
are had skinned over the level and
, into gulley in the far bank before
ey could get the range.
Hopeful that one or more of the
Iemy might expose themselves during
e excitement, the young man behind
e bush had not looked around. As !