The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-07-18
An Effective
Introduction
BY ALAN HINSDALE

each other by sight for years and never
word spoken between them because
they have never been introduced. On
the other hand, there are those who,
under some strong emotion, have at a
first meeting rushed into each others
arms. This is story illustrating the
latter feature.
Jim Conover, plainsman, aged twenty
nve. long of limb, with countenance
frank and fearless, was riding through
wood on one of the foothills of the
Rocky mountains. A rifle was slung
from one side of his saddlebow and a
lasso from the other.
Suddenly he refined in his horse and, /
sitting stock still, listened. He had /
heard shot
This was in the days when the In
dian still inhabited the plains, when !
hundreds of thousands of buffaloes !
fed in huge droves
There was little variety on the plains
IN those days, and Conover knew that
falo it had been intended for either
white man or an Indian. He had no
idea of showing himself to either party
till he learned the situation Dismount-
ing, he left his horse to nibble while
he skulked, shielding himself behind
trees, In the direction Of the sound.
Presently he reached the edge Of the
wood and, looking down on to the
open, he saw n wagon, behind which
huddled man, woman and half
dozen youngsters, the Oldest being
girl Just entering womanhood. Be
or any inequality in the ground, were
Indians. ConOver saw several and
judged that there were something like
half dozen In all.
How was Conover to save them?
Save them he must. but without some
stratagem his single rifle would not
suffice. But he had that one rifle and
fair stock Of ammunition. His pres
ence was as yet unknown to either par
ty. How could he make himself dan
ger to the Indians and encourage the
whites?
An Indian rose from out of a bush
and ran swiftly intending to take COW
er nearer to the wagon Conover had
brought his rifle to ready and shot
the redskin on the wing. The shot pro
duced change both in the Indians and
the besieged party, the former sticking
,ln IA hni M nhinrtS In
latter vainly looking to see where the
bullet that killed the Indian had come
from One thing they knew-it was
from friend.
Conover's quick eye, which was dart.
ing about him for advantageous posi-
lions, caught sight Of tree some dis
lance to his right, the lower limbs Of
which were within his reach. Bending
low and protected by bushes, he gained
this tree and in a few seconds had
reached the upper branches. Concealed
, by leaves, he had an excellent view of
the Indians He could see every one
Of them and counted ten. Taking de
liberate aim, he sent bullet at the
one farthest In advance, and he rolled
over dead.
A shot from two different points put
CONSERVATION into the Indians and
hope into the whites. COnover sent
> several shots among the Indians, kill
ing or woundng one with every shot
: then. descending quickly to the ground
and taking a different position, ht
; fred again. though this time, not see
ing an Indian, his shot was without
{ effect
a There were now half dozen indiana
e in the attacking party, and the prob
II lem for them was not how to get for
J ward, but how to get away withou
e being picked off by this new enemy
n The father OF the white family, havini
a evidence that he was being assisted b.
e an unseen force, took courage and uset
his rifle to Acknowledgement that b.
}. killed any Indians, for they were GOV
!. cred. but that they we're obliged to con
y slider him as an effective enemy.
y Conover kept on firing at the Indians
\ but never from the same point. On
shot would be sent from under low
= bush, the next from the branch Of
tree thirty feet from the ground. Tn
shots from above wsre the only one
that were effective
Thinking to take q last shot from
u treetop where he could see his target
- ConOver saw from his perch that sew
!! eraI new men had Joined the Indian
) and they were all grouped together Il
y conference. some Of them looking u
u to where he was as though In doubt
D. TO his being as dangerous an enemy a
It he appeared. Conovers rifle was
r long range, and he fred ball rgh
into the group. This startled them, an
Dr. another shot quickly following the firs
g nut them on the run.
II CCnoyer now believed that the hgb
et was over and IL not he could work t
,e better advantage with his allies. so
l. went down and joined them.
70 How many of you are theref' aske
e, the father.
I'm the only one" was the reply.
u "You don't mean that you've drive
a off all those red devils alone"
II "Oh, | spread myself"
n ,