The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-06-07

camp from which she had but just e.
capped. 49,"
She thought Malbihn dead, sc ter
rife a blow had she dealt him, and she
hoped to find an opportunity after dark
to enter the camp and search his tent
for the cartridge belt. But scarcely
had she found a hiding place In q great
tree at the edge Of the bona, where
she could watch without danger OF be-
Ing discovered, than she saw the
Swede emerge from his tent, wiping
blood from his face and hurting q vol
ley Of oaths and questions at his terri
fed followers.
Shortly after the entire camp set
forth In search Of her, and when Ne
riem was positive that all were gone
she descended from her hiding place
and ran quickly across the clearing to
Malbihn's tent. A hasty survey Of the
interior revealed no ammunition, but
In one corner was q box in which were
packed the Swede's personal belong
ings that he had sent along BY his
head man to this westerly camp.
Asriem seized upon the receptacle
- ~ possible ~container Of extra am
munition. Quickly she loosed the cords
that held the canvas covering about
the box and q moment later had raised
the lid and was rummaging through
the heterogeneous accumulation OF
odds and ends within. =.
There were letters and papers and
cuttings from old newspapers, and
among othef things the photograph Of
q little girl upon the back Of which
#a5 pasted ( clipping from q Paris
daily. . clipping that she had no time
to read, yellowed and dimmed 81 age
and handling. But something about
the photographs Of the little girl which
was also reproduced in the newspaper
clipping held her attention
Whore had she seen that picture bes
foNe1 And then, quite suddenly, 1t
came To her that this was : picture
Of herself, taken years and years be-
forel
Where had it beef taksn1 How
had It come into the possessi41 Of this
mani Why had 1t been rapS3duced In
. newspaperi What was tho story
that the faded type told Of III
Xerlsnf was banned By the puxzle
that her aearch for ammunition bad re-
vealed. She stood gaSn5 at the faded
photograph for I tine and t6an be-
thought herself Of tie ammuniton Tor
which she had come. Tufnins again to
the box, shs rummlged to the bottom,
and there In . corner she came upon d
little boz Of cartridges.
= single glance assured her that
they were intended ~ the weapon she
had thrust inside The band Of her rid
Ing breeches, and, slipping them into
her pocket she turned Onco more for
IN examination Of the banning likeness
Of herself that she held IN her hand.
Al she stood thus In vain endeavor
70 fathom this inexplicable mystery the |
sound Of voices broke upon her ears.
Instantly she ~ Ill alert They were
coming closer. A second later she rec +
ognised the lurid profanity Of the
Swede. 1albihn was returning!
She thrust the photograph into her
waist. Quickly she slipped q cartridge
Into each Of the chambers Of the ~
volver. Then she backed toward the
end Of the tent, keeping the entrance
covered BY her weapon. |
Tho men stopped outside, and Ne
riem could hear Halbihn profanely 10
suing instructions. He was 4 long time
about Il, and while he talked In his
bellowing. bru&ish voice the girl soueht
some avenue 6 escape.
Stooping. abe raised the bottou @
the canvas and looked beneath and be-
yond. There was no one In sight upon
that hide. Throwing herself upon her
stomach, she wormed beneath the tent
wall just q Halbihn, with . 6nal word
to his men, entered the tent.
0eriem heard him cross the noor.
and then she . and, STOPPING low.
ran TO . native hut directly behind.
Once inside this sho turned and
back. There was no one u
sight She had not been seen.
And now from Aalbihnis tent che
heard . great cursing. The Swede had
discovered the rining Of HE bon. He
Vas shouting to his men, and a. she
heard them reply Aeriem darted from
ne hut and ran toward the edse OF
lhe bona farthest from Nalbihn,s tent
I've minutes start Of any pursuers
.as N 1erism cared for. Once IN the
'reso ahe knew that ME could outdis-
'ancs and eluds them. /,