Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-05-23

Straight ahead, saw the dark line
hugging the water. To the right, only
the endless plain; to the left, the same
thing. No, there was a light, away in
the distance In a spot where no light
had business to be.
1t alternately grew brighter and
DINNER, and, at times. It leaped high
into the black air. Straining my eyes, I
imagined that could see the sinuous
movement Of fiery tongues. I con-
cluded that some poor settlers barn
was going up In smoke. Then struck
spurs to my pony.
A minute later fearful thought
gripped me. My own home was due
west, right where that nre-but, my
God II could not bel
stared for an instant, as If fas-
cinated. Then came action. The
fugitive and his crime were forgotten;
so was the fact that l wore shsrif"s
shield. l settled myself in the saddle,
the rowels bit deep and I was of like
the wind across gullies and sudden
arroyos, through hog-wallows, filled
with the powdery dust of seasons,
over treacherous towns Of prairie
dogs, whose fatal burrows my pony
missed as II by instinct, straight for
that baleful glow which seemed to
grow more distant with every leap.
At length l clearly saw the flames
curling hungrily over the roof of my
barn. Then I saw the smoking ruins
Of the shed.
could hear the roar of the fire.
began to strain my ears for some hui
man sound--sven cries Of distress.
yelled to let them know was COM
ing, before I realized that I was too
far away to be heard over the din.
The next instant a sound reached
me. Worse than the hiss of the flames
or the groans Of tortured timbers, this
hideous scream almost froze my blood.
1t was the yell Of Indians, born Of
the blood lust. Easton's glib warning
flashed through my mind.
While still within the fires zone Of
blackness, and just outside OF the
flames glow, jumped from my horse
and ran toward the house. In the
space between the smolderlng build
ing and the blazing barn, saw sew
eral savages, their paint-bedaubed
faces distorted with the hldeous signs
of the beast in human guise. Beyond
them, unchanged because Of Its thick
adobe walls, stood the squat smoke
house.
To have crossed this open space
would have meant death. Knowing
this, I made for the shadow near the
side door.
Just as reached the door,
stopped, for there came to me, faint
and muffied, the unmistakable cry Of
q child. It came from the direction OF
the smOkehOuse. Then dawned on
me the reason for the apparent lack
Of Indian war wisdom. 1t showed the
cunning OF their leader. He knew
that no mother will fee while her
child Is in danger.
made up my mind to enter the
house secure my rife, and pick of
these vainglorIous savages one at a
time; but was destined to take no
hand In this fight.
The door of the smokehouse sud
denly flew open. From the inner
darkness stepped man. He was hat.
less. His face and neck we're black
with CRIME. Each hand held a pistol.
Hardly had he cleared the door,
when he jumped to one side, thus
bringing the house out Of range. As
he leaped. saw. cllnging to HE Shout
ders, with her arms held tightly
around his neck, my little girl. He
looked toward the house. and realiz-
Ing what might happen, shouted
above the din:
"stay where you arel I'll bring her
to your
At the first word the sayages
wheeled and made as II to charge
him, but those level muzzlss blazed
forth such a steady stream Of hot lead
that they scattered.
II seemed as II the mans weapons
were linked to the scattering Indians
by a livld line of flame. AS he shot,
he came closer to the house.
Spellbound / watched every move
he made. In my admiration Of his
splendid courage forgot, for the mo-
ment, all else. Leaving dead and
wounded Indians In his wake, the
stranger reached the house, from
which my wife with outstretched
arms ran to meet him. With infinite
gentleness he lifted the child from his
back and handed her to her mother,
while the Indians who could ride we're
making tracks for the hills.
Five minutes later, my wife told
me, between sobs, how the little girl
had run to the smokehouse for meat
for breakfast, and how. almost at the
same time, she had seen this stranger
ride up out Of the darkness. Then, as
II by magic. the Indians appeared.
prepared to thank the man, who
walked slowly toward us leading
horse. He took my hand. Looking
him In the face, said:
II am the sheriff Of this county. II
I can pay you for this nights work,
/ Will"
you have" he answered quietly,
as he mounted his horse and rode
away. AS saw him head straight for
the nearest county line, / muttered:
THANK Godp
"Why. Jackf" asked my wife.
Because, dear" replied, when he
came up to US Just now, saw that he
limped; and when ! shook his hand,
! noticed that he had but ons eye"
Then ! told her what had kept me
awa5 from home.