The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-12-25

dark in shadows, and slightly In aG'
rance of us Kennedy rode alone, hope,
full of thus ~dislodging some wild ami
NAL. / could see the CLEAN of the pis-
tOl in his hand, held in instant readi'
ness, cooked and primed. Suddenly he
drew rein, and then, turning his
horses head sharply, advanced eau
tlously toward the miniature forest
leaning forward TO gaZe intently al
something unseen from where we were
He halted his horse, which paved rest
lessly, and sat motionless, staring
down into a little hollow Immediately
in front of him then he turned in the
saddle, and beckoned me.
Gum over yere, Cap" he called, his
voice sounding strange. "No, not the
gurls; you cum alone"
l rode forward and joined him, only
to stare also, the heart within me al.
most ceasing to beat, as / beheld the
gruesome sight so suddenly revealed.
There, within the confines of that lit
tie hollow. almost at the edge of the
wood. lay the dead and mutilated
bodies of eleven men, in every distort-
ed posture imaginable, ONE stripped
naked, and showing CHASTITY wounds
others fully clothed but with the cloth
hacked into rags. 1t had once been n
camp, the black Goals of Il fire still
visible, with II man lying across
them, his face burnt and u~nrecogniza-
bic. With the exception of one only
a mere boy, who lay a few rods away.
as though brought down in fiight--the
entire group were together, almost
touching each other in death. Beyond
question they had been soldiers
militia volunteers-for while there was
only one uniform among them, they all
wore army belts, and a service insignia
appeared on their hats. Tim vented
his feelings in a smothered oath.
Militia, by Cod" he muttered
gruffiy. mo guard set; the bloody
Injuns jumped 'em frum out them
woods. Those poor devils never he'd
no chanct. Amt tibet 1t, Cap?"
mo doubt of it; the whole story Is
there. None of them alive?"
II reckon not-cudn't be, hacked up
like tibet, an most o. 'em skelped.
Them reds eve left a d. gun be-
hind neither. Why, say, this affair
must a took place this yere very
maunln'. bout breakfast time"
He stood up In his stirrups, and
swept his eyes a~nxiously about In
every direction.
"Good Lord! maybe we better be
gittin' long out o. yere right smart.
Thar amt nuthin' ter stay fer; we
can't help them men none, an only the
devil knows whar them lnjuns hav'
gone. Yer git the gurls away afore
they see whut's yere-down yonder,
inter the valley"
1 took one more glance at the sight,
fascinated by Its very horror. then
wheeled my terrified horse, and rode
back. Heartless as his words sounded.
they were nevertheless true. We could
be OF no aid to the dead, while upon
us yet rested the duty of guarding the
living. The young negress lifted her
head, and gazed at me duly. SO thor
onghiy tired as to be Indifferent as to
what had occurred; but Eloise read In
stantly the message of my face.
You have looked upon oomething
terrible she cried. "What was It, q
dead b0dy?"
Eleven dead bodies" I answered
gravely. my lips trembling. "A squad
OF militiamen were surprised by In
dams over there. and slaughtered to a
man, apparently with no chance to
even defend themselves. / have never
seen a mor terrible sight"
(To BE cONTINUED.J
Rad 1uoI ooooctcn>n- $780, -