American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1920-01-17


BILE about the place: IL had tho nm.
pearance of desertion, no smoke even
curling from out the chimney. A faint
trail, evidently little used, led down
toward the creek, and we followed this
as 1t wound around the base of the
big tree. Then 1t was that the truth
dawned suddenly upon us---there TO
our right lay dead mule, harnessed
Tor work. but with throat cut; while
directly In front of the cabin door was
dog, an ugly. massive brute, his
mouth open, prone on his back. with
stiRened legs pointing to the sky. I
dropped my rein. and strobe forward.
walt where you are" called back.
There have been savages here: let
me see first what has happened In
side"
The dog had been shot, stricken By
two bullets, and I was obliged to drag
his huge body to one side before I
could press my way In through the
door. The open doorway and window
Afforded ample light. and single
|
OF the story. The table had been
smashed as by the blow Of an ax. and
pewter dishes were everywhere. The
bed In one corner had been stripped OF
Its coverlets. many Of them slashed
by knife. and the straw tick had
been ripped open In q dozen places.
Goals from the fireplace lay wide
spread, some of them having eaten
deeply into the hard wood before they
ceased smoldering.
! 1 saw all this, yet my eyes rested
upon something else. A man lay, bent
double across an overturned bench. In
u posture which hid his face from
though chllds shoe lay on the
floor. and II woman's llnsey dress
dnngled from q hook against the wall.
! crept forward, my heart pounding
madly, until could gain sight of his
face. He was big fellow, not more
than thirty, with sandy hair and beard,
and pugnaclous jaw. his coarse
hickory shirt slashed into ribbons, a
bullet wound In the center of his fore
head, and one arm broken by vicious
blow. His callouscd hands yet gripped
the haft Of an AK, just as he had died
lighting.
Tins voice spoke from the door
way.
'Injuns, ! reckonf"
"Yes, they have been here; the man
is dead. But there must have been
others, woman and child also-see
that shoe ON the floor. and the dress
hanging over there. The poor devil
fought hard"
Kennedy stepped inside, staring
about him.
"Do you think II best to stop heref'
"Why not2 'Tain't likely them
devils will be back agln.. Thar sure
must be somethin' fer us ter eat In the
place, an the Lord kn0's we can't 60
on as we are. Them gurls be mighty
nigh ready ter drop, an two o. the
bosses has plum Civ out. I'm fer set
tim down fer few hours enyhow--
say till II gifts mlddllng dark"
Undoubtedly this was the sensible
view. We would be In far less danger
remaining there under cover than In
] any attempt to continue our journey
by daylight. Together we carried the
body out. and deposited 1t In thicket
behind the cabin. awaiting burial and
then dragged the dead dog also out OF
sight. The disorder within was easily
remedled, and, after this had been at
tended to, the girls were permitted "a
enter. Eloise sank back on the bench
her head supported against the wall
the lashes of her half-closed eyes
showing dark against the whiteness
of her cheeks. She looked so pitIfully
tired, the very heart choked In my
throat.
The rest Of US found a small stOcl
OF provisions, and Elsie, with Tim I,
aid her. built fire and prepared
breakfast. A half-filled bottle o.
whisky discovered In the cupboard
helped to revive all Of US slightly, an,
gave Asa sufficient courage to seel
outside for spring. Tim, compare
lively unwearied himself. and restless
located trapdoor In the floor. rattle
ingeniously concealed, which disclose,
the existence of a small cellar below
Candle In hand he explored this, re
turning with two guns. together witt
a quantity Of powder and ball, and In
formation that there remained a hal
keg OF the explosive hidden below.
'Must a bin Amin ter blow u
stumps, reckon" he commented. ex
) hlbiting IA sample. "Coarsest / eve
saw; cudn't hardly use tibet In no gur
hut It's powder alright"
To remove the debris out of our way
was gathering up the straw tick an
slit blankets. and piled them all Il
, gether back on the bed. Clinging I
, one OF the blankets, caught and hel
by its pin, was peculiar emblem, an
I stood for moment with IL In m
hand, curiously examining the odd d.
sign. Eloise Enclosed her eyes, an
started to her feet.
, "What Is that you havef" she aske'
, "a pin OF some kinda rath,
strange design; just found II her