The Raymer enterprise., 1920-04-15

dark in shadows. and slightly in ad-
vance Of us Kennedy rode alone, hope
ful Of thus dislodging some wild AMI
NAL. ! could see the gleam 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.
tiously toward the miniature forest,
leaning forward to gaze intently at
something unseen from where we were.
He halted his horse. which paved rest.
lessly, and sat motionless, staring
down into q little hollow Immediately
In front Of him; then he turned In the
saddle, and beckoned me.
Cum over yere. Cap" be called, his
voice sounding strange. "No. not the
guris; you cum alone"
I rode forward and Joined him, only
to stare also. the heart within me al
most ceasing to beat. as ! beheld the
gruesome sight 80 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 dlstort-
ed posture imaginable, some stripped
naked. and showing CHASTITY wounds;
others fully clothed; but with the cloth
hacked into rags. It had once been a
camp. the black Goals Of fire still
visible. with one man lying across
them, his face burnt and unrecogniza.
BILE. With the exception Of one only
a mere boy, who lay few rods away,
as though brought down In night-ths
entire group were together. almost
touching each other In death. Beyond
question they had been soldiers
militia volunteers-fo 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 smothered oath.
Militia, by Godl" he muttered
grufiy. mo guard set; the bloody
Injuns jumped 'em frum out them
woods. Those poor devils never he'd
no chanct Amt thet II, Capt"
mo doubt Of It; the whole story ID
there. None of them alivef'
Il reckon not-cudn't be. hacked up
like thet. an most O. 'em skelped.
Them reds never left a d. gun be-
hind neither. Why. say. this affair
must q took place this yere very
maunin', bout breakfast time"
He stood up In his stirrups, and
swept his eyes anxiously about In
every direction.
Good LordI 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 Injuns hav'
gone. Yer git the gurls away afore
they see whut's yere-down yondsr,
inter the valley"
I took one more glance at the sight,
fascinated BY its very horror. then
wheeled my terrified horse. and rode
back. Heartless - his words sounded.
they were nevertheless true. We could
b Of no aid to the dead, while upon
% Jet rested the duy of guarding the
living. The young nesress lifted her
head, and gased at me duly. % thor.
oughly tired a. to be Indifferent a. to
what had occurred; but Eloiss read In
stanuy the message Of my facA
You have looked upon something
terrible" she cried. sWhat was It .
dead bodyr
"Eleven dead bodies" answered
gravely, my lips trembling. "A squad
Of militiamen were surprised By In.
dians over there, and slaughtered TO q
man. apparently with no chance b
even defend themselves. ! have nevss
seen q more terrible alght"
CTO BIZ CoNTINUUDl
Bad luck occasiooally happn1 q y