The Raymer enterprise., 1920-04-22

dawned suddenly .pon ss- there /.
our right lay q dead mule, harnessed
for work. but with throat cut: while
directly In front Of the cabin door was
Z dog, an ugly. massive brute, his
mouth open, prone on bis back, with
stiffened legs pointing to the sky. l
dropped my rein. and strobe forward.
"Wait where you are" called back.
There have been sayages 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
could press my way In through the
door. The open doorway and window
afforded ample light. and a single
glance was sufficient to reveal most
Of the story. The table had been
smashed as by the blow Of an az. and
pewter dishes were everywhere. The
bed In one corner had betn 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.
saw all this. yet my eyes rested
upon something else. A man lay. bent
double across an overturned bench, In
posture which hid his face from
view. His body was there alone. al.
though child's shoe lay on the
floor, and a woman's llnsey dress
dangled from 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 q pugnacious jaw. his coarse
hickory shirt slashed Into ribbons,
bullet wound In the center Of his fore
head. and one arm broken by vicious
blow. His calloused hands yet gripped
the haft Of an az. just as he had died
fighting.
Tins voice spoke from the door
way.
"Injuns. l reckon7"
"Yes. they have been here: the man
Is dead. But there must have been
others, a 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 here,"
"Why not? Tain't likely them
devils will be back agin. Thar sure
must be somethin' fer US ter eat In the
place. an the Lord kno's we can't 20
on as We are. Them gurls be mighty
nigh ready ter drop, an two O. the
hosses has plum Civ out. I'm fer set
tin down fer few hours enyhow-
say till 1t gifts mlddling 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 to
en,er. 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 pltifully
tired. the very heart choked in my
throat.
The rest of US found q small stock
of provisions, and Elsie, with Tim to
aid her, built a fre and prepared
breakfast. A half-fllled bottle Of
whisky discovered In the cupboard.
helped to revive all Of US slightly, and
gave Asa sufficient courage to seek
outside for spring. Tim. compara-
lively unwearled himself. and restless,
located trapdoor In the floor, rather
ingeniously concealed, which disclosed
the existence Of small cellar below.
Candle in hand he explored this, re-
turning with two guns. together with
quantity Of powder and ball, and In
formation that there remained a half
keg Of the explosive hidden below.
Must bin aimin' ter blow up
stumps. ! reckon" he commented, ex-
hiblting a sample. "Coarsest l ever
saw; cudn't hardly use tibet ln no gun.
but it's powder alright"
To remove the debris out Of our way,
! was gathering up the straw tick and
slit blankets. and piled them all to-
gether back on the bed. Clinging to
one Of the blankets. caught and held
by Its pin. was peculiar emblem, and
! stood for moment with 1t In my
hand. curiously examining the odd de-
sign. Eloise unclosed her eyes, and
started to her feet.
"What is that you havel" she aske
"A pin Of some kinda rath
strange design; l just found It her
entangled In this blanket"