The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-11-02

~on"y Oou IVY AOsNy
Broad warned, falling into step. III
old Sam told him to hold buzz.
saw in his lap he'd do it. Maybe
there wouldn't be much left of Dan.
ny, but he'd of Rugged it some while
he lasted"
Little more was said during the
swift return to the river. It was not
a pleasant journey. for the trail was
miserable, the mud was deep, and
there was steady upward flow of
traffic which it was necessary to
stem. There were occasional inter.
ruptions to this stream, for here and
there horses were down and block
ade had resulted. Behind it men lay
propped against logs or tree-trunks,
resting their tired frames and listen.
ing alphabetically to the profanity of
the horse-owners. Rarely did any
one offer to lend a helping hand, for
each mans task was equal to his
strength. In one place line of
steers stood belly deep in the mire,
waiting the command to plow for
ward.
Broken carts, abandoned vehicles
of various patterns, lined the way;
there were many swollen carcasses
underfoot, and not infreQuently Pc
destrians crossed mud-holes by Step
ping from one to another, holding
their breaths and battling through
swarms of flies. Much costly inn
pedimenta strewed the roadside
each article a milestone of despair,
a monument to failure. There were
stoves, camp furniture. lumber, hard
ware, boat fittings. The wreckage
and the wastage of the stampede
were enormous, and every ounce,
every dollars worth of it, spoke
mutely of blasted hopes. Now and
then one saw piles of provisions,
some of which had been entirely
abandoned. The rains had ruined
most OF them.
When the Countess came to her
freight she paused. "You said
Royal was loading his men when
you left1" She faced Broad inquir-
ingly.
"Then he'll soon be along. Well
wait here" OF Phillips she asked.
DO you carry gun!"
Pierce shook his head. "What are
you going to dor" He could see
that she was boiling inwardly. and
although his own anger had in
creased at every moment during the
return journey, her question caused
him genuine apprehension.
Avoiding direct answer, the wo-
man said: IF Royal is with the In
dams, you keep your eye on him. I
want to talk to them"
Don't inaugurate any violent
measures" Mr.. Broad cautioned,
nervously. "Danny's a sudden SORT
of murderer. OF course if worse
comes to worse, I'll stick, but--my
rating in the community amt A I.
There's a lot of minded
church members would like to bap-
tie ME at high tide. As if that
would get their money backl"
A suggestion of a smile crept to the
Countess lips ard she said, Il knew
you'd stick when hired You" Then
she seated herself upon 4 box.
Danny Royal did accompany his
packers. He did so as a precaution
against precisely such a coup as he
himself had engineered, and in order
to be doubly secure he brought the
head Indian with him. The old
tribesman had rcbelled mildly, but
Royal had been firm, and in conse-
quence they were the first two to
appear when the procession same
out of the woods.
The chief halted at sight of Phil
lips, the man who had hired him
and his people, but at a word from
Royal he resumed his march. He
averted his eyes, however. and he
held his head low, showing that this
was not at all to his !ik-
ing. Royal, on the contrary, carried
off the meeting easily. He grinncd
at Lucky Broad and was about to
pass on when the Countess Conr-
leau rose to her feet and stepped
into the trail.
Just a minute!" she said. Of
Royals companion she sternly de-
handed, 'What do you mean by
this trick?"
The old redskin shot her a swift
glance; then his face became en-
p:essionless and he gazed stolidly
1t the river.
A. x m