The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-31

INTO IKE InlnSS, young ana VlNlu as
dawn.
Lydia shivered with excitement.
Billy pulled her arm through his.
81 don't like this he muttered.
81 don't believe they mean any
HARM" said Lydia. Lots of the
whites started home before sunset,
anyhow"
II wish you had" replied Billy.
Gee, here it comes"
The chant suddenly changed to a
yell. The drum beat quickened, and
the great circle Of dancing Indians
broke and charged the crowd Of
whites. A number Of them drew re-
volvers and began firing them into
the air. Others drew taut the great
bows they carried. The whites plunged
backward precipitately.
xiii 'em whitesl" shrieked the
squaws.
Run 'em whites off our reserva-
tion" shouted half a dozen young
bucks.
Lydia was trembling but cool.
Good for them! Oh, Billy, good for
themI" she exclaimed
Thus far the whites had taken the
proceedings as a joke. Then a white
woman screamed
Run! It's massacre! :"
Massacre" is horrifying word to
use to whites in an Indian country.
Men and women both took up the
cry
Its a massacre! RUM
And the great crowd bolted.
Like pursuing wolves, the Indians
followed, beating the laggards with
their bows, shouting exultantly. Billy
caught Lydia round the waist and
held. her In front Of him as well as
he could.
Then Lydia heard Billy's voice In
her ear. IF this isn't stopped, it will
be a massacre. We've got to find
Charlie Jackson. He caught scream
ing squaw by the arm.
"Susie, where's Charlie JacksonT'
She jerked her thumb back toward
the fiagpole and twisted away.
"All right! Now we'll make for
the pole, Lydia, get behind me and
put your arms round my waist. Hang
on, for heavens sake"
Lydia did hang ON for few mo-
ments. But the flight was now de-
veloping into a free-for-all fight. And
hafnra cha Enau i,,Sf hnru q hon
pened, Lydia had fallen and feet
surged over her.
She buried her face In her arms.
1t seemed an age to her before Billy
had snatched her to her feet In
reality she was not down for more
than two minutes. Billy swung her
against his chest with one arm and
swung out with his other, shouting at
Indians and whites alike.
"You id beasts! You dirty id
beasts"
Lydia, bruised and shaken, chung to
him breathlessly, then cried, $50
ahead, Billym
He glanced down at her and saw a
streak of blood on her forehead. His
face worked and he began to sob and
curse like a mailman.
Kicking, striking with his free arm,
oaths rolling from his lips, he burst
through the crowd and rushed Lydia
to the free space about the flagpols
where Charlie Jackson stood coolly
watching the proceedings
Billy shook his fist under the In.
dams nose.
Get down there and call the pack
off or I'll brain you"
Jackson shrugged his shoulders,
calmly. LET 'em have their fun. It's
their last blowout. hope they do kill
Levine and Marshall"
Lydia pulled herself free of Billy.
Call them off, Charlie. It'll Just
mean trouble in the end for all of you
If you don't"
Charlie looked at Lydia closely and
his voice changed as he said, "You got
hurt, Lydia? I'm sorry"
Sorry You id brutel" raved
Billy. Il tell you, call off this row !''
The two young men glared at each
other. Afterglow and freight re-
vealed a ferocity in Billy's face and
cool hatred in Charles that made
Lydia gasp.
Billy put his face closer to Char
lies. "Call it off" he growled.
Charlie returned Billy's stare for q
long moment. Then sullenly, slowly
he turned and threw out across the
night a long, shrill cry. He gave II
again and again. At each repetition
the noise Of the mob grew less, and
shortly painting, feverish-eyed bucks
began to struggle into the light around
the pole.
Then, without a word, Billy led
Lydia away. The Indians passing
them shook their bows at them but
they were unmolested.
"Can you walk, Lydia? Do you
think you're badly hurtr asked Billy
ITO think of me not scratched and
you hurtl Your father ought to horse.
whip mer'
you saved me from being trampled
to DEATH" cried Lydia, Indignantly
ooh, there's the auto.'
"Billy," cried Levine, "could you run
the car and the two women down the
road while Amos and help the agent
get order here? The worst seems to
be over, for some reason"
BILLY got Charlie Jackson to call
the Indians in," said Lydia.
'I'll wait for you at the willows, q
mile below Last Chance" said Billy.
He was an Indifferent chauffeur but
he reached the willows without mis-.
hap.
Sitting with the murmur of the
brook and the fragrance of marsh
grass enveloping them, the two young
people did not talk much.