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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1896)
TITTD 0 ! r ATT A TATIiY 3 * RE : . : SUNDAY , TnSC'KM'KliJR ' 0. 'ISDO. mm 1 'Ik TRUE TO THE DUKE , IM How a Boy Saved the Great Moiimotith. Uy T. C. IIAKIIAUGII. Mfi ( PopyrlKht , HW , by the S. S. McCltirc Co. ) The warm summer sunlight that sifted through tlio loaves of the atunly Engllnh oaks , In Somerset wood , no day a year ago. frll upon a boy lying at full length on the moagy ground. He was a atout. good-looking lad , with lair fcaturcn and chestnut colored locks , Inclined to curl. Hraldo him lay a crow' buw. with a feathered shaft In the groove , and the hoy's hand could have picked up the v. c.i pot at a moment's notice. For some tlmo ho had been watching the pambols of two squirrels Ju.it beyond bow- fchot , and In hopes that they might come a trifle nearer and give him n chance to bring one down. The spot cccupled by the young marks man , whose name was Pc.rry I'reston , was the summit of a gentle rlso which commanded - manded a fair view of the surrounding forest. Whllo Master Preston lay there he thought of the great battle fought a few days previous at Sedgcmoor , between King Jarnin1 men and Hie rebellious duke of Monmouth. then a fugitive , with n kingly price upon his head. The boy had heard of the battle ; Indeed , his uncle , a Mendlp miner , had fought there for the lost cause , and nt that very moment was hiding somewhere out of reach of the king's hunters. No ono seemed to know whcro Moninoulh was and the king's acldlcrs wcro ocourlng the countryside , for him. In a short time It would bo night and the Klt-ams of sunlight , which lit up the forest , would give way to shadows. Presently the boy put out his hand and picked no the cross-bow , but all the time hn kept looking at the squirrels. Ono of the little animals had frisked to within bowshot and Master Preston did not want the game to escape. The English boy quietly raised himself A HIDE FOR LIFE OR DEATH. upon ono knee and took deliberate aim , at the squirrel , then liberated the bowstring and watched the arrow In Its night' ' . The abaft went true to Its mark , for the squirrel tumbled from the log , upon which it had perched Itself , and Master Preston , with an exclamation of triumph , ran for ward. The further side of the log was well banked up with leaves and Into these the game had fallen. When the little marksman reached the log ho looked over and then drew back. To his astonishment ho was looking at a man half burled In the leaves , a man dressed In peasant costume , but with a kingly-looking eye and a handsome face. Perry stood dumfoundcd and could only gaze at the man , bpeechlcsd and full of fear. "Do you want your squirrel , lad ? " said the stranger , taking from tbo leaves the dead game , which ho held up before Muster I'm ; ' ton. "I'll take It , If you please , " and the boy took Ida squirrel , but did not stir. Iy this tlmo the man In the leaves had rlaen to his knees and was looking at tint boy."I'm "I'm a peasant , who might be wanted by these mon who arc after the soldiers of the unfortunate Monmouth , " ho said ; but Perry laid ono hand on his dirty sleeve. "You'll find mo true , " ho answered. "I Itnow you. You are his grace , the duke. " The man started violently , and drew back. "I the duke ? " ho cried. "Look at my gar ments , boy. Surely no duke ever masquer aded In such. " "Hut you nro his grace , " persisted Perry. "I was In Taunton when you entered Uie city , and I remember quite well how you lifted your hat to the people and how your volco sounded. " "Then I am lost , " was the reply. "I have come to this nt last to bo betrayed Into the hands of my enemy by a Somerset boy. " "Not so. I am uot an Informer. Out you are In danger. They have been hunting THE DEAD SQUIRREL. nlong the hedges down yonder , for I saw a lot of rough riders beating the hush this morning. " "Heating It for poor Monmouth. Oh , It I had on army once more at my back " Ha stopped suddenly and looked away , while he eeemcd to tremble. "They are quite near us , " eald Master "There la chance for " Prcaton , a you. "What sort of chance , boy ? " , "Tho old milk houac. " "Yours ? " "Yea , It la an old affair , but It has a false floor put down by its builder long ago. llut you cannot go to It whllo It U light. " "Then back to my bed of leaves I must go , " raid Monmouth , with a smile. "If I escape , toy , you may same day bo a duke yourself. " A few minims later Mister Preston trudged homeward with bla squirrel and dressed It In the cramped front yurd by the humble homo , Ho pnld nothing to his mother , a widow , ubout hla encounter with the hunted fugitive and eagerly watted for dusk. By and by ho went to the old milk house , now rarely uaed , for the king's men some years before had lakon the widow's last cow. nnd Ihoru he pried up a board and disclosed a commodious hiding place underneath , "Tho last place they'll look for the duke la , " eald Uie boy. "lie will be safe UQIV. " Awny ho went to the wood und like a keeu trailer found the log nnd the fugitive be hind It. Without n word the two hurried back to the tnllk house by a circuitous path nnd Master Perry concealed the great duke under the old boards. As .Monmouth pressed the boy's hand In parting ho looked up Into the youthful face and HI M : "May you be duke some day whether I become king or not. " nnd then Perry put the boards over him and went away. THE INQUIRY. Hardly had the boy reached homo when'nix men rode up to the house and called the widow out. They were members of Kcvcrsham'a army the general who had defeated Monmouth's forces and'they were looking for the fugi tive. Master Prcnton came out of the house with his mother and looked at the gaudy but dlrt-bcflpattcrcd regimentals and the rough faces of the cavaliers. The moment one of the fellows spied Perry ho covered him with his gloved hand. "That's the boy , " cried he. "Come , you llttlo Jackanapes. What were you doing It the wood today ? " "Hunting , sir , " said the widow's son. " shot n gray squirrel In the forest , as mothc hero ran testify , for wo had It for suppc and " "Who crept across the lane with you afte dark ? " Master Preston did not quail. The crlsl had come and the ordeal was before him. "Some one with me ? " he exclaimed. "I went Into the forest qulto alone and came home In like manner , sir. " "Hut there are tracks of two partlrs In the soft mud i&f the old lane down yonder. Come boy. You can't deceive the rldeie of the king and It Is high treason to shelter this contumacious rebel , Monmouth. " At mention of the hunted man's name Mrs Prraton clasped her hands and turned palu whllo she looked at her son. Perry remembered that the ground In the eld lane they had crossed on their way to the milk house wan quite soft and liable to leave thcro the Impress of their shoes ; but . ho did not Immediately reply. ' I "A good many people cross the lane , " said he at last. "I don't doubt that thcro be footprints In the ground there. " "And ono of the prints sbous the elegant tcot-track of the rebel whom wo broke at Sedgomoor. " "Mv son Is honest , " at this Juncture ex claimed the widow. "I know him to bo civil and kind and ho went to the wood today , not to hide Monmouth , but to get a squlrre with his bow. " "Yes , and he brought down more Im portant game , " broke In the- leader of the detachment. "Here , come up on the saddle , boy , " and the man darted at Perry , who , be fore ho could get beyond hla reach , was seized and Jerked ofC his feet. In another moment the boy found him self on the saddle before the trcoper , who looked him sternly In the face as he con tinued : "Wo want the rebel , boy. Don't deceive us. Where have you hid Monmouth ? " In an Instant lire seemed to light up the widow's eyes and she remembered the In dignities she had suffered at the hands of the troopero of King James , for she cried out ; "If you've made a promise , Perry , stick to It. , Keep your word , boy , even If given to Monmouth ! " The troopers looked daggers at the woman and ono thrust out his sword , but she sprang out of the way and laughed at him. "We'll wring the little chick's neck but what we'll make him tell where the rebe Is , " said the captain of the detachment "Tho king will have no nonsense , and , boyer or man ? the person who refuses to betray the hiding place of the arch-rebel , Monmouth , shall feel his majesty's displeasure. " With this the little troop wheeled and Mas ter Preston , held firmly to the saddle , was carried away. | A few yards from the house the men halted and all crowded round the man who held I'prrv "Where Is he. boy ? " they asked. Perry looked Into their rough faces and saw no leniency there ; then he glanced at their broad swords , the very weapons that had wrought such rulu at Scdgemoor , and for a moment contemplated the general mien of the six. "You haven't proved to me that there are footprint * li ( the mud In the old lane , " said the boy. "Hut wo can , " was tbo answer. "You want to bo convinced , do you ? To , the lane you shall bo taken. " In a little while tho' boy was taken to the spot nnd when It was reached ono of the men dismounted and led his horse toward a certain spot. A full moon was In the sky , ami In some places the ground was plainly visible and the very bladrs of grass that covered It. They had entered the lane which Porrry and tli3 duke had crossed on their way to the old milk house , and presently all stood on the bare place. "Put the lad down here , " said the man who had gone forward afoot. "I want to show him what a dainty footprint the hunted fox makes. Here It Is , as plain as when wo loft It , and hero beside It In the rougher boot track of the widow's bairn. " In compliance with the request the captain of the troop put Perry down , at the same time telling the trooper on the ground to toke hold ot til.i wrlat nnd escort him to the proof spot.Master Master Preston felt a hand at his wrist and ho was led forward In n Jiffy. "There they > are your tracks and those of the arch-rebel's 1" exclaimed the cavalier. "You crossed hero. Why , everybody In Eng land knows the print of Monmouth's foot , no matter If ho wears a shepherd's boots.- At the same time Perry was pushed for ward and roughly held over the soft ground. Ho saw the- tracks ho and Monmouth bad made ; they seemed to accuse him of treason to the king , but he did not quail. , "You sco them , boy ? Now , ulrrcc , whore Is the fox ? " It waa the captain of the band who s'poko and Perry straightened In the moonlight. At the same tlmo the mun who held his wrist seemed to give him a llttlfc freedom , for the grip relaxed as Master Preston looked nt the trooper's horse. It was a lithe-limbed chestnut , such as lu > once rode among the Mendlp hllla. when on a visit to his uncle , and an Idea ( lashed through the boy's brain. "I give you a minute , boy. Wo cannot wait hero all night whllo you know where the rebel Is. Stand aside , Ucfiucn. Hu li'feafu here. " The trooper whn had dismounted stood aside , quite re I IMS lug Master Preaton , but the next moment un event of startling Im portance took place. The Somerset boy sprang toward the horse and caught the rclu an he left the ground. HU movement was aa acllo r.a the lean of j Dougl&s St Douglas St " * " " 1510 1510 Douglas St Douoflas Sty - Black Browiiia Noah Iron Coal COJIBIXAPIOH BANK Boards Stamps Arks Neatly Cart paint'd , Cannot be - Have rol ing red. - tops open- Made of rubbcr- six- > - Very large ; Price has en unless the comb - just the sixe to b nation is known ; thc Usually been ? worth 250 in the 111 IOC Sell sixe for At 5oc , .Large Size and .Jointed Cglluoid . Doll well wo th double iDolls Frames what we sell them for Buggies Large moving For CaoiDd Photos. ( Uglily Painted bisque heads Very large size opens and shuts wooden This kind cannot its eyes , g j springs Be bought TiFi RAHQE 'worth ' | ff and jj iC For less $2.00. . EHBSal parasol , a Than loc , Enameled Beds Hickel Plated Dressed Kid Body Finest thing made , gen Well worth 250 , uine hard enamel , large Dolls Dolls Iron size brass , trimmings , real Trains Jointed bed BISQUE Heads , value , $1.25. moving bisque Natural curly hair. heads g& a Closing real value - y Eyes , ue 4c. . & 11 in 1'ng Scrap Clui a tan qua Trolley Cars Books Black Boards Most popular toy VELOCIPEDES , Handsome litho Made for boys ; Largest size for the price ii > graphed covers With rolling tops. all steel ; when the city. Very best make. All complete , as sixe SKI2 fflS88 Wound ft f shown in cut ; just Up A Runs , m the thing to please a little girl , ' Atomizers ! ' Atomizers ! TOY REINS Very best of goods. They comprise a lot out of Long fancy colored web , with ithe Bankrupt Stock of The Omaha Bazaar , and which three silver toned ; they.sold for $1.25 to $4.00. Have divided them into sleigh bells , 'two lots , ones that sold for $ i.po to $1.50 marked down worth iSc , Fancy Twisted CELLULOID llimdlo : worth PAPER SOe to 50C , those for $2.00 to $400 at $1.00 each. a squirrel , and before- the astonished cavalrymen could Interfere he wan on the horse's back , tearing up the lane like ono mad. . j Through the moonlight , like on arrow from his own cross-bow , went the boy , and In a llttlo wbll6 five steeds' were tearing after him , amid the clanking of heavy sabers and the shouting of vile epithets. It was a race In favor of the boy who knew every foot of the road , , and at a certain upot he turned aside where some bars were down and galloped across a meadow. Fatigued and In no goal humor the flvo horsemen came back after a lng chase , compelled to admit that a boy had beaten them , whllo several mllca from the spot Master Preston , hidden In a safe retreat , congratulated himself upon his escape. All that night did the troopers watch the widow's house In hopes that the boy would ride back and fall Into their clutches , but ho did not oblige them and at daylight they went away. All the next day the hunted man re mained under the flier of the old milk- house , and at night he was piloted away by his little rescuer , who , upon parting with him , received as a kecpsako the duke's ring. It was Monmouth's last escape from the snares of his persistent pumiera , for the following day ho was taken and carried to Londdn. During his Imprisonment there ho did not forget the bey who had saved his life In the Somerset forest , for he > waa permitted to address Master Preston a letter , and there Is llttlo doubt that had Monmouth reached the throne ho would have kept his promise and made Master Preston the youngest duke In England. TI1K AIICTIC DOCS. Their VHofiiliii-NMt I lie Work of K\- jiloratloii. The north polo will never bo discovered unices dogs , are used on the expedition. That Is practically the statement that Nanscn made when ho returned from his recent voyage. Few people seem to have recog nized how valuable the sledge dogs arc to an Arctic explorer. Nanscn would probably lave got much ne-irer to the pole than ho did If ho had taken more dogs with , him. Again , It was duo to the two dogs that ho was able to make bis way back to Franz foscf Land In safety , and Nansen's meeting with the Jackson-Harmsworth expedition would never have been .brought about but for ho barking of the dogs to the windward , These Esquimaux dogs nre a cutlous race , n appearance they are not unlike cell lea , but hey carry their tails curled over their backs and their bodies are more thick-set than that of the collie. The true Esquimaux dog has n curious wild look about him , -which Is not seen In any other breed. Considering that ho sledge dogs are generally badly used by heir masters , they are very quiet and good- cmpcred. They will cat almost anything lardy and frequently do as much work In ono day as would last an ordinary dog for a vcek. One of the peculiarities of the Esq'ul- naux dog Is his feet. Ho has no short hair ictwcen the toes. There Is a reason for this , t the dog's feet were hairy the snow would 'ball" on them and thus lame the dog , So far Esquimaux dogs are not often scon n this country , but there IB no reason why hey should not bo , as they make excellent companions and are qulto good-tempered vhen kindly treated. TO I1AIIV ASI.HIJP. Cy Warman In New York Sun. God keep you , dearest , whllo the morning nun Lights up the world and the world is bright ; i And then ut last , when the dny Is done , God keep you , dearest , through the lout ; , long night. i God keep you , denrrnt , whcii the earth Is Bay With dlnnliitf birds nnd fields In bloom ; When Hummer's verdure fades nwiiy God keep you , dearest , through the win ter's nloom. God keep you. dearest , from dny to day Throughout this life. U'hun 1 am dumb , And when your fair form turns to clay. God keep you.jleaieat , lntho _ life to come. I'.v .s'i'A siT'TnT I.UTTI 3 it s. 1'Iivtr Safe Delivery IiiNiirril by I.iu-k of 1'oHlnm- , The letters that the Sikh police. In Singa pore , xcnd their kindred In India , and those hat they receive In return are almost In variably nuuuu any postaso stamps. One of heir UurnptMi olllccn , noticing this , asked one of the men the reasoa for this universal mlswlon , and It waa explained that the na ive postman's Ideas of honor concerning the delivery of native letters are restricted to towns. Should the epistle be addressed to n man In a village some mllca from the lOftlce the. poatmnn dulyntakra , the letter and starts off- but after going1 a little way slip * Into the nearest patch of Junglti and throws It nway , thus savlnfe himself any further trouble In the matter. It Is curious to note that letters are seldom rifled. The trouble of walking so far for a mere letter seems to worry the native mind , and no curiosity Is aroused as to the contents. If the letter , however. Is unstamped , the unhappy postman must deliver It at Its destination , as he Is bound to produce on his return a receipt for the fine Imposed for the omitted stamps. They bear no Ill-will to the postman prob. ably they would do the same In hla place , but they know tho. length of his tether and tak ? steps to frustrate his methods accord ingly , i rilATTI.K OK THE YOU.VCJSTBHS. Today I asked my mamma If I could whittle- Yes. I did. "Oh , no , my girlie , " said she ; "you're too llttlo" So she did. I Hut Tom stepped so hard right on my too I cried , I did. She said , "Oh , you're too big a girl to cry out eo" That's what she did. Why can't I cry If I am llttlo ? Or If I'm blc. why can't I whittle ? In a neighboring town a man lives whoso wlfo Is somewhat cf an Invalid. He Is com pelled to send her to Florida for the winter. They have a llttlo girl who asks queatlons. She wanted to know what she would see In Florida. In order to quiet , her , her mother told her negroes would be the most numerous product she would encounter. One day re cently , whllo out walking with her mother , they met a black man , a veritable Sene- gamblan. who-was busllv chewlnotnhncon "Oh , mamma ! " cried the child. "Tliore'e a colored man , Just llko we'll see In Florida. " She clung to her mother's dress and eyed that colored man Intently. Just as he passed ho emitted a mouthful of tobacco Juice "Mamma. " said the llttlo girl In an awed tone , "ho even spits black , don't he ? " "That teacher of ours don't know putty. " exclaimed Tommy with a flno look of scorn. "What's the matter with my llttlo boy now ? " "When I told her that I tackled Jlmmle Trotter bo hard that he had to put on a substertuto , she solil I orter be ashamed of mesclf. " Till- : OI.II-TI.llKItS. Ono of the dukoor , Wellington's postboys has Just died at the > ago of 89 years. Admiral of the Fleet Sir A. Milne , the father of the Hrltlshl navy , has Just cele brated his ninetieth birthday. Two men"of Madison , O. , have been going to the polls together for sixty years. Now they are each 81years old , with but a month's difference Inithclr ages. On Novem ber 3 they cast their fifteenth presidential vote. vote.Nodalah Nodalah Moody Chllds , who has Just died at his home In Syraouao , N. Y. , In his nine tieth year , was for many years ono of the most prominent business men of Syracuse , being largely Identified with tbo salt In terests of the city. Mr. Frederick Snundcrs , the 90-year-old librarian of the At.ior library. Now York , has retired from his more active duties In connection with tlirUlbrary , although ho will rotaln his desk < thm > and will continue to receive his full salary. Mr. Saunders Is an Englishman by birth , but he came to this country nearly sixty years ago , and was prominent among the band of distinguished men that -Included William Cullen Hryant , George Uancroft and Washington Irving , who made ia vigorous struggle for Inter national copyright. It was through Mr , Ir vine's warm friendship 'that ' Mr. Saunders was appointed to his present desk In the library , which ho has held since 1859. Reuben ! ' . Mess , who has Just died at his horn ? In Ulmlra , N. Y. , was a llnoal descendant In the alxth generation from John 'Mr.JH. ' who settled In New Haven , Conn , , In 1C39 , nnd who was a signer of the "o.lglnal compact" and a representative In the colonial legislature. On liU mother's nldo ho was drocende.1 from John Howland , who oame ovw In the Mayflower. Mr , Mesa was a druggist In Now York In 1S42 , his store bolus at Grand and Cannon streets. Origi nally a whin , he JolnoJ the republican parly tt 1(8 ( formation , and never wavered In his f < alty to U. Ho wau a suUcrlbrr to th Tribune from Its IIrat Uauo , and kept a complete IIlo of Jt. , WILD NIGHT AT WOOD RIVER 'An Incident from the History of the Early Days of the Union Pacific. A PAWNEE SCOUT'S ' TIMELY WARNING A uck Upon < lic Hnllwtiy Station by a Iliinil of SIIVIIKV SlmiY A Ciiiii- of Covoriinifiit Tro i > Sent to ( lie Ilullcf. ( Copyright , 1S96 , by S. S. McClure Company. ) "Kcvp that Icld quiet , " said Bankers In a hoarse whisper. "I'm doing the best I can , " eald his wife , trying to hush the little one , who was sob bing and moaning In her lap. In the baby's milk wagon a bitter fight was going on between paragorlc and pain , and the latter was dying1 hard. The wind drove the rain against the side of the car and made It rock to and Xro. "Emma , " eald Mrs. Bankers to her friend , take that bottle and hold It between you and a crack In the car , and when It llghtena , drop ten drops Into the spoon I suppose wo must not strike a light. " "You bet you don't strlko any light hero unless you are ready to give up your chlg- c > : n , " said Bankers , without taking hla eyes from the crack through which ho was peep ing. Emma took the bottle and at each flash of lightning- dropped a drop of hush medicine Into the spoon , and when she had put In ten drops they gave It to the baby. That mode twenty drops It was danger- OUH but It was 'sure1 death to all of them If the baby cried aloud. The ra'n ' came In great sheets and with such force that It seemed that the car could ' hardly hold the rail. It was not a Pullman car ; Just a common red stock car standing on a siding with a few ormfuls of straw upon | i , the floor. Occasionally Bankers turned 10 glunco at the two women who were crouch ing in ono end of the car , and when the lightning lit up their faces they wcro fearful to behold. Now the rain , cold as sleet , came through the cracks In the car and stung the faces of those within. Mrs. Bankers had seen three winters at Wood Illvcr , but her friend , the young woman who had como out to western Nebraska to teach school , woa In every sense a tenderfoot , and the experi ence of this wild night had almost driven her tnad. tnad.SURROUNDED SURROUNDED BY INDIANS. "Thcro they are , " whispered Bankers. Now , the women put their eyes to a crack , and when a flash came they could see a reef of feathered heads that formed a halt circle around the house llko a feather boa around a woman's neck. Half the band llsmounted and made a rush for the cottage. The door was broken and the red devils swarmed In. Ono of them took a newspa per and lighted It at the open fireplace to make a torch , and by the light of It the llttlo party In the stock car could neo the Sioux running , half crouching , from room to room , In search of the occupants. FindIng - Ing the place deserted and smarting under their disappointment the Indians now bet nro to the house , and by the light of It started to loot the railroad station , which stood less than a hundred yards away. The station agent had been warned as the others had been , by a Pawnee scout , but had bravely refused to leave his post. Ho had made no light , but sat In ouo end of the llttlo dark room which served as ticket ofllco , telegraph olllce and sleeping room , and as the Indians approached opened fire. At the very first shot the leader of the murderous band leaped high Into the air , came down on his feet , leaped up again and again and finally fell In a heap , to rise no more. With a deaf ening yell the angry band made a rush for the door and began to beat against It with tomahawks , clubs and guns , A SHOWER OF LEAD. Having emptied bin rlllo the agent now took up a pair of 45-callbcr revolvers and the lead fairly rattled agalmit the door and no Ices than a half dozen halr-llftcrs sank to the platform , causing the besiegers to fall back a pace. From a distance they began to oour the li'jd Into the bulldlns , but the agent , crouching behind the llttlo Iron osfe , was utlll unhurt. An Indian brought a torch from the burning cottage and attempted to nro the citation , but the rain and wind put out the fire. Two or three Sioux , noticing a trlnc ot cam upon the siding , began to search for stock or eatable freight. From carte to car they ran , thrusting their rifles Into the straw. "Uh , " suld an old buck as his rlrto I found something soft In one of the cars , and Ilankcra felt a hurt In hla short ribs. Laying Lold of the sldo of the car the Indian began to pull and strain. By the merest chance he had taken hold of tbo car door and now es It opened ho thrust his hideous head Inside. Bankers could have blown the top ot the Sioux's head off.but he knew that to IIro would bo to attract a dozen redskins , against whom ho could not hope to hold out long. The women scarcely breathed. The baby , full of paregoric , slept as though It had already entered upon Its final rest. The other two Indians had given up the search among the empty cam and gone back to the station , whcro the agent , having reloaded all his guns , kept the gang hopping and dancing about the station platform. The old Sioux at the car door cocked his head and listened. He must have fancied ho heard something breathe , for .now ho put his hands upon the sill and leaped I Into the car. Ho had scarcely straightened up when Bankers' rifle barrel fell across hla feathered head and he dropped like a beef. The achoolma'am uttered a faint scream and that was the last sound that came from her corner for some time. The Sioux neror moved a flngcr and Bankers , having removed thu warrior's firearms and ammunition , gave iho gun to his wife and then covered the dead Sioux with straw. THE RELIEF TRAIN. Already the little frame cottage had I burned to the ground and the rain had nearly quenched the flre. Every attempt made by . the baud to flro the station had ended In I failure and the Sioux were now preparing to [ storm thojfort. It was hard for Bankers to [ keep quiet In the car while the agent sold his lifo so bravely and so dearly to the Sioux , but there were his wlfo ana baby , and the helpless schoolma'am , who had been per suaded by the Bankers to come to this wild region , and ho felt It his duty to protect them as best ho could , Presently Bankers felt the stock car vibrate perceptibly , as though It were being rolled slowly along the rail. His first thought was that the Indians were puahlng the empty cars down near the station , and that they would set flro to the straw , and then there would bo no possible escape. Now there was a lear , as of an ap- preaching train , and an Instant later a great dark object hove In sight and rolled past the car. It was a locomotive , ( /rawing a dozen box cars , and running without a headlight. The shouts of the besiegers , the rattle of rifles and the wild cry of the night prevented the Sioux from feeling the vibration , or hear ing the sound of the approaching train. The agent , who hod been severely wounded , now crawled to the key and called Ogalalla. At the first attack he had wired for help , and now , ho told the operator there , ho could only hold the place for a llttlo whllo longer. The agent was still at the key wuen tno engine , roiling up to tnc station , shook the building , and he knew the momcjit ho felt the quiver of It that help was at hand. Instantly the doors or the box cars came open and a company of government scouts , all Pawnees except the olflccrs. leaped to the platform Just as the band of Sioux were making their last desperate charge upon the station. Bcforo they could realize that reinforcements wcro at hand the Sioux were br ct by the scouts , who always fought to kill. The battle was short and decisive , and when the Sioux fled they left moro than half their number upon tbo field. THE CONDUCTOR'S PLIGHT , Probably the most anxious man In the whole party was the conductor of the special train that had brought the scouts from Oealalla. Ho had ridden all the way on the locomotive and the moment the train stopped ho had leaped to the ground and gone through a nhower of bullets to where the cottage which had been the home ot the Bankers had stood. The sight of the homo In ashes made htm sick at heart , but there was still hope ; they might have taken refuge In the station , and , facing about , the fear- Iras conductor fought his way to the door By Uilfl tlmo the Kloux were giving all their attention to the scouts , and the con ductor forced hU body through the shot- riddled door. The agent lay upon the floor In a poil of hla own blood , bud ho waa still alive. "Whqro are they ? " asked the con ductor , glancing about the dark room. "Amonir the stock cars , If they are still alive , " was the reply which come In a faint whisper. "I saw tlu-m leaving the houne at dusk go to them ' I'm I'm all Hunt , " and the conductor , 'liavlng placed the wounded man upon his bed , made for the stock card. "Hankers , whrro are you ? " ho called , and Bankers ansucrcd , only two cars away. Now the conductor lighted hU while light and climbed Into the car. The bravo Mrs. Bankt'iH greeted him with a wwllo that coon changtxl to U-ari ) , for In the light of the hand lamp she had seen her baby's face and It looked like the face ot a dead child. "Emma , " she called , excitedly , but there , was no answer. VERY MUCH ALIVE. "Is flho dead ? " cried the conductor , falling : upn his kncco and holding the light close lo his sweetheart's face. "No , you chump , " said Bankers , "she only- fainted when I killed this Sioux , " and ho- gave the dead Indian a kick and rolled him. out of the car. "But the baby , " pleaded Mrs. Bankers. "She's all right , " said the husband. "Only a llttlo toi much paregoric , " and so It proved to be. "Here , Em , " said Bankers , shaking the young woman , who was regaining conscious ness , "brace up. You've got company. " "Aro wo all safe ? " asked the school- ma'am , feeling for her back hair. "Oh ! My dear , bravo friend , you have saved us all ! " "Yes , I played " said Bankers , "hldlne hero In th ] straw whllo the agent was belngr murdered , " - "But you saved the women , " said the con ductor , who was overjoyed at finding them all alive. "Yes , " said Bankers , "that's something after all. " And all this Is not a dream. It Is only a scrap of the history of the early days of the Union Pacific. The brave station agent Is an old man now , and one of his legs Is shorter than the other the ono that was shot that night. The baby , having recovered from her- ' Ml sovcro tUEclo with colic and paregoric , la now ono of the most charming women In ono of our charming western dtlcs. The con ductor of the soldier train Is at this writing a geceral superintendent of a well known railway. The snows of forty winters have fallen upon his wife's hair. It la almost white , but her face Is still young and hand ? ( < mc , and I remember that she blushed , when telling this story to mo , and recalling the fact that who had fainted In a. stock cur on that wild night at Wood River. . CY WARMAN. TO AX owl siMiorirrri : . Edytho Pratt In llnrper'H Ilnznr. O. sweet Hllhouotte of dnyo gene by , With comb and droopingcnrlH , Wuru you In the dreamy golden pant The dearest of all dear Was your hnlr of gold ? Did It trcnsuro The wanton minlM-am'H ray ? Did your eyes IliiHh lire , or were they calrni A noon on a summer day ? Did you smile nnd nigh ? Did your check * lilusli At low-breathed words of praise ? Were your feet nx light In the minuet Au now In the walu'u maze ? Danced you the Htep of the cay "bcay- monde , " With KlanrcH , whlnpcrs , BlghH. Or wcro you holy and swretly fair , With nunllkc peacu In your eyea ? The Htlll faint odor of roan leaves dead Yet lliifjiTH about the p.iHt , Llko thu thoiiKhtH of a vimlHhcd love title. Too fragrantly swtet to laHt. In theflrcllKht'H glow I HCCIII to BCD GlcuniH of your trc.sscH bright ; The uluiHin of yenrs I bridge with a And stand by your sldu tonight ! Thu pneumatic tube has made another ad vance. The Postolllco department has con tracted for mall tuhrs between the central ofllco and the Reading and Pennnylvaula. depots. In Philadelphia , and also between the Now York and Brooklyn postofllces. humor , whether Itching , burning , bleeding , caly , crunU d , pimply , or tlotcliy , whether elmj'le , ucrof uloui , or ticndUnry , ( rout Infancy lo ago , nro now tpccdlly cured by AHKIN and blood purifier of Incomparable purity and curutlvo power , Purely vciiitn. Me , tafo , Innocent , en J palatable. It nptumU to all , iiud specially mother * , nurc > , anil children. Bold throughout the \rorU. MM. CUTICUII , Vto.1 Bnir , U . | ItttnLTiir. M. in < l II , I'ollin lliv * . b ' IVupi. 11'i.ton. AVII envy. Cmr , * , . Cl&v W Uuit JJUxi iu4 HUa bt *
