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 *
