Hammond Times, Volume 2, Number 24, Hammond, Lake County, 16 July 1907 — Page 3

Tiiesilar, Julv 1G, 1907.

THE LAKE COUNTY TIMES.

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(Cop tinned.) "Ilftve have you any water left? she asked at last, her lips parched and

burning as if from fever. lie shook the canteen dangling forgotten at his side. "There may be a few drops," ho said, handing it to her, although scarcely removing his fixed gaze from off that dreary plain. "We shall be obliged to make those trees yonde? ; there ought to be water there In plenty, and possibly wo may strike a trail." There was nothing more said between them. Like two automatons, they started off across the parched Crass, the heat waves rising and falling as they stumbled forward. Neither realized until then how thoroughly that hard climb up the rocks, the strain of continued peril, and the long abstinence from food had sapped their strength, yet to remain where they were meant certain death; all hope found its center amid those distant beckoning trees. No one can explain later how such deeds are ever accomplished; how the tortured soul controls physical weakness, and compels strained sinews to perform the miracle of action when, all ambition has died. Hampton surely nniit have both seen and known, for ho kept his direction, yet never afterwards did he regain any clear memory of it.

CHAPTER IV. On the Naked Plain. It was 21S miles, as the crow flies, between old Fort Bethune aud the rock ford crossing the Bear Water, every foot of that dreary, treeless distance Indian-haunted, the favorite skulking place and hunting ground of the restless Sioux. Winter and summer this wide expanse had to be suspiciously pat ruled by numerous military scouting parties, anxious to learn more regarding the uncertain whereabouts of wandering bands and the purposes of malcontents. One such company, composed of a dozen mounted infantrymen, accompanied by three Cree trailers, rode slowly and wearily across the brown exposed uplands down into the longer, greener grass of the wide valley bottom, until they emerged upon a barely perceptible trail which wound away in tuake-like twistlngs. toward those high, barren hills whose blue masses were darkly silhouetted against the western sky. The animals moved steadily forward, reluctant and weary, their heads drooping dejectedly, their distended nostrils red and quivering,

pleasant-faced, stalwart young fellow,

with the trim figure of a trained ath lete, possessing a square chin smooth

ly snaven, nis intelligent mue eyes

half concealed beneath his hat brim, which had been drawn low to shade

them from the glare, one hand press

ing upon his saddle holster as he leaned over to rest. No insigna of rank served to distinguish him from

those equally dusty fellows plodding gloomily behind, but a broad stripe of yellow running down the seams of his

trousers, together with his high boots

bespoke the cavalry service, while the front of his battered campaign hat bore the decorations of two crossed

sabers, with a gilded "7 prominent between. His attire was completed by a coarse blue shirt, unbottoned at the throat, about which had been loosely

knotted a darker colored silk handker chief, and across the back of the sad

die was fastened a uniform jacket, the

single snouiaer strap revealed pre

senting the plain yellow of a second

lieutenant.

Attaining to the summit of a slight knoll, whence a somewhat wider vista lay outspread, he partially turned his

face toward the men straggling along in the rear, while his hand swept

across the dreary scene.

If that line of trees over yonter

Indicates the course of the Bear Wa

ter, Carson," he questioned quietly, "where are we expected to hit the trail leading down to the ford?" The sergeant, thus addressed, a little stocky fellow wearing a closely clipped gray moustache, spurred his exhausted horse into a brief trot, and drew up short by the officer's side, his heavy eyes scanning the vague distance, even while his right hand was uplifted In perfunctory salute. "There's no trail I know about along this bank, sir," he replied respectfully, "but the big cottonwood with the dead branch forking out at the top is the ford guide." They rode down In moody silence into the next depression, and began wearily climbing the long hill opposite,

! apparently the last before coming di- ! rectly down the banks of the stream, j As his barely moving horse topped the ' uneven summit, the lieutenant sudden- : ly drew in his rein, and uttering an j exclamation of surprise, bent forward, staring intently down in his immediI ate front. For a single instant he ap- , peared to doubt the evidence of hia j own eyes; then he swung hastily from ; out the saddle, all weariness forgotten. I "My God!" he cried, sharply, his ! eyes suspiciously sweeping the bare ; slope. "There are two bodies lying

upon h!a knees beside' them, his "eyes already moist with sympathy, his anxious fingers feeling for a possible heart-beat. A moment of hushed, breathless suspense followed, and then he began flinging terse, eager commands across his shoulder to where his men were clustered. "Here! Carson, Perry, Ronk, lay hold quick, and break this fellow's clasp," Le cried, briefly. "The girl retains a spark of life yet, but the man's arms fairly crush her."

With all the rigidity of actual death those clutching hand3 held their tenacious grip, but the aroused soldiers wrenched the Interlaced fingers apart with every tenderness possible in such emergency, shocked at noting the expression cl Intense agony stamped upon the man's face when thus exposed to view. The whole terrible story was engraven there how he

had tolled, sgonlzed, suffered, before finally yielding to the inevitable and

plunging forward in unconsciousness, written as legibly as though by a pen. Carson, who in his long service had witnessed much of death and suffering, bent tenderly above him, seeking

for some faint evidence of lingering

ife. The anxious lieutenant, bare

headed under the hot sun-glare, strode hastily across from beside the uncon

scious but breathing girl, and stood gazing doubtfully down upon them.

"Any life, sergeant?" he demanded,

his voice rendered husky by sympathy.

'He doesn't seem entirely gone, sir,"

and. Carson glanced up into the officer's face, his own eyes filled with feeling. "I can distinguish just a wee

bit of breathing, but it's so weak the pulse hardly stirs."

'What do you make of it?" 'Starving at the bottom, sir. The

only thing I see now is to get them down to water and food."

The young officer glanced swiftly

about him across that dreary picture

of sun-burnt, desolate prairie stretch

ing in every direction, his eyes paus

ing slightly as they surveyed the tops

of the distant cottonwoods.

'Sling blankets between your horses,'

he commanded, decisively. "Move

quickly, lads, and we may save on6 of

these lives yet."

As if by some magic discipline the rude, effective litters were rapidly made ready, and the two seemingly lifeless bodies gently lifted from off the ground and deposited carefully wrthin. Down the long, brown slope they advanced slowly, a soldier grasping the rein and walking at each horse's head, the supporting blankets, securely fastened about the saddle pommels, swaying gently to the measured tread of the trained animals. Beneath the protecting shadows of the first group of cottonwoods, almost on the banks of the muddy Bear Water, the little party let down their senseless burdens, and began once more their seemingly hopeless efforts at resuscitation. A fire was hastily kindled from dried and broken branches, and broth was made, which was forced through teeth that had to be pried open. Water was used unsparingly, the soldiers working with feverish eagerness, inspired by the constant admonitions of their officer, as well as their own curiosity to learn the facts hidden behind this tragedy. It was the dark eyes of the girl which opened first, instantly closing again as the glaring light swept into them. Then slowly, and with wonder-

the oily perspiration streaking their j utl"uuo vvdusted sides. The tired men. half ! They lay all doubled up In the coarse blinded by the elare, lolled heavilv in ass' exactly as they had fallen, the

their deep cavalry saddles, with en- maQ resting ce uunu. ue

slender figure of the girl clasped vice-

crusted eyes staring moodily ahead. Riding alone, and slightly In ad

vance of the main body, his mount a j rangy, broad-chested roan, streaked !

with alkali dust, the drooping head j that

like in his arms, with her tightly closed eyes upturned toward the glaring sun. Never once questioning but

he was confronting the closing

telling plainly of wearied muscles, was j scene of a grewsorne tragedy, the thorthe officer in command. He was a oughly aroused lieutenant dropped

"Now Miss, Just Take a Sip of This." ment, she gazed up into those strange, rough faces surrounding her, pausing in her first survey to rest her glance on the sympathetic countenance of the young lieutenant, who held her half reclining upon his arm. "Here," he exclaimed,' kindly, Interpreting hor glance as one of fear, "you are all right and perfectly safe now, with friends to care for you. Peters, bring another cup of that broth. Now, miss, just take a sup or two of this, and your strength will come back in

a jiffy. What wrs the trouble? Starving?" She disl exactly as he bade her, every movement mechanical, her eyes fastened upon his face. "I I reckon that was partly it," she responded at last, her voice faint and husky. Then her glance wandered away, and finally rested upon another little kneeling group a few yards farther down stream. A look of fresh intelligence swept into her face. "Is that him?" she questioned, tremblingly. "Is is he dead?" "He wasn't when we first got here, but mightly near gone, I'm afraid. I've been working over you ever since." She shook herself free and sat weakly up. her Hps tight compressed, her eyes apparently blind to all save that motionless body she could barely distinguish. "Let mo tell you, that fellow's a man, just the same; the gamest, nerviest man I ever saw. I rckon he eot hit. too. though he never said nothing about it. That's his style." (To bo continued.)

11

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A I p r M i-i

Beware

OT

the

very Owner or Prospective Owner of

Seal Estate snouM carefully read this Ad. It means Dollars in tlieir pockets.

You know that in every city of the size ol Hammond there is Business District and a well established Residence District, what lies between ?

a well established Have you noticed

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Usually a lot of cheap frame, run down buildings, that are used for boarding houses, half stores and half residences. They don't amount to much for either purpose. The property in this "The Betwixt and Between Territory" is always less valuable than that nearer the city or farther out.

And W

Simply because it cannot be used to the best advantage for either Business or Residence purposes. It is neither one or the other Cij f 'j.i'ii m, m iiniw mmt - 'i' ; fcn 4 DO YOU SEE THE POINT ? Now, the owners of the South Homewood Addition will tell you frankly that they never expect to see seven story Office Buildings on their lots. They do however expect to see their Addition the finest Residence District in the city. Judging from the homes already planned and built, they know the South Homewood Addition will be the best residence district in the city.

is no Betwixt an

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IL

h

is

It is RESIDENCE Property arid nothing else..

wor

t!i of ProDertv

g 4 Yesterday

The lots are selling cheap now. won't buy them.

In a few years, twice the money

Hammond,

i

Schaaf

Ebert,

Agts.

213 Sibley Street,

Phone 62

HAMMOND, IND.