Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 41, Number 235, 19 August 1916 — Page 13

The Sandman Story for Tonight

The rain was coming down In bucketfuls. It seemed a solid wall of water to the telephone girls looking out of their windows across the river to the distant hills. Tess was 16, but, as she was lame, she did not seem to he more than 12, for her sad face was thin from suffering. But her work as an operator was of the best Elsie Brown was another operator who sat in the same room,- but she did not like Tess at all. Full of life, she resented the fact that little crippled Tess did the best work, and consequently she nfjver lost an opportunity to wound Tess by bragging about the nice time she had at parties. But Tess only shut her eyes to hide the tears and went silently about her work, for her widowed mother must be supported and she was the only one in the family earning a penny. Today as the girls sat gazing at the storm clouds gathering they seemed worried about the fact that they could not go to a picnic. 'It is just too bad it is going to rain," said Elsie. "There is a party down the river and a dance at the pavillion. I am tired of rain wish it never would." "But the country needs rain badly," said Tess, "the gardens are drying up and the fields suffering for water." "Oh! that's just like you, Tess," sneered Elsie, "always preaching. Who cares for. gardens and fields?" "Well," replied Tess, "if we go without them we would have nothing to eat." "How tiresome you are, Tess!" retorted Elsie, angry at seeing she THE "They are my people!" he cried excitedly. They heard galloping ponies, and within a few moments several warriors rode into view. When they saw the Sioux they aimed their arrows and warned their comradtV The wounded Cheyenne cried out to reassure them, however, and they approached. Then the entire war party came forward. The Sioux remained silent while the Cheyenne explained the situation to his comrades. When he finished speaking, an elderly warrior advanced and addressed the lads in Sioux. "Red Dog has told me about you. You have helped hint. It is good. He is my son; my heart is friendly to you. You are young men, but you are very brave. We have come here to take away our people who were killed by the Pawnees. Then we will follow the Pawnees and fight them again. I do not know where you are going or what you will do. I am ready to help you. The Sioux are my brothers. I have said it." "The warrior who has spoken to you is War Eagle, my father," Red Dog said, proudly. "He is a great chief, but he was not in the battle with the Pawnees." The lads had been well schooled in the art of diplomacy, and as yet they had said nothing of their own expedition against the Pawnees. Red Dog had asked no questions and they had offered no information. While Otter knew, however, that his inquiries regarding the travelers had given the Cheyenne a clue, and he feared it would be unwise to make a secret of their destination. Besides, the lads believed that they had much to gain by forming an alliance with the Chcyennes. They decided, therefore, to tell as much of their plans as they deemed necessary. "I have listened to the words of the Cheyenne chief," said Sun Bird. "What he says is so; the Sioux and the Cheyennes are brothers. I am crying in my heart because the Pawnees have killed many brave warriors. It is bad. War Eagle has told me that the Cheyennes are going to fight the Pawnees again. My heart is black against those people. They have captured my

had gotten the worst of the talk. "But of course anyone like you who never dances don't mind rain." Tess flushed and the tears came Into her eyes yet she only turned to answer a call from the board. The clouds grew darker and draker. An inky curtain hung overhead, the lightning cracked across the

sky peal on peal of thunder shook the building. Tess rose to her feet suddenly. "Girls," she said in a voice trembling with excitement, "the operator up at the big dam phones that it is giving away and the water will be sweeping down in 15 minutes we must warn the town. Everyone to her post call up every store, home and factory and tell them to sound the alarm in the streets that people must take to the hills." Tess sat at her desk, her hands flying and her voice calling out hasty orders to everyone who replied. But not so with the others. Following Elsie everyone tore down the stairs and raced for her home. But Tess did not stir. Like lightning her fingers flew and above the crash of the storm her voice sent out the warnings to home and farm factory and store. "Cry aloud, go into the streets," she ordered. "Ask everyone to join you. The, dam is going take to the hills." Boom! .Boom! Boom! crashed the thunder; swish, swish, swish! came the rain in torrents, but still the girl worked on unceasing. From factory whistles the alarm now sounded, people filled the streets, the stores poured out their clerks, the schools emptied, and the news RED brother, Little Raven. I have said I will rescue him. I will go with my brothers, the Cheyennes. I have spoken it." His words were received with approval. Many of the warriors came forward to shake his hand. Then they turned to White Otter. . "What Sun Bird has told you is true. My heart is friendly to my brothers, the Cheyennes. I will go with you to fight our enemies, the Pawnees," he said. White Otter had several reasons for not mentioning the Red Arrow. First, because he was unwilling to acknowledge that the Pawnees had gained possession of it. Besides, it was improper to mention this sa cred medicine-emblem to any one but a Sioux. He determined, there fore to keep secret the real object of his expedition against the Pawn ees. The chief made a brief reply in which he again complimented the lads and promised to help-them rescue Little Raven. Then the Cheyennes began their dismal task. They had brought a number of extra ponies to carry the dead warriors. When the bodies had been securely lashed on these horses War Eagle selected ten men to escort them to the Cheyenne village. They started away at once and Red Dog went with them. "You have saved my life. I will remember this thing. I will tell my children about you," he cried to the lads as he rode away. "There goes a brave man," said White Otter. After the little procession had filed away into the night the Cheyenne chief led his warriors to the river. They had ridden far and fast, and they threw themselves upon the ground to rest until daylight. The lads rolled themselves in their buffalo robes and tried to sleep, but their- minds were filled with thoughts of the approaching battle, and they remained awake through most of the night. XI. On the Trail of the Pawnees. At dawn War Eagle called a council, and the Sioux were invited to take seats In the council circle. As they were unfamiliar with the Cheyenne dialect a young war rior who spoke Sioux, acted as In

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM, SATURDAY. AUGUST 19, 1919

was soon sounding through every! building in the town. Tess turned to leave. Then suddenly she remembered that Elsie's mother lived so far down town that the warning might not have reached her. Stepping again to the instrument she called up the Browns home and told them to run to the hill above their home. Then she turned to go, but it was too late. Down the now empty street surged a mountain of water. . It caught up wagons and trees and hurled them about as If they were straws. Small houses crumbled to piles of rubbish. The flood struck the telephone building, and it partly crumbled at the blow: the roof fell in on one side, but the room in which Tess stood remained firm, though badly wrecked. There she sat looking gladly up at the people on the hills, saved by her efforts. When Mrs. Brown found Elsie she told the girl of Tess' brave deed in sending the alarm. "Oh, mother," shouted Elsie, overcome with grief, "and poor, brave Tess is there yet. We all fled and she stayed and saved not only the town, but you." And Elsie burst into tears. The rain had now stopped. Mr. Brown heard Elsie, and with a dozen men he raced to the town and up to the wrecked telephone building. Then in triumph the men bore Tess down the street before the throng of returning people. There was now nothing good enough for Tess in Elsie's opinion, and the humiliated girl tried in every way to atone for her fault. ; That night before. Tess finished her supper a delegation of the townsmen called to present to Tess a medal and also a purse of $5,000 which it had raised. The telephone company sent her to the finest hospital in a big city and when she returned it was no longer as a cripple but a big, healthy girl, full of joy and happy to be back again with her mother.

ARROW

terpreter. Their hearts filled with pride, for it was their first formal recognition as warriors. The Cheyennes made a striking appearance. They had daubed their faces and the upper portion of their bodies with yellow clay from the banks of the river, and the lads looked upon them with approval. They had much, confidence in these tall, sinewy warriors, and they believed they would be victorious. "Today we go to fight our enemies, the Pawnees," said War Eagle. "It is good. They have killed our warriors and stolen our ponies. They call us women. They have turned our hearts black with anger. We will show our friends, the Sioux, that we are brave. Their brother is in the Pawnee camp we will rescue him. I will ask you to be men. I have finished." Having concluded his talk, the Cheyenne chief selected four scouts to ride ahead of the war party and look for the Pawnees. When they had received their Instructions inese warriors mounted their ponies and galloped away. A few moments afterward the main com pany of horsemen started slowly across the plain. They made an impressive spectacle. At the head rode the venerable Cheyenne chief, a striking figure in his waving warbonnet of eagle feathers. Then came the warriors, riding two and two, stern, fearless-looking men, most of them in the very prime of life. As they rode they chanted their war-songs, and the young Sioux felt the hot fighting blood surge through their veins at the sound. They realized that the adventure might end in death, and the thought made them serious. "We must be men," said SunBird. "We are Sioux," replied White Otter. They saw nothing of the scouts until some time past mid-day, and then one of them appeared on the pummit of a low ridge to the north. The Cheyennes stopped as he galloped across the plain to meet i hem. "It Is Painted Weasel; he has seen something," they told one another as the horseman drew near. Painted Weasel said that he had discovered smoke rising above a line of trees far away to the north. At first he believed it to be a sig

Something

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Ned And The Squirrel . Poor timid little squirrel! He does want the peanut But yet to him' the little boy looks big and dangerous. While Mr. Squirrel is deciding whether or not to venture down the tree, you have a chance to draw his picture. Get a large sheet of white paper and copy this large equare. Now divide it into small spaces, perhaps eight on a side, like this picture. Begin to draw by counting the number of squares down and the number across. Draw first in pencil and finish in ink. Copyright by George Matthew Adams. All Children Like to Read The Junior Palladium

Both Boys and Girls Will Enjoy This Story

nal, but after watching it some time he became convinced that it rose from a camp.' While he was talking another horseman appeared from the west "It is Running Crow; he brings news," said the Cheyennes. "We will hear what he says; per haps he has seen this thing," replied Painted Weasel. Running Crow had learned much from the trail of the Pawnees. He said the warriors had overtaken the women and children some distance to the west. Then they turned toward the north. Soon afterward he saw a new trail from the west These people had turned to follow their predecessors. Running Crow said there were no marks of travoispoles in the second trail, and he believed that the travelers were warriors. A few moments later the two remaining scouts arrived from the south. They had seen nothing of their enemies. The Cheyennes halted to hold a council of war. War Eagle said that he believed the smoke which Painted Weasel had seen marked a great Pawnee camp. He told his warriors that the company of horsemen whose trail had been found by Running Crow were undoubtedly a party of warriors who had detached themselves from a still larger company to look for the trail of their tribesmen. Then the oldest member of the war party rose to speak. His dress and his manner convinced the Sioux that he was a medicine-man. He turned his face toward the sky, and stood a moment or two with closed eyes. The Cheyennes watched him with much interest and it was evident that he was one whose opinion carried weight "My heurt tells me that all the Pawnees are gathering for a big talk. I see many lodges, many women and children, many warriors. It is bad," he said, solemnly. The lads wondered whether he would persuade his people to turn back. They studied the grim faces of the warriors. What they saw reassured them. They believed that having made their boast, the Cheyennes wore prepared to carry ' it through at any cost "Are the Cheyennes like the antelope, which flee at the sight of

PAGE THREE

To Copy E L M E R RUSSELL M'GREGOR many lodges?" asked a great broad shouldered warrior who wore ' a splendid head-dress of eagle feathers. . "We have come to avenge our dead brothers," declared another warrior. "We must go on." Then they turned their eyes upon the great war-chief who had led them to so many hard-earned Victories. War Eagle rose to his feet and walked slowly into the center of the circle. Although he had seen the snows of more than sixty winters, be was as straight and apparently as vigorous as any man in the war party. The Sioux found their hearts filling with admiration as they gazed upon him. They were proud to be in his company. "Warriors of the great Cheyenne nation, you have heard what has been said. I have told you what is in my mind. - Laughing Bear, the medicine man, has told you that there is danger. It is so. Is a Cheyenne afraid to die? Then let him turn back. I -have been with you in many battles. Have

you seen me run? I have said I will go to fight my enemies, the Pawnees. War Eagle does not turn around. I will keep my word, to my young brothers, the Sioux. ; I have spoken." The Cheyennes nodded approval to the words of their chief. Their eyes flashed the pride which his talk had inspired. There was not one among them who was not prepared to follow him into the Pawnee camp. These fearless warriors were giving a splendid exhibition of courage and loyalty, and the young Sioux were much Impressed. "War Eagle Is a great chief and -a brave warrior. His words are good. I have said I see many warriors. It is so. But I am a Cheyenne. I have fought in many battles. I do not run from danger.. I will go to fight our enemies, the Pawnees," said the medicine-man. War Eagle sent Painted Weasel and Running Crow to locate the Pawnee cimp and learn the fighting strength of their foes. Then, with scouts riding far in advance ' and on either flank, the war party set out toward the north. They continued to ride until sunset, and then they camped in a' little patch of timber beside a stream. . r -. ITo te continued 1