The Bromide Herald (Bromide, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, February 21, 1913 Page: 2 of 8
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Moiiy McDonald
A TALE Of THE FRONTIER
By
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SYNOPSIS
Mnjor McDonald commanding an army
post near Foit Dodge seeks a man to
Intercept his daughter Molly who Is
headed for the post An Indian outbreak
Is threatened 'Brick” Hamlin a ser-
geant who had just arrived with mes-
sages to McDonald volunteers for the
mission and starts alone Molly arrives
at Fort Ripley two days ahead of sched-
ule CHAPTER III— Continued
“Oood Lord miss” he exclaimed
swiftly “Do yer mean to say ye’re
goin’ to make that trip alone?"
“Oh not to Santa Fe only as far
as the stage station at the Arkansas
crossing” she exclaimed hastily “I
am going to join my father he — he
commands a post on the Cimarron —
Major McDonald"
"Well I’ll be damned” said the
man slowly so surprised that he for-
got himself “Babes in the wilderness
what in Heaven's name ever induced
yer dad to let yer come on such a fool
trip? Isn't thar no one to meet yer
here or at Dodge?”
"I — I don’t know" she confessed
"Father was going to come or else
send one of his officers but I have
seen no one I am here two days
earlier than was expected and — and I
haven’t heard from my father since
last month See this is his last let-
ter won’t you read it please and tell
me what I ought to do?”
The man took the letter and read
the three pages ‘carefully and then
turned back to note the date before
handing the sheets across the table
“Tbe Major sure made tys instruc-
tions plain enough” he said slowly
"And yer haven’t heard from him
since or seen any one he sent to meet
yer?"
The girl shook her head slowly
"Well that ain’t to be wondered at
either” he went on "Things has
changed some out yere since that let-
ter was wrote I reckon yer know
we’re havin' a bit o’ Injun trouble an’
yer dad is shore to be pretty busy out
thar on the Cimarron”
“I — I do not think I do I have seen
no papers since leaving St Louis Is
the situation really serious? Is it un-
safe for me to go farther?”
The man rubbed his chin as though
undecided what was best to say But
the girl’s face was full of character
and he answered frankly
“It’s serious ’nough I reckon an’ I
-certainly wish I wus safe through to
Fort Marcy but I don’t know no rea-
son now why you couldn't finish up
your trip all right I wus out to the
fort last evenin’ gettln’ the latest
news an’ thar hasn’t been no trouble
to speak of east of old Bent’s Fort Be-
tween thar and Union thar's a bunch
o’ Mescalo Apaches raisin’ thunder
One lot got as far as the Caches an
burned a wagon train but were run
back into the mouqt'ns Troops are
out' along both sides the Valley an’
thar ain't been no stage held up nor
station attacked along the Arkansas I
reckon yer pa’ll have an escort waitin'
at the crossin’?”
“Of course he will what I am most
afraid of is that I might miss him or
his messenger on the route”
"Not likely there’s only two stages
a week each way an’ they have regu-
lar meeting points"
She sat quiet eyes lowered to the
table thinking She liked tbe man
and trusted him he seemed kindly
deferential Finally she looked up
"When do you go?”
"Today I was goin' to wait ’bout
yere a week longer but am gittlng
skeered they might quit runnin’ their
coaches To tell the truth miss it
looks some to me like thar wus a big
Injun war cornin’ and I’d like ter git
home whar I belong afore it breaks
loose"
"Will — will you take me with you?"
He moistened his lips his hands
clasping and unclasping on tbe table
"Sure If yer bound ter go I’ll do
the best I kin fer yer an’ I reckon
ther soonerer start the better change
ye’ll have o’ glttln' through safe" He
hesitated "If we should git bad news
at Dodge is there anybody thar at the
fort you could stop with?”
"Colonel Carver”
“He’s not thar now been trans-
ferred to Wallace but I reckon any o'
those army people would look after
yer Ye’ve really made up yer mind
to try It then?”
"Yes yes I positively cannot stay
here 1 shall go as far as Dodge at
least Ifr-if we are going to travel to-
gether 1 ought to know your name"
"Sure yer bad" with a laugh "I
fergot all ’bout that — It’s Moylan
miss William Moylan ‘Sutler Bill'
Uhtflraiantf As
Vl&amc6 -
CORyKKWfT t5t BY ACfFCLURO & k
e
they call me mostly west o' the river
Let's go out an’ see 'bout thet stage”
As he rounded the table Mllly rose
to her feet and held out her hand
"I am so glad I spoke to you Mr
Moylan" she said simply "I am not
at all afraid now If you will wait un-
til I get my hat I’ll be down in a min-
ute" “Sutler Bill” stood In the narrow
hall watching her run swiftly upstairs
twirling his hat in his hands his good-
natured face flushed Once he glanced
In the direction of the bar-room wip-
ing his lips with his cuff and his feet
shuffled But he resisted the tempta-
tion and was still there when Miss
McDonald came down
CHAPTER IV
The Attack
Slightly more than sixty miles as
the route ran stretched between old
Fort Dodge and the ford crossing the
Arkansas leading down to the Cimar-
ron another sixty miles distant
across a desert of alkali and sand lay
Devere The main Santa Fe trail
broad and deeply rutted by the in-
numerable wheels - of early spring
caravans followed the general course
of the river occasionally touching the
higher level plains but mostly keep-
ing close beneath the protection of the
northern bluffs or else skirting the
edge of the water Night or day the
route was easily followed and in oth-
er years the traveler was seldom for
long out of sight of tolling wagons
Now scarcely a wheel turned In all
that lonely distance
The west-bound stage left the sta-
tion at Deer Creek at four o’clock In
the afternoon with no Intimation of
danger ahead Its occupants had eat-
en dinner in company with those of
the east-bound coach eighteen miles
down the river 1 1 Canon Bluff and the
in-coming driver had reported an open
road and no unusual trouble No In-
dian signs had been observed not
even signal fires during the night and
the conductor who bad come straight
from Santa Fe reported that troops
from Fort Union had driven the only
known bunch of raiders back from
the neighborhood of the trail and had
them already safely corralled In the
mountains This report seemingly au-
thentic and official served to relax
the nerves and the west-bound driver
sang to himself as he guided the four
horses forward while the conductor
a sawed-off gun planted between his
kneeB nodded drowsily Inside there
were but three passengers jerking
back and forth as the wheels struck
the deep ruts of the trail occasionally
exchanging a word or two but usual-
ly staring gloomily forth at the mo-
notonous scene Miss McDonald and
Moylan occupied the back seat some
baggage wedged tightly between to
keep them more secure on the slip-
pery cushion while facing them and
clinging to his support with both
hands was a pock-marked Mexican
with rather villainous face and ornate
'Ths Major Sure Made His Instruc-
tions Plain Enough” He 8aid
dress and excessively polite manners
He had joined the little party at
Dodge smiling happily at sight of
Miss Molly's face when she unveiled
although bis small knowledge of Eng-
lish prevented any extended effort at
conversation Moylan however after
careful scrutiny engaged him shortly
in Spanish and later explained to tbe
girl in low tones that the man was a
Eanta Fe gambler known as Gonzales
with a reputation to be hinted at but
not openly discussed
They were some six miles to the
west of Deer Creek the horses stpi
moving with spirit the driver’s foot
on the brake when the stage took a
sudden plunge down a "Sloping bank
where the valley perceptibly narrowed
To the left beyond a flat expanse of
brown sun-scorched grass lowed
the widely-spreading waters of the Ar-
kansas barely covering the treacher-
ous sandy bottom and from the other
side came the more distant gleam of
alkali plains to the right arose tbe
bluffs here both steep and rugged
completely shutting off the view bar-
ren of vegetation except for a few
scattered patches of grass Suddenly
a man rode out of a rift In the bank
directly in front and held up his hand
Surprised startled the driver in-
stantaneously clamped on his brake
and brought his horses to a quick
stop the conductor nearly flung from
his Beat yanked his gun forward
"None of that now” called out the
man In saddle quickly both hands up-
lifted to show their emptiness "This
is no hold-up I’ve got news”
He spurred his pony forward slow-
ly the animal seemingly barely able
to move' and swung out of the saddle
beside the front wheel staggering a
bit as though his limbs were cramped
as his feet felt the ground
"I’m from Fort Union" he said
"Seventh Cavalry sent through by
way of Cimarron Springs There Is
hell to pay west of here the stations
at Arkansas Crossing and Low Water
were burned last night”
“The devil you say” burst out the
driver hoarsely his startled eyes
sweeping the horizon “Injuns?”
"Sure plenty of signs but I haven’t
seen any bucks myself As soon as I
discovered what had happened at the
Crossing I struck out on to the pla-
teau and came around that way to
warn those fellows at Low Water But
when I got Bight of that station from
off the bluffs yonder it had been wiped
out Then I thought about this stage
going west today and came on to meet
you Must have ridden a hundred an
twenty miles since yesterday the
mustang Is all In"
Moylan stuck his head out the near-
est window
"Look like they had much of a fight
at the Crossing?" he asked
"Not much more like a night raid
two whites killed and scalped The
third man either was taken away or
his body got burnt In the building
Horses all gone”
"What tribe?”
"Arapahoes from the way they
scalped that’s what made it so seri-
ous — if those Northern Indians have
broken loose there is going to be war
this time for sure”
Tbe men on the box looked at each
other questioningly
"I don’t see no use tryin’ to go on
Jake do you?” asked the driver sober-
ly “Even if we do git through thar
ain’t no hosses to be had"
The other shook hiB head rubbing
his gun-stock
"Most likely those same red devils
are layln’ for us now somewhar be-
tween yere an’ Low Water whar the
trail runs In between them two big
rocks most probable" he concluded
"Not havin’ no ha’r to lose I’m fer
goin’ back”
With an oath of relief the driver re-
leased his brake and skilfully swung
the leaders around the coach groan-
ing -as It took the sharp turn The
man on the ground caught a swiftly
passing glimpse of the young wom-
an's face within and strode hurriedly
forward as the coach started
"Hold on there pardner" be com-
manded sternly "This poor bronc’
won’t travel another mile There's
plenty of room for me Inside and 111
turn the tired devil loose Hold on
I say!”
The driver once again slapped on
the brake growling and reluctant his
anxious eyes searching the trail in
both directions Hamlin quietly un-
cinched his saddle flinging It to the
coach roof the bridle followed and
then with a slap on the haunch of tbe
released animal he strode to the stage
door thrust his Henry rifle within
and took the vacant seat beside Gon-
zales With a sudden crack of the
driver's whip the four horses leaped
forward and the coach careened on
the slope of the trail causing the pas-
sengers to clutch wildly to keep from
being precipitated Into a mass on the
floor As the traces straightened
Miss Molly clinging desperately to a
strap caught her first fair glance at
tbe newcomer His hat was tilted
back the light revealing lines of
weariness and a coating of the gray
powdery dust of the alkali desert but
beneath It appeared the brown sun-
scorched skin while the gray eyes
looking straight at her were resolute
and smiling His rough shirt open at
the throat might have been the prod-
uct of any sutler's counter he wore
no jacket and the broad yellow stripe
down the leg of the faded blue trou-
sers alone proclaimed him a soldier
He smiled across at her and she low-
ered her eyes while his glance wan-
dered on toward the others
"Don't seem to be very crowded to-
day" he began genially addressing
Moylan "Not an extremely popular
route at present I reckon Mining
pardner?”
"No post-trader at Fort Marcy"
"Oh that’s it" his eyebrows lifting
slightly "This Indian business Is a
bad Job for you then" His res fell
on his seatmate “Well if this isn’t
little Gonzales! — You’ve got a good
ways from home"
“SI senori” returned the Mexican
brokenly "I tlnk I not remem”
"No I reckon not I’m not one of
your class cards and I never did
agree I shot up your game once down
at Union night Hassinger was killed
Remember now don’t you?"
"Si senor" spreading his hands "It
was mos’ unfortunate”’ ?
“Would have been more so if the
boys had got hold of you — Saint Anne!
but that fellow on the box Is driving
some”
- The thud of the horses’ feet under
the lash coupled with the reckless
lurching of the coach ended all fur-
ther attempt at conversation and the
four passengers held on grimly and
stared out of the windows as if ex-
pecting eery Instant that some acci-
dent would hurl them headlong The
frightened driver was apparently
sparing neither whip dor tongue the
galloping teams jerking tbe stage aft-
er them in a mad race up the tral
Hamlin thrust his bead out of the
nearest window but a sudden lurch
hurled him back the coach taking a
sharp curve on two wheels and com-
ing down level once again - with a
bump which brought the whole four
together The little Mexican started
to scream out a Spanish oath but
Hamlin gripped his throat before it
was half uttered while Moylan pressed
the girl back into hec seat bracing
himself to hold her firm
"What the devil — " he began angri-
ly and then the careening coach
stopped as suddenly as though it had
"There Is Hell to Pay West of Here”
struck the bank again tearing loose
their handhold rn the seats and fling-
ing them headlong They heard the
creaking clamp of the brakes the
dancing of frightened horses a perfect
volley of oaths the crunch of feet as
men leaped from the top to the
ground then all at once the stage
lurched forward swerving sharply to
the left and struck out across the
flat directly toward the bluff
Hamlin struggled to tbe nearest win-
dow and grasping the sill to hold
himself upright leaned out He caught
a momentary glimpse of two men rid-
ing swiftly up the trail tbe box above
was empty the wheelers alone re-
mained In harness and they were
running uncontrolled
"By God!" he muttered “Those
two damn cowards have cut loose and
left us!"
Even as the unrestrained words
leaped from his lips he realized the
only hope — the reins still dangled
caught securely in the brake lever
Inch by inch foot by foot he wiggled
out Moylan comprehending caught
his legs holding him steady against
the mad pitching His fingers gripped
the Iron top rail and exerting all his
strength he slowly pulled his body up
until he fell forward into the driver's
Beat Swift as ho bad been the action
was not quickly enough conceived to
avert disaster Hq bad the reins In
his grip when the swinging pole struck
the steep side of the bluff snapping
off with a sharp crack and flinging
dowrn the frightened animals the
wheels crashing against them as the
coach came to a sudden halt Hamlin
hung on grimly flung forward to tbe
footrall by the force of tbe shock bis
body bruised and aching One horse
lay motionless head under apparently
Instantly killed his mate struggled to
his feet tore frantically loose from
the traees and went flying madly
down the slope the brokpn harness
dangling at his heels The Sergeant
sat up and stared about sweeping the
blood from a slight gash out of bis
eyes Then he came to himself with a
gasp— understanding Instantly what it
all meant why those men had cut
loose tbe horses and ridden away
why the wheelers had phinged for-
ward In that mad run-away race — be-
tween the bluffs and the river a swarm
of Indians were lashing their ponies
spieading out like the sticks of a fan
(TO BB CONTINUED)
Sometimes Tempting Fate
Many a man who would give a dol-
lar to know what people think of him
ought to be willing to give S2 not to
REFUSING A CROWN
Manager — Say 1 want a super to
take the part of a king You'll get 60
cents a performance
Applicant — Sorry boss but I can’t
assume the affairs o’ state for any-
thing like that amount
A GRATEFUL OLD MAN
MrW D Smith Ethel Ky writes:
"I have been using Dodd’s Kidney Pills
for ten or twelve years and they have
done me a great deal of good I do
not think I would be
alive today if It
were not for Dodd's
Kidney Pills I
strained my back
about forty years '
ago which left it
very weak I was
troubled wlthlnflam-
mation of the blad-
W D Smith der Dodd’s Kidney
Pills cured me of that and the Kidney
Trouble I take Dodd's Kidney Pills
now to keep from having Backache I
am 77 years old and a farmer You are
at liberty to publish this testimonial
and you may use my picture in con-
nection with it” Correspond with Mr
Smith about this wonderful remedy
Dodd’s Kidney Pills 60c per box at
your dealer or Dodd’s Medicine Cor
Buffalo N Y Write for Household
Hints also music of National Anthem
(English and German words) and reci-
pes for dainty dishes All 3 sent free
Adv
Where He Got It
"The first time my little boy fell
In love he got it in the neck”
“She snubbed him eh?”
"No but he started in to washing
his neck without being told”
TO DBIVK OUT MATARIA
AND 1II ILU I P THE SYSTEM
Take the Old Standard UKOVHH TA8TBLB-d
CUltL ToXlU Yog know wbat you ire taking
Ttat formula l plainly printed on every bottle
bowing It Ittimply Qoinfoe and Iron In a tatteleti
form and the dkaI effectual form k'ot glows
people and children W cent
The reason a man can't help loving
w girl like a lunatic is she could help
him not to only that's the way she
wants him to do It
It never tnakeB a ain any whiter
to call it a mistake
“Can you
beat it?”
Surely not especially
when it comes to a case
of Poor Appetite Sick
Headache Indigestion
Costiveness Bilious-
ness Colds or Malarial
Disorders It is then
that
HOSTETTER’S
STOMACH BITTERS
proves Its merit You really
should try a bottle without
delay? It will aid you won-
derfully Refuse substitutes
Get Hostetter’s
Why Scratch?
"Hunt's Cure” is guar-
anteed to stop and
permanentlycure that
terrible itching It ia
compounded for that
purpose and your money
will be promptly refunded
WITHOUT QUESTION
if Hunt’s Cure fails to curs
Itch Ecsema Tetter Ring
Worm or any other 8kt
Disease 30c at your druggist's or by mag
direct if he haan t It Manufactured onlvbv
A B RICHARDS MEDICINE CO Shermin Tain
TOR OLD AND YOUNG
Tutt's llverpllla acta kindly en tbe child
the delicate female or inlirni old age as upon
h vlauroua man
Ms Pills
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McIntosh, Gerald & McRae, Ira J. The Bromide Herald (Bromide, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 4, Ed. 1 Friday, February 21, 1913, newspaper, February 21, 1913; Bromide, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1777186/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.