Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 116: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

94 der. He’s safe along of wearing a crow- <m. They’ve got Mrs. De Camp, the mill man’s wife, and her children. They’ve got a Potter girl from Martin County, and three young girls caught at the Reynolds place. They’ve got——” . That’s enough!” shouted Ed Pollacker, shaking the clerk and arousing him from his slumbers. White rose and mechanically fingered the handle of a belt gun; then declared: ‘“That’s bad; but the worst is over. It won’t spread. By this time they’ve learned the summer money is really coming and will be here within two days at the outside. This time we know the money’s coming.” “If any one’s been killed we can blame the —— fools who seized the money with- out authority and used it in satisfying some more of the traders’ claims!”’ hotly de- nounced Ed Pollacker. “Sioux won’t mind that so long as more gold has been scraped together,” moodily remarked Page. “T tell you the traders have been paid with lead and knives!’’ angrily insisted Mose. “Women and little children have been killed. I spoiled two horses getting here. Murray Fall, a prisoner, saw the first of the killing. Myrick’s dead. Lynde’s dead. Myrick’s clerk, Divoll, is dead. Soldiers from Ridgely were killed at the ferry.” Page came to his feet and harshly cried: “Tf the old fool isn’t making up lies those Indians at the door were staying up late to talk this business over. We may have to do some fighting, Bert, before I can take up with your offer.” “T’ll question the Indians,” offered Phil White. But when he went to the door there was not an Indian to be seen. The clerk, now fully awake and much frightened, collected his wits and informed them: “John Otherday, a friendly, sent word to Mrs. Galbraith about half past nine this evening. Sent word for her to leave the agency at once. She told me about it, and I told her it was all nonsense. I must find her. Will Quinn’s away at Shakopee, and there’s his wife and children. I'll be mov- ing around and passing the word. But there’s enough farmer Indians up here to stop any mischief.”’ *“Fine time to be telling us what John Adventure Otherday did,” growled Bert Pollacker. “Give us the facts quickly, Mose. Abn is going to quit the Falls and work for Ed nN’ me.”’ Mose began a detailed statement of what he had seen, beginning with the murders in the Acton woods. When he had finished the four men rose and adjusted their belts. Phil White spoke for all when he quietly declared: “Boys, the real thing’s busted loose. No bluff this time.” “And to think it wouldn’t have happened if the money had been allowed to come through! Or if the Sioux had held back for two days longer!’’ bitterly remarked Bert Pollacker. “To with the money!” cried Ed. “We'll ride down the river and show them some real fighting. We’ll stop the cusses from bringing any fight up here. This place is safe until they’ve burned Fort Ridgely and New Ulm. If Little Crow is in this e 4 , man! I’ve told you he’s leading them!’ exploded Shanty Mose. ‘They’ve even dragged in Wapasha, Wacouta and Big Eagle and other leaders who are friend- ly to the whites.” “Even so, the fighting will be near the towns. They’ll figger they can take this place any time they want to,” spoke up Bert. “Help the clerk spread the word, boys, and we'll light out. Pick up a horse somewheres, Mose.”’ “T’ll look after myself. Have for quite a spell tonight. Killed two Injuns getting here. Always looked after myself in the timber country,” Mose growled. When the five men left the agent’s office they came to a dozen Sioux a short distance from the door. They considered it signifi- cant that these men were slow in getting out of the way. ‘You Sisseton men are losing your sleep,”’ sharply remarked Abner Page. “One of our men has had a dream. He asks us to tell him what it means,” one of the men replied. ‘““My medicine is very strong. I can tell the dream,” said Page. The group was silent for a moment; then the Sisseton man replied: “Our brother dreamed of a red sky. It was night. The sky was red. There was no grass fire, no camp-fire. The sky was red.” “Tt is a bad dream for a Sisseton man to CoMmicboolk ) CO 5}