ounted out and left in my care. I had never had the responsibility
of so large a sum of money before, and compared to me the man with
the elephant on his hands had a tranquil time of it. After considering
various methods for secreting the money, I decided for the hair mattress
on my bed. This I ripped open, inserted the envelope containing the
bank-notes, and sewed up the slit. No one was aware of my trust, and I
regarded it safe.

A few mornings later I ordered my pony and rode away to visit my nearest
neighbor, a Mrs. Erickson, purposing later to ride to the fort and
spend the day with Lou, my sister-in-law. When I reached Mrs. Erickson's
house, that good woman came out in great excitement to greet me.

"You must come right in, Mrs. Jester!" said she. "The foothills are
filled with Indians on the warpath."

She handed me her field-glasses, and directed my gaze to the trail below
our ranch, over which buffaloes, cattle, and Indians passed down to the
Platte. I could plainly see the warriors tramping along Indian-file,
their head-feathers waving in the breeze and their blankets flapping
about them as they walked. Instantly the thought of the twenty-five
thousand dollars intrusted to my care flashed across my mind.

"Oh, Mrs. Erickson," I exclaimed, "I must return to the ranch
immediately!"

"You must not do so, Mrs. Jester; it's as much as your life is worth to
attempt it," said she.

But I thought only of the money, and notwithstanding warning and
entreaty, mounted my horse and flew back on the homeward path, not even
daring to look once toward the foothills. When I reached the house, I
called to the overseer:

"The Indians are on the war-path, and the foothills are full of them!
Have two or three men ready to escort me to the fort by the time I have
my valise packed."

"Why, Mrs. Jester," was the reply, "there are no Indians in sight."

"But there are," said I. "I saw them as plainly as I see you, and the
Ericksons saw them, too."

"You have been the victim of a mirage," said the overseer. "Look! there
are no Indians now in view."

I scanned the foothills closely, but there was no sign of a warrior.
With my field-glasses I searched the entire rim of the horizon; it was
tranquillity itself. I experienced a great relief, nevertheless. My
nerves were so shaken that I could not remain at home; so I packed a
valise, taking along the package of bank-notes, and visited another
neighbor, a Mrs. McDonald, a dear