Spencer Dair
Tracked to his lair; or, The pursuit of the Midnight Raider
"American Indian Weekly Vol. 1, No. 2" by Spencer Dair is a fictional periodical, written in the early 20th century. This particular issue features a story titled "Tracked to His Lair," which revolves around the exploits of a renegade Indian chief named Scalping Louie, who terrorizes ranchers by stealing cattle and inciting chaos. The narrative likely explores themes of bravery, conflict, and the complexities of the relationships between Native Americans and settlers during this period. The opening of the story introduces us to Sam Bowser, the owner of the Double Cross ranch in Arizona, as he is jolted from sleep by a chilling cry in the night. As he and his wife speculate about the disturbing sound, they rally their cowboys in response to the potential danger. The tension escalates when a spectral figure appears near the cattle corral, which is soon revealed to be a ruse orchestrated by the Midnight Raider to facilitate cattle theft. The cowboy crew, led by Bowser, then embarks on a reckless pursuit of the raider amidst growing fear and confusion, setting the stage for a suspenseful cat-and-mouse chase with dire stakes.