The Norman Democrat-Topic (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 24, No. 19, Ed. 1 Friday, May 9, 1913 Page: 4 of 6
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PAGE FOUR
THE NORMAN DEMOCRAT-TOPIC NORMAN. OKY,AHQMA. FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1913.
yell echoed across the river, and she
could distinguish a savage on his
pony gesticulating as he rode back
and forth. Hut the Sergeant compre-
hended the scene. His eyes mot hers
and read her bewiltlerment.
"They are going all right, and In a
hurry. It's plain enough they are
afraid to stay there any longer. See,
they are lashing bodies on to the
— — . ponies. Ah, that Is what I wanted to
be sure about—that fellow Is heading
y Y.I L *l ~ r> jj I west on the trail; now the others are
Molly McDonald
A TALE or THE FRONTIER
By „
j$n
ofHiC
'Randall Bvrr
Jlulnorof "Keith o
dc * '
$
iSoutn.'
Doi'ocr, Ply Laoy o/
i west on the trail
Doubr.' My Lady of the mov_in«-"
"Yes; that is my station, only 1 had
been sent to the cantonment on the
Cimarron with dispatches. Your fa-
ther was in command there, and wor-
ried half to death about you. Ho could
not leave the post, and the only officer
remaining there with him was a dis
abled cavalry captain. Kvery man lie
could trust was out on scouting serv-
ice. He took a chance on me. Maybe
he liked my looks, 1 don't know; more
probably, he judged I wouldn't be a
sergeant and entrusted with those dis-
patches I'd Just brought In, if I wasn't
considered trustworthy. Anyhow I had
barely fallon nsleep when the orderly
called me, and that was what was
■wanted—that I ride north and head
you off."
"But you were not obliged to go?"
"No; I was not under your father's
orders. I doubt If I would have con*
c/c.e/c. .
II/uM'eitiontf hv
y. lbm OCA
COPVRKWT 19ff BY A.C.Mature. & CQ.
them, or would his run succeed? Of
course their savage cunning would
track them as far as the river—there
was no way ill which he could have
successfully concealed the trail made
down the gully, or the marks left on
the sandy bank, liut would they imag
ine he had dared to cross the broad
stream, burdened with the girl, con-
fronting almost certain death in the
quicksand? Would they not believe
rather that he had waded along the
water's edge headed west, hoping thus
to escape to the bluffs, where some
hiding place might be found? Even if
they suspected a crossing, would any
warriors among them be reckless
enough to follow? Would they not be
more apt to believe that both fugitives
had been sucked down Into the treach-
erous stream? Almost breathless Ham-
lin watched, these thoughts coursing
sented if I hadn't been shown your through his mind, realising the dead
picture. I couldn't very well refuse trap in which they were caught, 11
then."
She sat with hands clasped togeth-
er, her eyes shadowed by long lash- s
"I should have thought there w\>uld
have been some soldiers there—his
own men."
"There were," dryly, "but the army
Just now Is recruited out of pretty
tough material. To be in the ranks is
almost a confession of good for not h
ingness. You are an officer's daugh-
ter and understand this to be true."
"Yes," she answered doubtfully. "I
have been brought up thinking so;
only, of oourse, there are exceptions."
"No doubt, and I hope I am already
counted one."
"You know you are. My father
trusted you, and so do I."
"I have wondered sometimes," he
said musingly, watching her face bare
ly visible in the dawn, "whether those
of your class actually considered us
as being really human, as anything
more valuable than mere food for pow
der. I came Into the regular army at
the close of the war from the volun-
teer service. I was accustomed to dis-
cipline and all that, and knew my
place. But I never suspected then
thj t a private soldier was considered
a dog. Yet that was the first lesson
I was compelled to learn. It has been
pretty hard sometimes to hold in, for
there was a time when I had some so-
cial standing and could resent an in-
sult."
She was looking straight at him,
surprised at the bitterness in his
voice.
"They carry it altogether too far,"
she said. "I have often thought that
—mostly the young officers, the West
Pointers—and yet you know that the
majority of enlisted men are—well.
dragged from the slums. My father
says it has been Impossible tq recruit
a good class since the war closed, that
the right kind had all the army they
wanted."
"Which Is true enough, but there
are good men nevertheless, and every
commander knows it. A little consid-
erate treatment would make them bet-
ter still."
She shook her head questlonlngly.
"I do not know," she admitted. "I
suppose there are two viewpoints. You
were in the volunteers, you said. Why
did you enlist in the regulars?"
"Largely because I liked soldiering.
or thought I did. I knew there would
be plenty of fighting out here, and. 1
believed, advancement."
"You mean to a commission?"
"Yes. You see. 1 did not understand
then the impossibility, the great gulf
fixed. I dreamed that good fortune
might give me something to do worth
while."
"And fate has been unkind?"
"In a way. yen," and ho laughed ! girl's liainl. hi
rather grimly "I had my chance—| th- sand rldj.
twloe- honorable mention and
mat, W that .'.ill,.a It There ;:-
Then you are sure Roman Nose
I will not return? That—that wo are
! safe?"
"Yes; I wouldn't heBitate to go back
i as soon as the last of them disappear
over the ridge," pointing up the river.
"They knew they had to go that way;
Koman Nose and his band hoped we'd
taken that direction, and hurried on
ahead to catch us If he could. They
are afraid to stay about here any long-
er. Look how they are lashing those
ponies; there, the last of them are
leaving."
They lay there th the sand, already
becoming warm under the rays of the
sun, trying to asH%re themselves that
all danger of discovery had vanished.
There was no movement on the oppo-
site shore, only tho blue spiral of
smoke curling up against the bluff,
marking where the stage had stood
About this, outlined upon the brown
grass, appeared darker patches rep-
resenting dend ponies and the bodies
of Median and Gonzales, where they
had been tumbled, scalped and other-
wise mutilated. Down by the river a
wounded pony tried to follow the dis-
appearing cavalcade, but fell, giving
vent to one scream of agony. Then all
was silent, motionless, the last strag-
glor clubbing his horse pitilessly as he
vanished over the ridge.
Hamlin sat up, his eyes smiling.
"We are the luiky ones, Miss Mc-
Donald," he said, his manner uncon-
sciously more formal now that the
danger had passed and a swift realiza-
tion of who his companion was recur-
ring to his mind. "Something must
have frightened them." He shaded his
eyes, staring at the bluffs opposite.
"But, there is nothing in sight from
hero. Well, the best thing we can do
is to eat breakfast. May I have the
haversack, and see what it is stocked
with?"
"Certainly not There is so little
I can do, I do not propose yielding
any prerogative." And she drew her
head through the strap, letting the
leather bag fall to the sand. "I am
afraid there is no cloth here. Would
you dare light a fire?"
"Hardly, even if we had fuel," he
answered, watching her with Interest.
She glanced up into his face, her
of a | cheeks reddening.
"Why don't you want me to do
this?"
'How do you know I object? Indeed,
it 1h quite pleasant to be waited upon.
Only, you see, it is very unusual for
an officer's daughter to take such good
care of an enlisted man."
"But I am not thinking of that at
all. You—this is different."
"For the moment, perhaps," just a
^ ! slight bitterness in his tone, "and I
; should enjoy it while I can."
She stopped in her work, sitting
straight before him. Her eyes were
indignant, yet she stifled the first
words that leaped to her lips. His
| soft hat lay on the sand and the sun
revealed his tanned face, bringing out
its strength.
"You—shouldn't say that," she fal-
tered. "Surely you do not believe I
| will ever become ungrateful."
"No; and yet gratitude Is not alto-
gether satisfactory." He hesitated.
"It is hard to explain Just what I mean
. . . to you. for you do not realize the life
He Saw the Crowd About the Coach we lead out here—the loneliness of It.
Leaping and Yelling With Fury. gven a man jn the ranks may possess
the Indians suspected the truth and
I essayed the passage. Behind them
was sand, ridge after ridge, as far as
' the eye could discern, and every step
they took in flight would leave its
plain trail. And now the test was at
hand.
I He saw them crowd aDout the coach,
leaping and yelling with fury; watched
them jerk open the door, and drag
forth the two dead bodies, dancing
about them, like so many demons,
brandishing their guns. A moment
they were bunched thus, their wild
yelling shrill with triumph; then soia
among them broke away, bending low
as they circled In against the bluff
They knew already that there had
been others in the stage, others who
had escaped. They were seeking the
trail. Suddenly one straightened up
gesticulating, and the others ruBhed
toward him - they had found the
"sign!" They wore silent now, thos
main trailers, two of them on hands
and knees. Only back where the
bodies lay some remained yelling and
dancing furiously. Then they also, In
response to a shout and the wav
blanketed arm, scatttered, running
west toward the gully. There was no
hesitancy now ; some savage instinct
seemed to 'eli them where the fugi
tives had gone They dragged the dead
warrior from the ditch, screaming sav
agelj at the discovery. A dozen
scrambled for the river bank, others
ran for tho pony herd, while one or
two remained beside the dead warrior.
Even at that distance Hamlin could
distinguish Koman Nose, and tell what
were his orders by every gesture of
his arm The Sergeant grasped the
n eyes barely abov
- | ft "u i iuge, his Hps whispering
twice l honorable mention, and all back
It. There is no ,.v . .. 4 „
fridge across the chasm. An enlisted I , No' d°" ' ",ove: 1 11 te" >'ou
man is not held lit for any higher po * 1'l" 8tag<> ,ia8 been Sutted and
sltion; if that was not sufficient te 8et on ,,re* Now they aro co,ninK w,th
bar me, the fact that I had fought for P<"'i < Most of them are direct-
the South would " ly opposite studying the marks we
"You were In the Confederate army ? .left on the sand of the bank. Yes.
You must have been very young." j they look across here, but the chief is
"Oh. no: little more than * i r nf I Bure w« h«ve K°n« the other way; he
course, but so
mv comrades
college year when the war broke out
But, Miss McDonald, this will never
do! See how light It is growing
There, they have begun firing already
\N e must get back out of sight behind
the sand-dunes '
CHAPTER X.
boy, of,
re the majoritN of' ls saving his hand up the river now.
was in my senior i and lalklnK- Now he ia getting on his
horse; there are ten or twelve of
them. One fellow 1b pointing across
here, but no one agrees with him.
Now Roman Nose is giving orders.
Hear that yell! They're off now, rid-
ing up stream, lashing their pontes In-
I to a run All of them? .*^o; quite a
; bunch are going back to the coach. 1
1 don't believe .hey are going to hang
j around here long, though, for they are
driving In all their ponies
the desires of a human being. I—well,
I'm hungry for the companionship of
a good woman. Don't misunderstand,
Miss McDonald. I am not presuming,
nor taking advantage of the accident
which has p'aced us In this peculiar
position, but I have been a trooper
out here now a long while, stationed
at little isolated frontier posts, riding
the great plains, doing the little rout-
ine duties of soldiering. I haven't
spoken to a decent woman on terras of
social equality for two years; I've
looked at a few from a distance and
taken orders from them. But they
have glanced through me as though I
were something inanimate instead of
a man. I saved an officer's life once
down there," and he pointed into the
southeast, "and his wife thanked me
as though It were a disagreeable duty.
I reckon you don't understand, but I
don't like the word gratitude."
"But I do understand," and she
stretched out her hand to him across
the opened haversack. "I'm not so
dull, and It must be awful to f#el
alone like that. I told you I—1 liked
you, and—I do. Now remember that,
please, and be good. From now on I
am not Major McDonald's daughter,
not even Miss McDonald—I'm Just
Molly McDonald."
The gray eyes laughed.
"You are assuming a great risk."
**I don't believe it," her forehead
The Ripening of Acquaintance.
They needed to retire but a fewl™'"1* 141 w" ut'u
steps to be entirely coucealed, yet so won't those others come back
situated as to command a view across when they discover we have not gone
the muddy stream The sun had not UP lhe river?
risen above the horizon, but the gra- wish I could answer that," he re-
dawn gave misty revealment of th. plied
sluggish-flowing river, the brown slop- on wl
opposite, and the darker shadow of where
bluffs beyond The popping of tho*. ern Indians,
distant guns had ceased by the tiin- through the
they attained heir new position, ami from Wallact
they could distinguish the Indians- boys are bou
mere black dote sgainst the brown there Is mor
slope—advancing In a semicircle t back saf. ! i
ward the nllent stage. Evidently they in the other
were puzzled, fearful of some trickery, pose an Indii
for occasionally a gun would crack I south of the
neatly. "But It all depends 1
those devils know of the
its of troops. They are North-
ns, and must have broken ;
he scouting details sent out
and Dodge. Some of the i
ml to be after them, and
chance for them to get
long the mountains than !
direction. I don't sup- j
in in the bunch was ever
Arkansas. Walt! Those !
viciously, the brown amoko plainly fellows are going to move now; going
visible, the advancing savages halting for good, too—they are taking the
to observe the effect. Then a bright dead Indians with them."
colored blanket was waved aloft as They were little more than black
though In signal, and the entire body, dots at that distance, yet the sin. w, s
converging toward the deserted coach, up by this time and his keen vision
leaped forward with a wild yell, which could distinguish every mown • :it.
echoed faintly across the water. "Creep up here, and you can see
The girl hid her face In the sand, also," he said quietly. "They are far
with a half-stifled sob, but the Ser- enough away now so that it is saf.
geant watched grimly, his eyes barely There was a moment of b: athless
above the ridge. What would they do ]uiet, the two fugitives p- ring cau-
when they discovered the dead bodies? 'lously over ike sand ridge To the
—when they realized that others had , girl it was a confusion of figures rush- ,
eluded their vigilance during the. lug back and forth about the smoking !
night? Would they be able to trace! ruins of the stage; occaslonallv a faint
Would Be a Fool to Hope; I Have
Been In the Army Too Long."
wrinkling a little, but her eyes bright.
"You and I can be friends—can't
we?"
"We'll try, out here, at least. Even
if the dream doesn't last long, it will
be pieasant to remember."
"You do not think it will last,
then ?"
He shook his head.
"I would be a fool to hope; I have
been In the army too long."
They were still for a minute, the
girl's Angers toying with the flap of
the haversack, her eyes gazing across
tho river. Ho thought they were
misty.
"I am sorry you aro so prejudiced,"
she said at last slowly, "for I am not
like that at all. 1 am not going to be
ashamed of a friend because he—he
Is In the ranks. I shall be only the
more proud What is your full name?"
He pasBed his hand over his hair,
nnd laughed.
"They call me 'Brick' Hamlin—a
subtle reference to this crown o(
glory."
"hut it isn't red," she Insisted
swiftly. "Only it shows a little bright
with the sun on it, and I am not going
to call you that. 1 don't like nick-
names. What did they call you before
you went Into the array? When—
when you did know good women?"
The sergeant bent his head, and
then lifted his gray eyes to the girl's
face.
"I had almost forgotten," he con-
fessed, "but I'll tell you—David Carter
Hamlin; there, you have all of it—
my mother called me Dave—could
you, once?"
"Could I?" laughingly. "Why, of
course; now, Dave, we will havq
breakfast."
"And I am quite ready for it—
Molly."
The girl's cheeks reddened, but
their eyes met, and both laughed.
CHAPTER XI.
A Remembrance of the Pavt.
Moylan must have had Miss McDon-
ald in mind when he had stocked up
with food at Fort Dodge, and had
therefore chosen all the delicacies to
be found at that frontier poBt. These
were not extensive, consisting largely
of canned goods, which, nevertheless,
made a brave show, and were clearly
enough not the ordinary fare of the
border. Hamlin had to smile at tho
array, but Molly handled each article
almost with reverence, tears dimming
her eyes In memory.
"He—he bought these for me," she
said softly, and looking across re-
proachfully at the sergeant. "It was
the best he could do."
"I was not laughing at poor Moylan;
only, I fear, he had a wrong concep-
tion of a girl's needs on the trail. But
I reckon our combined appetites are
equal to it."
"I do not feel as though I could
swallow a mouthful."
"Under orders you will try. We
have a hard day before us, young lady,
and some tramping to do afoot. I
wish I knew where that horse I turn*
ed loose last night has drifted to; in-
to the bluffs, probably, where the
grass is green. He would be of some
help Just now. Try this, Miss McDon-
ald, for lack of something better. I
yearn for ham and coffee, but hardly
dare build a fire yet. The smoke
would be seen for miles away."
"If we were across the river we
could use the stage fire."
"Yes, but there Is a wide river flow-
ing between. Don't be afraid of tl*at
trip," noting the expression of her
face. "It will be easy enough to cross
back by daylight, now that I know
where the danger spots are."
"I was not so terribly afraid laai
night; I hardly had time to realize
what was being done, did you?"
"Well, yes; It was risky business.
Awfully treacherous bottom and 1 was
trusting to good luck."
The sergeant ate heartily, speaking
occasionally so as to divert her mind,
but for the most part, busily thinking
and endeavoring to decide his next
move. He sat facing the river, con-
tinually lifting his head to scan the
opposite shore. There was probably
a scouting detail somewhere near at
hand, either approaching from the
east, alarmed by the report of the
fleeing stage crew, or else a detach-
ment tracking Roman Nose's war-
riors across those plains extending
Into the north. The latter contln
gency was the more probable, judg-
ing from the Indians' tlight, and his
own knowledge of the small reserve
force left at Dodge. Besides, ride as
they might those two fleeing oowards
ot yesterday could hardly have yet
reached that shelter of safety and
might not confess the truth of their
desertion even when they did arrive.
A pursuing force was the only real
hope for escaping the necessity of a
hard tramp back over the trail. Well,
the girl looked fit, and he glanced to- '
ward her appreciatively.
In spite of the sad experiences of
the past night she was a pleasant
spectacle, her eyes bright with ex- 1
cltement, her cheeks flushed under
thtf morning sun which flecked her
dark, disordered hair with odd color.
Hers was a winsome face, with smil-
ing lips, and frank good nature in its
contour. He was surprised to note
how fresh and well she looked.
"Are you tired?"
"Not very. It seems more as though
I had dreamed all this than actually
passed through the experience. Per-
haps when 1 do realize, the reaction
will set In. But now 1 am strong, and
—and not at all frightened."
"Nor hungry?"
"It is hard to eat, but I am often
that way." Her hand strayed to the
emptied haversack, and she turned It
carelessly over, where it lay beside
her on the Band "Why, this is an
old Confederate sack, isn't it? I hadn't
noticed before; see, *C. 8. A.' Is on
the flap."
"So It Is; perhaps Moylan served In
the south."
"I think not. 1 am sure this was
never his. for he bought it at Dodge
I remember he told me he would have
to flnd something to carry our lunch
in." She pusned the flap farther back,
then held it up to the sunlight. "There
are some other letters, but they are
hardly decipherable. I cannot read
the flrst line at all, but the second is
somewhat plainer—Fourth Texas In
fantry.'"
Hamlin reached out his hand swift
ly. and grasped the haversack, forget
ting everything else in suddenly
aroused Interest. The girl, surprised
stared up Into his face, as he closely
studied the faded inscription, his face
expressing unconcealed amazement.
"Good God!" he ejaculated breath-
lessly. "It was Gene's. What can this
mean?"
"You—you knew the aoldler?"
"Knew him? Yes," speaking almost
unconsciously, his incredulous eyes
still on the inscription, as though fear
ful it might vanish. "That man was
either my best friend, or my worst
enemy; under heaven, I know not
wMch. Why, It is like a miracle, the
hndiug of this bag out here In the des-
ert. It is tho clue 1 have been search-
ing after for nearly five years." He
seamed-to pull himself together with
an effort, realizing her presence. "Ex-
cuse me, Miss McDonald, but this
thing knocked me silly. I hardly knew
what I was saying."
"It means much to you? To your
life?"
"Everything, if I can only trace it
back, and thus discover the present
whereabouts of the original owner."
"Was that your regiment, then—the
Fourth Texas Infantry?"
He bowed his head, now looking
frankly at her.
"Would you mind telling me your
rank?"
"I became Captain of 'B' Company
after the fight at Chancellorsvllle; we
served in Virginia under Massa
Robert, and lost every commissioned
officer in that affair." He hesitated
to go on, but she prompted him by a
question:
"And then what? What was it
that happened? Don't be afraid to
tell me."
"Nothing until the day we fought at
Fisher's Hill," he said slowly. "Then
I was dismissed from the service—
for cowardice."
"Cowardice!" repeating the word in
quick protest. "Why, how could that
be? Surely your courage had been
sufficiently tested before?"
"Cowardice, and disobedience of or-
ders," he repeated dully, "after I had
been under fire almost night and day
for three years; after I had risen frgm
the ranks and commanded the regi-
ment."
"And you had no defence?"
"No; at least, none I could use;
this man might have saved me, but
he did not, and I never knew why."
"Who was he?"
"My senior captain, detailed on
Early's staff; he brought me the or-
ders verbally I was afterwards ac-
cused of disobeying. I was temporari-
ly In command of the regiment that
day with rank as major. There was
a mistake somewhere, and we were
horribly cut up, and a number taken
prisoners. It was ray word against
his. and—and he lied."
She took the haversack from him.
studying the scarcely legible inscrip-
tion.
"'E. L. F.' Are those the letters?"
"Yes; they stand for Eugene Le
Fevre; he was of French descent, hl
home in New Orleans."
"You knew him well?"
i ihougnt so; we were at school to
gether and afterwards in the army.'
She looked across at him again,
touched by the tender echo of his
voice; then leaned forward and placed
one hand upon his.
"You have not spoken about this for
a long while, have you?"
"No," his eyes lighting up pleasant-
ly, "hardly thought of It, except some-
times alone at night. The memory
made me savage, and all my efforts to
ascertain the truth have proven use-
less."
"That is why you enlisted?"
"Largely; there is no better place
to hide one's past than In the ranks
out here on the plains. I—I could not
remain at home with that disgrace
hanging over me."
"You must tell me all about it."
Her head lifted suddenly as she
gazed out across the river, shading
her eyes. "Why, what are those?"
she exclaimed eagerly, "there, moving
on the bluffs opposite?"
His glance swept to the northward,
and he was as instantly the soldier
again. Far away on the upper plateau,
clearly outlined against the blue of
the distant sky, appeared a number of
dark figures. For a moment he be-
lieved them buffaloes, but In another
Instant decided instead they were
horsemen riding two by two.
"Get down lower, Miss McDonald,"
he commanded. "Now we can see,
and not be seen. They must be
cavalrymen, the way they ride, but we
can take no chances."
They watched the black specks pass
east to where the bluff circled in to-
ward the river. It was from there
those distant riders first observed the
dim Bpiral of smoke still curling up
from the burning stage, for they
halted, bunching together, and then
disappeared slowly down a gash in
the side of the hill. Emerging on the
lower flat they turned in the direction
of the fire, spurring their horses Into
a swift trot. There was no longer
any doubt of their being troopers, and
Hamlin stood upright on the sand
hummock waving his hat. They were
gathered about the flre, a few dis-
mounted beside the dead bodies, be-
fore his signal was observed. Then a
field glass flashed In the sunlight, and
three or four of the party rode down
to the bank of the river. One of
these, the glasses still held in his j
hand, his horses, hoofs in the water, :
shouted across the stream.
"Who are you over there?"
"White people," answered Hamlin, '
using his hands for trumpet "We
escaped from the stage ast night. I j
am a sergeant, Seventh Cavalry, and
the lady with me is the daughter of !
Major McDonald at Fort Devere.
"How did you get across?"
"Waded in the dark; there is good j
bottom. Send a man over with a
couple of horses '
The officer turned and spoke to the
others grouped beside him; then raig 1
ed his voice again
Are you sure there is no quick
sand?"
None to hurt; come straight over ;
the end of that sand spit, and then j
swerve about a doifcn feet to the right j
to keep out of a hole. The water won t !
go to a horse's belly. Try It, Wasson.
you ought to know me."
"You're Brick' Hamlin, ain't you?"
"A good guess, Sam; come on."
Two troopers left their saddles, and ,
the third man, the one answering the I
last hail, gathered the reins in one '
hand, and spurred his horse confident- !
ly Into the brown water. Following 1
the Sergeant's shouted directions, the
three animals plunged forward and I
came dripping up the low sand bang.
The rider, a sallow-faced man clad In
rough corduroy, patched and color-
:&
"What the Hell (Begging Your Par-
don, Ma'am) Has Happened Here?"
less, leaned over and held out his
hand.
"Dern yer o' skin," he said solemn-
ly, but with a twinkle In his eyes,
"ye're sure got the luck of it. Ain't
B0o ye afore fer two years."
"That's right, Sam; down on the
Cowskin, wasn't it? Who's over
ther?"
"Leftenant Qasklns, an' some o' the
Fourth Cavalry, scoutin' out o' Dodge;
ben plum to ther mountings, an' goin*
home ag'in. Whut the hell (beggin*
yer pardin, mam) has happened
yere?"
"I'll explain when we get across,"
and Hamlin swung the haversack to
his shoulder, and turned to the girl.
"This is Sam Wasson, Miss McDon-
ald, a scout I have been out with be-
fore; let me help you into the saddle."
CHAPTER XII.
The Parting.
They recrossed the stream care-
fully. the horses restless and hard to
control in the current, the men riding
on either side, grasping the bit of the
girl's mount. Others had joined the
little squad of troopers on the bank,
a^d welcomed her with a cheer. The
lieutenant dismounted. At sight of
the girl's face he whipped off his hat,
and came forward.
"Miss McDonald," he said, pleasant-
ly greeting her, "I am Lieutenant
Gaskins, and I have met jK>ur father
—of the Sixth Infantry, Is he not? So
glad to be of service, you know. You
were in the stage, I understand; a
most remarkable escape."
"I owe it all to Sergeant Hamlin,"
she replied, turning to glance toward i
the latter. "He bore me away un-
conscious in his arms. Indeed, l
scarcely realized what happened. Do |
you know anything regarding my ,
father?"
"Oh, yes, I can put your mind at |
ease so far as he Is concerned 1 j
presume you were endeavoring to '
reach his post when this unfortunate
affair occurred."
"Yes."
"Sheridan has ordered Devere aban-
doned for the present, and the major's
troops are to return to Dodge. No
doubt we shall be In the field within
a week or two. But we can cultivate
acquaintance later; now I must
straighten out this affair." He bowed
again, and turned stiffly tovyard Ham-
lin, who had dismounted, his manner
instantly changing. He was a short,
heavily built man, cleanly shaven,
with dark, arrogant eyes, and promi-
nent chin.
"You are a sergeant of the Seventh,
you said," he began brusquely. "What
were you doing here?"
"My troop is stationed at Fort
Union," was the quiet response. I
carried despatches to Devere, and
while there was requested by Major
McDonald to Intercept his daughter
and turn her back."
"Were you subject to Major McDon-
ald's orders?"
"It was not an order, but a re-
quest."
Maxwell. What do you say, Bamf
The scout lolled carelessly In the
saddle, his eyes on the river, his lean,
brown face expressionless.
"I reckon as how It don't make no
great difference what I say," he an-
swered soberly. "Yer ain't taken no
advice frura me ylt, fur as 1 remem-
ber. But If yer really want ter know,
this time, my notion Is them bucks
will most likely hide In the bluffs
till night, an' then sneak past Max-
well after It gits good an' dark. If
this yore wus my outfit now, I'd Just
naturally light on to the trail fast,
orders er no orders. I reckon It's In-
juns we cum out after, an' I don't sup-
pose the war department would flnd
any fault If we found a few."
The blood surged into the lieuten-
ant's face, but opposition only served
to Increase his obstinacy.
"I prefer to rely on my own Judg-
ment," he said tartly. "From what
this man reports they are In stronger
force than we are. Besides my In-
structions were not to provoke hostil-
ities."
Wasson grinned, revealing his yel-
low teeth.
"Sure not; they are so damned
peaceable themselves."
"I prefer leaving Captain Maxwell
to deal with the situation," Gaskins
went on pompously, ignoring the
sneer, "as he outranks me, and I am
under strict Instructions to return at
once to the fort. Two of our horses
ure disabled already, and Smiley Is
too stck to be left alone. I'll not risk
it Well," he broke off suddenly, and
addressing a corporal who had Just
ridden up and saluted, "have you
buried the bodies?"
"Yes, sir; found these papers on
them."
The lieutenant thrust these into hi*
jacket pocket.
"Very well, Hough. Form the men
into column. Miss McDonald, you
will retain the horse you have, and
. should be very glad to have you
ride with me. Oh. corporal, was ev-
erything in the coach destroyed?
Nothing saved belonging to this
lady?"
"Only the Ironwork Is left, sir."
"So I thought; exceedingly sorry.
Miss McDonald. The ladles at Dodge
will fit you out when we get In. I
am a bachelor, you know," he added,
glancing aside Into her face, "but can
promise every attention."
Her eyes sought Hamlin where he
stood straight and motionless, re-
spectfully waiting an opportunity to
speak.
"Is—is this what I ought to do?"
she questioned, leaning toward him.
"I am so confused I hardly know what
Is best."
"Why, of course," broke in the
lieutenant hastily. MYou may trust
me to advise."
"But my cyiestion was addressed to
Sergeant Hamlin, she interposed,
never glancing aside. "He under-
stands the situation better than you."
The sergeant held nls hat in hla
hand, his eyes meeting her own frank-
"But My Question Was Addressed to
Sergeant Hamlin," She Interposed.
"Oh, indeed;
cursion "
a mere pleasure ex-
ly, but with a new light In them. She
had not forgotten now the danger wag
over; she meant him to realize her
| friendship.
"It seems to me the only safe
course for you to take, Miss McDon-
ald ' he said slowly, endeavoring to
"It has hardly turned out that way, ; keep the note of triumph out of hill
sir, and conditions Beemed to justify voice. "Your father Is perfectly safe,
ray action." an(j wm j0|n you withln a few days. I
That is for others to determine, would not dare attempt your prottxy
When was the attack made?"
"Just before sundown last evening.
The driver and guard escaped on the
lead horses, and the wheelers ran
away, wrecking the coach."
"There were four passengers?"
"Yes; we fought them off until
after dark, although the Mexican was
killed by the first fire. I don't know
when the other man got his."
"Who were they?"
"Gonzales ran a high ball game at
Santa Fe; the other, Moylan, was
post-sutler at Fort Mercy.'
"How many Indians? Who were
they?"
"About thirty; we must have killed
five or six. It was herdly more than
daylight when they left, and I could
not tell just how many bodies they
strapped on the ponies. They were a
mixed bunch of young bucks, princi-
pally Arapahoes, led by Roman Nose.'
"Went west, hey?"
"Yes, sir."
The lieutenant turned his gaze up
the river, and then looked at Wasson,
who remained seated in the saddle
"Must be the same lot Maxwell told
us about up on Pawnee Fork. Sara,"
he said at last. "He will be likely to
cut their trail some time today. We
tiou farther west."
"You are not going with ua then?"
she questioned in surprise.
"Not If Lieutenant Gaskins will
furnish me with horse and rifle. I
must report at Uni#n, and, on the
way, tell your father where you are."
"But the danger! oh, you mustn't
attempt such a ride alone!"
"That is nothing; the valley ia
swept clean, ind 1 shall do most of
my riding at night. Any plainsman
could do tho trick—hey, Sam?"
W asson nodded, chewing solemnly
on the tobacco in his cheek.
"He'll make the trip all right, miss,"
he drawled lazily. "Wish I was goin'
long. 1 m sure tired o' this sorter
scoutin', I am. Down below the
imarron is the only place ye'll have
ter watch out close, 'Brick.' Them
Comanches an' Apaches are the worst
lot."
I know—night riders themselves,
'but I know tho trail. Can you outfit
me. lieutenant?"
Gaskins smiled grimly, but with no
trace of humor. His eyes were upon
the girl, still leaning over her pom-
mel.
I'll outfit you all right," he said
knew a bunch had headed south, but b,r,lIf<1Uelyl ?"d wlth no Krettt ru*rBt.
didn't suppose they had got as far as „ v' , 1 s,ltt" reP°« finding
this already. Better leave Maxwell to ,'re ln dl8°bedlence to orderi "
run them In. I suppose? Our orders *1 ' 8lr
are to return to Dodge." „ , 1 s ,brown e>es swept to the
"They haven't three hours the 'eutena"t a tllce. her form stralghten-
start," ventured Hamlin in surprise. Hlfh' f®ddle- her lips pressed
"and cannot travel fast with so many '°8e'lur Gaskins fronted the
of their ponies doubly loaded" sergeant, stung into anger by the
"That Is for me to decide." staring 8 'in
Insolently, "and I understand my dutv J, prefer cha,'K'-'8. >'ou under-
without any advice Ib there any dam- .V, " 11a m0?t 8avaseiy. "Helm, give
age done west of here?"
"The station at the crossing Is burn-
ed; two dead men there; I don't know
what became of the third."
"Then it is Just as I thought; those
fellows will turn north before they get
that far, and will run straight Into
this fellow that extra rifle, and am-
munition belt. Monasters, you will
let him have your horse."
W asson rolled out of his saddle,
muttering something Indistinctly]
which might have been an oath.
(Continued on Page Five.)
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The Norman Democrat-Topic (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 24, No. 19, Ed. 1 Friday, May 9, 1913, newspaper, May 9, 1913; Norman, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc120178/m1/4/: accessed May 9, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.