, 1885-01-25
A FRONTIER EPISODE.


full respect by the military.
The frontiersmen from their proud hight
OF dyspepsia and dirt recognized tidy Mr..
Parker only a. a "tanderfoot,r while the
older officers and soldier were naturally slow
20 coucede military merit TO youngster who
had escaped death or court martial for a
shorter period than themselves.
In reality Liout Parker knew very little
Of the energetic west as 1t materialized
around Fort Mcdowell, and what little he
knew did not swell him with pride. It was
bis idea that IL knowledge Is power, knowi-
edge OF Arizona was only mule power and
not 10 be covetsd. He was not Ia deadly
fear OF that truculent creature. the Arizon-
ian In a red shirt, but II be had chosen an
Individual to stand betwixt the wind and his
nobility, the gentleman In the carmino
camisa would not have obtained tho situa-
ton. His life was not totally without charm,
for he was In love with his colonei's daughter,
one OF those charming young ladias found
only in army circles, who have all the polish
of their more fortunate city sisters with a se-
ductive f~rankness AMI abandon developed in
their Bohemian existence.
When rot engaged in love making-and he
was an expert In that pleasant amusement-
young Parker sat in his quarters with a big
pipe, as behtted au army man, rosted his
feet gracefully on ths mantel, and conscien-
tiously kept up his French by reading
lurid Gnscon novels which began @MAdame,
10 wis vous rnconte uno tres belle historic"
Besides, as mentally he lived still Ia the
east, he followed In a dozen papers the
society, theatre, and sporting news OF civili-
Eatlon. II at any moment ho had boon
translated TO Chicago. his choice for the
evening theatre would nave already been
made: he would have been entirely Al fait
with current gossip; and his baseball bots
would have been marked by a knowledge Of
the most startling intimacy.
It was arranged between Miss Helen and
Parker tia when he could get a leave it
should DO for n wedding journey IL was the
peculiar charm Of this arrangement that it
was made without the coloneI's assistance or
knowledge. Lovers must ave their socretsL
A lover without a weighty secret would cut
rs poor a figure as a secretless statesman
However, the chances OF Parker's getting
n furlough were dim His captain was on an
indefinite sick leave. having a splendid time
and entering heartily into business, while his
first lieutenant was engaged In Washington
on some onerous duty which required peculiar
talents and considerable 'infusnce.H HOnc
officer" said the law, amust be with the
troop" and when the law uttered these
words, 1t ignored tho astuts captain and the
powerful first lieutenant. and pointed with
Its crooked finger directly at our friend Mr..
Parker.
Tho morning when history finds him, the
Iona lieutenant, acting as post ndjutant. was
sitting at his desk In the colonal's office.
gravely referring official papers to himself
in some OF his many capacities, such as quar-
tsrmaster. commissary. rdnance officer.
post treasurer. chief Of scouts. overseer OF
schools, or perpetual officer OF the day. By
his formal words one would have thought
him ON very frieid terms with himself. In.
stead, for instance. OF saying. Parker, will
you take a squirt at thisi' be wrote; ARe-
spectfully rsforrsd 10 Lieut. Parksr. who
will take the action rsquircd.n
Meanwhile the colonel was knitting bis
brows over an order from headquarters
"What do you think OF thatf' he said at
last, handing the paper to Parker.
Tie young man read the order. but made
no answer. He liked to have his opinion
asked, but he did not suppose that his crude
ideas would be of value to an officer Of so
much greater experience.
"What do you thinkT' repeated the
colonel, mildly.
Al suppose itn nave to DO DONE" said the
lieutenant, vaguely, not knowing on what
point a reply was wished.
Eyes" unused the colonel, "but howl This
says he Is supposed to be at Sanford, but
the description is vague to mako a search
ON
30, that" said Parker, why i think ]
know the mar already. 1 saw him last sum
mer whom 1 was surveying the line IRON
Gila Bend to Tucson. He keeps a saloon In
Sanford
The colonel shook his head. II was going
to send for an older officer, but If you can
identify the man you'n have 10 go. Humphl
not a very pleasant or easy duty"-and he
looked hard at the young mans smooth face
"its worse b Indian fighting. Maybe !
bctter ave an older officer go with you"
"f you think " NECESSARY.
II don't" said tho colonel, instantly dc
termined by Parker's look; and he wrote in
pencil the draft for an order;
Lieut. @ Parker viii prooesd immedi-
ately TO Sanford, Art, with q detail OF six
men, and arrest escaped military convict
John Devine"
Just have that published"
Parker hesitatcd; but as the responsibility
OF the arrest was to DO upon him no deter
mined 70 speak. III that order is published,
word Of It will go 10 this convict by the I'm
foreground, and he viii give mo tho slip
Suppose you were TO go away without an
order" said the colonel, shat would excite
suspicion as we'll"
"Let 1t be a false ORDER
1T ouldn do any good When those
fellows see a soldier they are on the alert
order or no order. They know the soldier is
after some one, and they send the word on
by their underground for the benefit OF whom
1t may concern You will have to take the
chance Of travelling as fast as the news OF
your coming" NlI
But Parker had an idea He thought he
could entrap an A~rizonian as easily as II he
had worn a rcd shirt from infancy. II
when i was down there. When they knew 1