The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-17


low tie bivouac aud farther from the Laramie
road was an old log hut. once used as ranch
and - har" for thirsty souls traver>ing thc we'll
worn way to the reservation; but the tide of
travel had first shifted TO the Sidney route,
aud then been stcmmed entirely, so far as the
line 10 or near the agencies was concerned, and
the proprietor had taken himself and his fiery
poison 20 better-paying fields. Far away to
the southwest the blue cone of Laramie Peak
stood boldly against the sky. Nearer at hand,
though days ride away, old Rawhide Butte
rose sturdily from the midst Of surrounding
prairie slopes. Upstream among some sparse
cottonwood bit Of ruddy color among the
branches caught the Lientenant's quick eye.
Some Indian brave, wrapped in his blanket,
had l-een laid TO rest there out of reach of the
snarliGg coyotes. one Of whom could be dimly
disccrncd Sinking away under the bank just
out of easy rite-range.
Of TO the south lay the same bald, barren,
desolaie-looking expanse of rolling prairie.
Blunt could not suppress n shudder as he
thought OF the
TERRIBLE RISK THE BOY bad Run
In his mad break for the settlements beyond the
Platte Of course he could 20 nowhere else.
North, east aud west all was Indian land. and
no lone white man cnud live there. OF course
he was making for the cattle ranges and settle
ments in Nebraska Such at least were the
Iicutcnant's theories. He had spent only one
year on the frontier. bat had been there long
enough 10 know that among the cowboys,
ranchmcn. and especially among the ritl-ran" "
ever hanging about the small towns aud set
Elements. a deserter from the army was apt 10
BE- welcomed and protected if he had money,
arms ora good horse. Once plundered of all
he possessed. the luckless fellow might then be
turned over 10 the nearest post aud the author
lied reward OF $50 claimed for his apprehcu-
sion: hut If well armed aud sober the dcserteT
had hat little trouble in making his way
a
tlemeuis.
Fred Waller knew all the Valley Of the North
Platte as well as he did the trails around San
dcrs and Red Bates. and if he could succeed in
eludug the Indian war parties lac would have
no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming
If necrssary; and with the start he must have
had, his light weight and powerful horse, it
would he next 10 impossible to catch him, even
If they could follow his trail. Besides, were
they not ordered 10 remain at the Niohrara
until Charltons reiurny The more Mr.. Blunt
thought Of the matter the more worried ana
perpexed he became Anywhere else he might
have sent a Sergeant with 4 couple OF men IN
pursuit bat here Il wouid be exposing them to
almost certain death. Ii was some minutes be-
fore Sergt Dawson came in answer 10 the sum
mons. Blunt could see the troopers gathered
about the First Sergeant. excitedly discussing
the alsir aud bem0aHing their individual
losses. Graham was noting the amounts a
slip Of paper and his fine face was pale with
distress Is that all now. meu he asked as
he completed the list then sharply turned
away, and once more approached his young
commander.
Lieutenant" he said. halting and raising
his hand IN salute. il isn't quite 50 bad as I
feared, but had enough. Serg't Farron. Corp'l
Watts and ] are the principal losers besides
Sergt Dawson. Three Of the men who went
into the agency on pass just after We were paid
had lett most Of their money with me, aud that
is gone. / had it, with my Own. in the Cat
wallet ] always carried in the inside pocket OF
my hunting shirt. You see sir. how il was
done" aud the Sergeant displayed long.
CLEAN CUT THROUGH THE ISDIAN-IANSED
BUcKsKIS.
" Il took sharp knife and light hand TO do
that for I'm not heavy sleeper FarroB,
Watts and i were sleeping side by side just
over there on the bank. and they heard moth
ing MI night. But-Wili the Lieutenant look
at this handkerchief sir2 is it cAl0roforIncd Z
] feel duh ard heavy. as though ] had been
druRged. lie couldn't have got u from me any
other way"
Bluut took the bandana and shifted IL eau
fiously. thea turned il over aud cariously an
Epectcd IT, There was certainly an odor OF
chioFoiorm about it-a strong sdor
" bose is thisg he asked - do not re-
member seeing any Oi the men wearing one
like tins"
None Of them own It, sir. I've asked the
whole party bot Serg't Dawson and the men on
guard. They have these cheap red things Tor
sale NJ the store there at the Red Cloud Agency.
but HOHc Of the troop have ! ever seen wearing
them; they are too small for Bsck banGksr-
chiefs. Dawson j. out yet trying to locate the
trail I've sent Robbins Tor him" aud the Ser
Reant looked anxIOusiy away southwark.
searching The prairie with world OF pain and
trouble IN his eyes.
What could possibly have induced the boy
tenant. Z" u viii break bis old fathers heart "
can't account Tor a. sir He has been A
homes AID square boy could be ever s.nce
his enlistment; bat the men tell me that he has
been spending good deal Of time over in the
pSst aelacFeT We campcd there aud IA afraid
from what Donovan says that he has been
gambling with the young fellows at the band
quarters. There's a hard iot IN there. Pu told
and the Old lands encourage the boys to get all
they can out 0l strangers, and then they turn
10 and ncere the boys II is about 500 hc la.
taken. A man knows that Will last but littl,
while eu the frontier, but 10 boy it seems !
biz Pile"
Ibes, rapidly approaching, the boundin;
ho0fs OF troop horse were heard. Bluul
eagerly turned aud szw Serg't Dawson gallon
lng towards them down the north bank Rein
ing in 20 suddenly as almost TO
THROW 1915 FASTING BAY UPos HIS H8xcHEs
he Faulted lightly 10 the ground and stood be
fore iie Lieutenant, bis face beaded with swea
and his eyes glariBg.
v hich way has lac gomez Could you tell q
les, sIr. ] irailed him out across tlt
prairie yondeT Tor three hundred yards or so
Then be took the Laramie road aud there tb
boOf tracks are all confused; but / knew h
would never keep that line very long, aud Pu
almost certain ] found the place where b
turned oh-s mile beyond the ford and we
over the bluffs"
Turned s0uth-f0wards the Sidney route1 ,
Yes sir, as though be were going 10 xxi,
the road awhile. then make for scott's BIufI
keeping well west Of the Sidney stage rout.
II be got on that bed be likely TO meet Cap
FORESTS troop. SIR"
But you were in charge Of the guard. Sci
Reant. How came II that your sentries an
you could let man slip out with his horse AN
everything The NIGHT WAS still and the
ought 70 have heard, even If they couldn't see
u Was dark as pitch, Lieutenant: the ne
moon was down before IL O'Clock and as Il
hearing, the horses were uneasy aud stauuiu
or sn0rting ali the while from midnight uni
O'Clock. Either they shifted Indians or m
coyotes startled theIa. Then, the stream nakt
such noise over the rocks, sir; aud the Lies
tcDaHt nIIl remember We had 40 scntries o,
across the stream. The Indians couldn't stan
pede the herd from that direction"
Bot bow could he ret his horse ont fro
the herd without -"
u wasn't there, sir, broke in the fro0pe
eager 10 defend himself against the impufaii,
Of caTelessHess or neglect "Serg't tiraha
viii bear me out, sir, that Trunpeter Wall
has F4far - a g. L.. /.