Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-03

guards, were chuckling and chatting in
low tone together, evidently extracting
much more amusement from their recent
duty than did the officer of the day. Join
ing Hatton and allaying his anxiety by
telling him the particulars ofCapt Terry 5
dispatch supplemented by the informa-
ton that Mclean 5 injuries were not con-
sidered serious. Mr.. Holmes asked per-
mission to send one of the men in quest
of Zook, with whom he desired very
much to speak.
He has gone to the stable, sir, to
take care of his horse, - said corporal
of the guard.
If you are in hurry to see him, Mr..
Holmes, perhaps the best way would be
TO go TO the troop stables. Yonder they
are, down that slope to the north. He
must attend to his horse-groom and care
for him before he can leave, and then, l
fancy he viii be mighty glad of some-
thing to eat III send for him if you
wish, and tell him to come as soon as
he 5 through his duties. Where will you
have him call-at the doctor 5?
MOI believe not. If 1t is all the
same to you-would you mind my seeing
him at your quarters? l am greatly in
terested in this scout and fight and want
To get his story of the affair. Terry
doesn't tell anything but the baldest
outline. -
= Certainly, Mr.. Holmes. Ny room,
thatis, MeLean's, be it. The door Is
open and 'll-be out of your way by that
time. I'm going at once to ask the adju
tant TO take my sword and get the major
to let me so down for Mae.
1.-The ambulance is being put in readi-
no I 20 xrfavT 70 Of
ler's. What time can best see the cor
porai?'' -
Right after retreat roll call, just af-
ter sunset, l should say. He would like
time to spruce up bit and get supper -
''Then rsay--S o clock | must not
leave my host alone at the dinner table,
and fear me Miss Bay ard win not be
down.
els Miss Bayard ill?'' asked Mr.. Hat
ton.
Hardly that! She was greatly over
come by the shock of hearing this news as
il was told her. Some idiot of d servant
came rushing IN and said courier was
back from Capt. Terry 5 command and
that Mr.. Mclean was killed
Aud she swoor ed or fainted?' asked
Hatton with evident interest.
every nearly, - answered Mr.. Holmes
with grave face and eyes that never
fiinched, ~ think she would have fallen
down the stairs had she not been caught
IN the nick of time.
t'That viii be something poor Mae win
hear with comfort.
Eyes, was the decided answer after
an instant of silence Yes 1t would
comfort me if l were in his place Eight
clock then, Mr.. Hatton, and at your
quarters. -
Before dark the ambulance got away
DIR. Weeks and the lieutenant going with
them on horseback Cutting short u
postprandial cigar, Mr.. Holmes left the
surgeon 70 sip his coffee in solitude when
Il glance at his watch showed bim that
the hour of eight was approaching.
Quickly he strobe over towards .'Bed-
lam and sprang up the low fight of
steps TO the veranda. TO his surprise
the hall door was closed; he turned the
knob, but there was no yielding Look
ing in through the side lights he could see
that "a lamp was burning on the second
floor but that the hall lantern below had
either been forgotten or its light
extinguished. Retracing his steps he de-
cided to go TO the quartermaster and ask
if he could have the key but before he
had taken thirty strides up the parade he
remembered that Hatton had told him
that the hall door was never locked and
rarely closed. This struck him as odd,
and he stopped to think it over III con-
nection with what he had just observed.
Standing there just beyond the southern
end of the big, faded white rookery, in
visible himself in the darkness, he looked
up at the lights in the rooms occupied by
the Forrest family and wondered how the
self possessed and handsome young lady,
now occasionally alluded to as the
FQueen of Bedlam, - had borne the
day The garrison was unusually
still; not a sound of mirth, music or
laughter came from the barracks of the
men; not whisper from the quarters of
the officers around the parade. Some
where perhaps mile away, ont beyond
the rushing Laramie, a dog or coyote
was yelping, but all within the old fort
was still rs death Suddenly from the
northern end of the veranda there came
the sound of latch or lock quickly
tuTned; light football on the creaking
wooden floor; the swish and swirl of
silken skirts, coming towards him rap
idly.
He gazed with all his eyes but could
not discern the advancing figure, so,
struck by sudden impulse, he sprang to.
the YeIanua-up the southern steps ana
almost collided with a woman s shape,
scurrying past him in the darkness.
81 beg pardon, Miss For he began
to say; but without word, with sudden
leap the slender shape had whiskod out
Of reach of voice or hand and vanished
into the southern hallway.
".
Before the sounding of tattoo that
night, the stage came in from Cheyenne.
1t had been warned by fleeing ranchmen
OF the presence Of the Sioux at Eagle
Nest, and had turned back to the strong
defenses at Phillipse 50 on the Chug,
remaining there in security until the
driver had satisfied himself that the
coast was clear. No passengers came
down with him, but he brought the mail
and, as none had been received for two
days and the wires were still down, the
major commanding turned out and
tramped to the combined stage station
andspostoffice the moment he was notified
Of the arrival. Here, while the letters
and papers were being distrib-
uted he was accommodated with
a chair in Mrs. Griffin 5 little parlor,
and his own personal mail was
handed into him as rapidly as the swift