The National tribune., 1889-11-14

| ut wasn't mine" he weakly murmured.
Another slip, and in the same cool, relentless
| tone the Judge Advocate read:
| What reason had you for taking your horse
| to the post blacksmith, instead of the cavalry
farrier, to be shod the evening you reached
| Fort Robinson2"
Again the pallor Of his face was almost
ghastly. A
/ HUNTED AND DESPERATE
| look came into his fitting eyes, One could
have heard pin drop anywhere in the court
room, so intense was the silence For the first
time Dawson began to realize that his every
movement had been watched, traced and re-
ported-and still he strove to rally.
lie was better horseshoer, that's ALL"
You have testified that you did not 90 out
side the line the night of the camp on the Mo-
brara and did not allow anyone to go back after
the troop marched away. For what purpose
did you yourself ride back and enter the log
| hut you dcscribed2
"I-I never did," gasped Dawson, with glar-
| Ing eyes and ashen face. Il" But his
tongue seemed to cleave to the roofof his mouth,
| for Capt. Charlton quietly arose. stepped for
ward and placed upon the table largo fiat
wallet, at sight Of which the Sergeanps nerve
| gave way entirely. He made one or two efforts
to speak; he struggled as If to rise; his eyes
rolled in his head and in another instant no was
slipping helplessly to the floor. A young Sur
geon sprsng to his side as tho bystanders strove
to lift him, and with one brief glance turned
| to the Court: Mr.. President, this man is in a
| spasm, and should be taken to the hospital"
Very good sir" was the calm reply. Maj.
| Edwards, will you see to ID that n sentry is
posted over him. That man must not be allow
| cd to escape"
Two more witnesses were examined that
| afternoon, the Provost-Sergeant and Capt.
Charlton. The former testified that Dawson had
been gambling and had lost heavily in the post
before pay day; that on that fateful Sunday,
bill after bill he had seen him pay-over 800
Mt the table in the gamblers tent down below
tho reservation, before he intcrlered, warned
him of the departure of his troop and ordered
him 20 report in garrison with his horse at once.
Donovan had merely been looker.on at tho
mad game in which tho Sergeant had sought to
recover his losses
Charlton stated that after his investigation
at Red Cloud he was confident that Dawson
was the trooper who rode back 90 the old ranch,
and that something must be concealed there.
Searching IL, late Sunday night, he found in
the dugout spot where the earth had been
recently scOoped away, and there in Dawson 3
old rubber poncho was the wallet with his
papers and about 5000 of the missing money,
or what his men believed to be SUCH
And then, amid the sympathetic giances OF
all the court, young Fred told his strange bat
soldierly story. IL was Dawson who asked
him to get the chloroform for him at Red Cloud
and gave him the folded pencil note; it was
Dawson who suggested to him tho idea of sleep
ing down below the bivouac that evening near
where Donovan was posted, and it was Dawson
who reused him suddenly and startlingly in
the
DEAD OF NIGHT.
Up with you, Fred, boy" he had said. "Up
with you, but mako no noise There's the
devils own news! The Indians are out every
where! The Lieutenant's just got courier
from Robinson, and he and Serg't Graham have
TO write dispatches to 60 right 10 the Captain
at Laramie You know tho whole Platte VAL
ley, and how TO get across and reach tho Sid
ney road below2" OF course he did. "Then
the Lieutenant says. for Gods sake iose not q
minute; go for all you're worth keep we'll to
the west until you cross the Platte. aud then
make for the southeast, and warn back every
body who's coming north. He says Mrs. Charl-
ton aud the children we're 30 come that way
Saturday or Sunday 10 join tho Captain ut Red
Clond. You can save them If you re ia time"
Suddenly aroused from sleep, Fred was be-
wildered for an instant; could only realize
that bis loved beuefaetors and friends were In
deadly peril and that he was chosen 10 haste
| and rescue them. Dawson lifted him into the
saddle; pressed some money into his hand to buy
food when he reached the settlements or Sid
ney, in case he met no travellers this side; led
him to the waters edge, aud bade him lose not
an instant He never dreamed Of harm or
wrong or plot until his wounded father told
him tho foul charge against him after his long
aud gallant ride that blazing Sunday.
And then for a moment tho little man broke
down aud sobbcd. aud old war worn soldiers in
the court turned away with glisteuing eyes,
| and the President, Fapping on the table hnSk ily
ordered tho room to be cleared. Charlton .
arms were around his Trumpeter's shoulders as
he led him 70 the open air. and TO bis old faith
er's bedside. Cleared lp he said, In answer TO
| the longing look In tho ScrgeAnts eyes.
Cleared There isn't man. woman or child
| in all the post that doesn't know the verdict.
and that Dawson is doomed to years in prison"
And then he LETT them together and alone.
Da8son's trial aud confession settled IL ALL
lie himself was the thief, who had sought in
| this way 10 replace the money lost in ding
aud 10 throw upon Fred Waller should he
escape, the burden OF the crime. But mercI-
ful God had watched over the boy la his brave
aud loyal effort; had guided him In safety
through host Of savage focB aud had led him
on to honor and vIndication IN tho end For
months there was no happier boy on nil tho
wide frontier than the little hero of tho Sidney
route; no prouder father than brave old Serg't {
| Waller.
Long years aftorward riding ono evening
into u cavalry camp on tho Southern plains,
| Capt. Cross aud tho writer noted a tall, blue
| eyed, bronzed-cheeked trooper, whose twiriing
| mustache was almost tho color of the faded
| yellow OF the cheyr0ns on his sleeve. Despite
| dust aud the rough prairie dress. no finer sol.
| dier had mot their eyes in the long column
that went fitting by.
WHO Is that young First sergcant7" was
| asked.
THAT" answered Cross In surprise. "Dou't
| you know who that isf Why, man, that's
Charlton's old 'Trumpeter Fredi'"
THE end)