The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-24

ones reluctantly arose and babe good-by TO
their four footed friend, and the party started
slowly away across the green parade to the post
chapel, noddng and smiling 10 the spruce
Orderly, who stood respectfully aside to let
them pass. Mrs. Edwards glanced quickly and
sympatheticaly into the Sergeant's sad face ms
he stood there before her husbands easy chair.
She knew well what it ali meant, but there
was nothing for her TO say. Small parties of
infantry officers and of ladies and children
joined them on the way 10 the humble wooden
sanctuary; the soft notes of the hugle were
sounding church call; warm, gentle breeze
from the southern plains stirred the folds of
the big flag: the sunshine was joyous and bril-
liant, and all spoke of peace, order and con-
tentmeut. Yet here stood Waller with almost
bursting heart; and yonder, only a few miles
across the grassy ridges to the north, rode that
little party of officers aud men TO almost certain
DEATH
The Major looked up ms he finished reading
the letter placed in his hands:
+" / have no words to tell you of my sympathy
and sorrow, Sergeant. OF course you know my
plain duty in tho matter. The Sheriff has
been notified, and two OF his Deputies already
have gone ont to search. He would hardly
be mad enough TO come anywhere near us-if
guilty. But il he is taken he will he held here
under my charge, aud will sec that you have
every proper opportunity of visiting him. The
Adjuiant tells me you had heard something of
the Indians being south of the Platte What
was itP"
WHAT TWO DISPATCHES SAID.
"a man who boarded our train at the Bluffs,
sir. He claimed to have had to ride hard for
his life yesterday afternoon, and that there
were scores Of tho Sioux this side Of the river.
/ took him 10 Col. Gaines and Capt. Cross, sir;
but the man had been drinking so much that
they distrustcd him entirely. They left the
If 4 q. 81. -
The Major sat thoughtfully gazing out across
the parade y moment; then answered:
We have had no rumOrs OF anything OF the
kind. and they would be almost sure TO come
this way 20 us IL anyone heard of such stories.
There are no settlers along the road after lcav
ing the springs out here until you reach the
Platte. can hardly believe it, but we'll see
what can be got from the man when he sobers
mp. Now, the Sergeant Major will go with
You 70 the quarters, aud / wall sec you later in
the day
But later In the day that promise was forgot
ten IN excitement OF far greater magnitude.
Church was over. The Bugler had jnst
sounded mess call. and the soldiers in their
neat " undreSs' uniform were just going in 10
dinner, when n man eow-pOny one Of
those wiry, active lttlo stceds SO much in use
around the cattle herds-camo full speed into
the garrison and threw himself from the saddle
at Maj. Ldwardss gate. Ii was tie telegraph
operator az the railway station. In his hands
were two brown envelopes, aud Maj. Edwards,
ms be stepped forward 10 meet him. saw in his
face the tell tale look Of a bearer of bad news.
I've no idea whose horse that is. Major.
There were half a dozen of em in front of sa-
loon there ia town. and jumped on the first
saw. These bave just come-one from Laramie,
one from Omaha. dropped everything at tho
Office TO fetch them 10 yon.
Edwards tore open first one. then the other.
The first read:
Couriers in from Capt. Wallace report
large war-parties along the Platte and some
across raiding tho Sidney road. Four team
sters killed, scalped and mutilated three miles
south of river. Bodies found. Warn back
everybody attempting 10 go that way"
The second was from the Office of the Depart
ment Commander himself:
Indians in force south of Platte. on Sidney
road. If Col. Gaines and Capt. Cross have
started send couriers at once 10 recall them"
The Majors face was dark with disnay
They have been gone nearly -four hours"
he exclaimed; "evcn If / had swift riders
ready who could catch them in time?n
I've been a trooper all my life. sir" eome
sudden answer: Il Give me horse and carbine
and let me CO."
The Major might have known twas sorg't
Waller.
r., L. =