The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-11-13

first go out to the post. But the fates
were against him. Even as he was
gnawing the pencil and cudgeling his
brains the operator called out:
Here come some Of 'em now, sir"
And, looking nervously from the win
dow, Noel saw three horsemen galloping
in to the station. Foremost came lieu
tenant Of infantry, who sprang to the
ground and tossed the reins to his order
ly the instant he neared the platform.
One Of the men had led horse, COM
pletely equipped for the field, with blan-
kets, saddle bags, carbine, canteen and
haversack; and Noels quick intuition
left him no room to believe that the
Steed was intended for any one but him.
The infantryman came bounding in;
"Is this Capt. Noel? l am Mr.. Renshaw,
post adjutant, sir, and had hoped to
get here in time to meet you on your ar
rival, but we were all busy getting the
troop ready. You've got your orders,
sir, haven't your Ny GOdi captain, can't
you wire to the fort and beg the major
TO let me go with you? I'll be your
slave for q lifetime. I've never had .
chance to do bit Of real campaigning
yet, and no man could ask a bullier
chance than this. Excuse me, sir, l
know you want to get right into scout
ing rig-Mr. Mason said his extra
would fit you exactly; but II you could
take me along-you're bound to get there
just in time for the thick Of it." And
the gallant little fellow looked, all eager
ness, into Noels unresponsive face.
What wouldn't the hero Of the Queen
City club have given to turn the whole
thing over to this ambitious young SOL
der and let him take his chances Of
"glory or the gravel"
Every thoughtful Of you all, I'm sure,
to think of sending horse and hit here
for me, but l really ought to go out to
the post. There are things l must at
tend to. You see, left the instant l
could induce them to relieve me, and
there was no time to make preparations" I"
"But-you can't have heard, captain;
your troop will be here in ten minutes
Capt. Lane by this time is past Pyramid
mountain, and will strike them early in
the morning. There won't be any time
to go out to the post: you've got to ride
at trot or gallop most Of the night as II
is"
Capt. Noel, pardon me, sir" inter
posed the operator. 'The general is in
the Office at Wilcox station. He wants
to know if you have started from here. !"
"Tell him the troop isn't here yet. l.
I'm waiting for it."
"YOnder comes the troop, SIR" called
out Mr.. Renshaw, who had run to the
door. "Now let me help you of with
your 'cits.' Bring that canvas bag in
here, orderly"
Three minutes brought q message
from "the chief" Lose not q moment
on the way. Report here by wire the
arrival of your troop and the moment
you start. Behind time now"
Poor Noell There was no surgeon to
certify that his palid cheeks were due to
impaired heart action, no senatorial cou-
sin to beg for staff duty, no Mrs. Riggs
to interpose. He had just time to send
Q dispatch to Mabel announcing that he
took the field at the head Of his troop at
once, another Collect to Amos Wilders,
ESQ.,, of similar import, and one to the
general, saying that at AS they were
Just on the point of starting, when the
troop, fifty strong and in splendid trim,
came trotting in, and Mr.. Mason grimly
saluted his new captain and fell back to
the command of the first platoon.
"Noel to the FrontP was The Chron-
icle's head line on the following morn
ing far away in the Queen City.