The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1890-09-20
"Do You know themY, she asked.

:" "Do you know themr' she asked.
"Yes. That was Maj. Stannard. 1t ID
his battalion Of the -th cavalry, and
they have been out scouting after rene
gade Cheyennes. Pardon me, madame,
I must 60 forward and see who have
boarded the train"
He stopped at his section, and again
she followed him, her eyes full of anx-
iety. He was busy Juggling at flask in
his travelling bag.
'You know themi Do you know
have you heard of any infantry being
out2 Pardon me for OBTAINING you, but
/ am very anxious. My husband is Capt.
Rayner, of Fort Warrener."
"No infantry have been sent, madame,
I-have reason to know; at least, none
from Warrener."
And with that he hurriedly bowed and
left her. The next moment, flask in
hand, he was crossing the storm swept
platform and making his way to the
head Of the train.
II believe he is an officer" said Mrs.
Rayner to her sister. "Who else would
Be apt to know about the movement of
the troops? Did you notice how gentle
bis manner was2-and he never smiled.
he has such sad face. Yet he can't be
an officer, or he would have made him
solf known to US long ago."
els there no name on the satchelr'
asked Miss Travers, with pardonable curl
osity. she has an interesting face-not
handsome. And a dreamy look came
into her deep eyes. She was thinking,
no doubt, of dark, oval, distingue face
with raven hair and mustache. The
youth in the travelling suit was not tall,
like Steven-not singularly, romantical-
~ handsome, like Steven. Indeed, he
was of less interest to her than to her
married sister.
Mrs. Rayner could see no name on the
satchel, only two initials; and they re-
vealed very little.
"Ihave half a mind to peep at the fly
leaf of that book" she said. "He walk
ed just like soldier; but there isn't
anything there to indicate what he is"
she continued, with doubtful glance at
the items scattered about the now vacant
section. "Why isn't that porter here2
He ought to know who people are"
As though to answer her request, in
came the porter, disheveled and breath
less. He made straight for the satchel
they had been scrutinizing, and opened
it without ceremony. Both ladies re-
garded this proceeding with natural
establishment, and Mrs. Rayner was
about to interfere and question his right
to search the luggage of passengers,
when the man turned hurriedly towards
them, exhibiting little bundle of hand
kerchiefs, his broad Ethiopian face
clouded with anxiety and concern:
"The gentleman told me to take all
his handkerchiefs. We'se got a dozen
frozen soldiers in the baggage car-some
OF 'em mighty bad-and they'se tryin
to make 'em comfortable until they get
to the fort"
Soldiers frozen! Why do you take
them in the baggage car?-such barn
OF place! Why weren't they brought
here, where we could make them warm
and care for them?" exclaimed Mrs. Ray
ner, in impulsive indignation.
Laws, ma'am! never do in the world
to bring frozen people into hot car!
Sure to make their ears an noses drop
OFT, that would! Got to keep 'em in the
cold and pile snow around 'em. That
gentleman sittin' here-he knows" he
she's an officer, and him and
the doctors workin' with 'em now"
And Mrs. Rayner, vanuuished bv a
statement Of facts well known to her
yet forgotten in the FIRST impetuosity of
her criticism, relapsed into the silence
OF temporary defeat.
lie Is an officer, then" said Miss
Iravers, presently. ~ wonder what he
belongs to-"
"Not to our regiment, I'm sure. Prob
ably to the cavalry. He knew Maj. STAN
nard and other officers whom we passed
there"
'Did he speak to them?'
No; there was no time. We were he
yond hearing distance when he ran To
the back door of the car; and there was
no time before that. But it's very oddr"
"What's very odd?'
"Why, his conduct 1t is SO strange
that he has not made himself known to
us, if he's an officer"
Probably he doesn't know you-or
we-are connected with the army. Kate"
"Oh, yes, he does. The porter knows
perfectly well. and told him just before
he left"
Eyes. but ne didn't know before that
time, did hey"
HE ought to have known" said Mrs.
Rayner, uncompromisingly. AT least,
he should if he had taken the faintest
interest. | mentioned Capt Rayner 80
that he could not help hearing"
This statement being one that Miss
Trayers omlld in no wise contradict-as
it was one. indeed, that Mrs. Rayner