The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1890-09-20


The others remained to help their senior
officer. Out into the whirling eddles OF
snow, bundling them up in the Big
warm capes of their regulation over
coats. the officers half led, half carried
their precious charges. The captain bore
his son and heir; Lieut.. Ross escorted
Mrs. Rayner; two others devoted them
selves exclusively to Miss Travers; a
fourth picked up the Maltese kitten.
Two or three smart, trim looking IN
fantry soldiers cleared the section OF
bags and bundles of shawls, and the en-
tire party was soon within the doorway
of the waiting room, where a red hot
coal stove glowed fierce welcome. Here
tho ladies were left for moment, while
all the officers again hustled out into the
storm and fought their way against the
northwest gale until they reached the
little crowd gathered about the doorway
of the freight sheds. A stout, short,
burly man in beaver overcoat and cap
pushed through the knot of half numbed
spectators and approached their leader:
"We have only two ambulances, cap
tain-that is all there was at the post
when the dispatch came-and there are
dozen Of these men, besides DR.. Grimes,
all more or less crippled, and Grimes
has both hands frozen. We must get
them out at once. Can we take ysur
wagonT
Certainly, doctor. Take anything we
have. If the storm holds, tell the driver
not to try to come back for US. We can
make the ladies comfortable here at the
hotel for the night Some of the officers
have to get back for duties this evening.
The rest will have to stay. How did
they happen to get caught in such a
freezer"
"They couldn't help it. Stannard had
chased the Cheyennes across the range,
and was ordered to get back to the rail
way. 1t was twenty below when they
started, and they made three days chase
in that weather; but no one seemed to
care so long as they were on the trail.
Then came the change Of wind, and
driving snow storm, in which they lost
the trail as matter of course; and then
this blizzard struck them on the back
track. Grimes is so exhausted that he
could barely hold out until he got here.
He says he never could have brought
them through from Buff Siding but for
Mr.. Hayne: he did everything"
"Mr. Hayns! Was he with them?'
"He was on the train, and came in at
once to offer his services. Grimes says
he was invaluable"
"But Mr.. Hayne was east on leave; |
know he was. He was promoted to my
company last month-confound the luck
and was to have six months leave be-
fore joining. I wish it was six years.
Where is he nowT" And the captain
peered excitedly around from under his
shaggy cap. Oddly. too, his face was
paling.
"He left as soon as I took charge. /
don't know where he's gone; but it's
Gods mercy he was with these poor
fellows. His skill and care have done
everything for them. Where did he get
his knowledge"
81 have no idea," said Capt. Rayner,
gruff1y, and in evident ill humor. "He
is the last man I expected to see this
day or for days to come. Is there any
thing else can do, DOCTOR"
Nothing, thank you, captain" And
the little surgeon fastened back to his
charges. followed by some of the young
er officers, eager to be of assistance in
caring for their disabled comrades.
Rayner himself hestated moment.
then turned about and trudged heavily
back along the wind swept platform.
The train had pulled away and was out
of sight in the whirl of snow over the
western prairies. He went to his own
substantial wagon and shouted to the
driver, who sat muffied in buffalo fur on
the box:
Get around there to the freight house
and report to the doctor. There is lot
of frozen cavalrymen to be taken out to
the hospital. Don't try to come back for
lis tonight; we'll stay here in town.
Send the quartermaster's team in for the
trunks as soon as the storm is over and
the road clear. That's ALL"
Then he rejoined the party at the wait
ing room of the station, and Mrs. Ravner
noted instantly that all the cheeriness
had gone and that cloud had settled on
his face. Sac was a shrewd observer,
and she knew him well. Something more
serious than mishap to squad of SOL
diers had brought about the sudden
eeange. He was all gladness, all reJolc-
nag and delight, when he clasped her and
ss baby boy in his arms but ten minutes
Before, and now--something had occur
rod to bring him serious discomfort. She
rested her hand on his arm and looked
in his face. he avoided
her glance and quickly began to talk.
She saw that he desired to answer no
questions just then, and wisely refrained. |
Meantime Misc IT, -