News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-08-24

ing forth a restraining hand and check
ing the captain as he rose with another
question on his lips. Rolfe with almost
any other man might possibly have per-
sisted. He knew Farquhar, however,
and knew that however gentle and
courteous might be his manner he could
come down hard upon those who crossed
him. So, with evident effort, he held
his tongue, but remained standing. "Be
good enough to resume your seat, cap
tain," continued the colonel, all grave
politeness; and Rolfe slowly and reluct-
antly subsided.
"You went to Helena once some five
years ago as witness before a court, and
the train was held up by road agents,
Mr.. Brewster. Did you not meet this
man about that timer"
Eyes, colonel, saw him, but did
not know him from Adam"
"You conversed with him, did you
not, and were at the same hotel at Hele-
ma with him?"
81 did; yes, sir; and was at the same
hotel for thirty-six hours. But he was
a total stranger to me. His dress was
that of gentleman, so was his manner,
and almost everybody in our car got to
talking with him. He was the only one
who really saw the train robbers-it
was all done so quickly, while we were
in our berths; but he had got aboard at
some station just before the thing oc-
Cured"
'Did you not know when he enlisted
that he gave an assumed name"
mo, colonel, | did not. For all !
know Ellis is his own name"
"Yet you knew him as Ralph Enroll
at Helena" burst in Rolfe again.
Captain Rolfe," said the colonel,
with marked emphasis, 81 will ask you
to withdraw; but, except by DIR. Hol-
den's permission, you will not speak of
this matter to Major Berrien. desire
to see Mr.. Brewster for myself. No,
Holden, you remain"
There was no help for it now, Rolfe
had to go; and go he did, without a
word. Then Farquhar, in his courteous
tones, repeated his question and received
prompt reply:
''He certainly gave his name as Enroll
in Helena and as Ellis when he enlisted,
colonel, but which is right or that
either is right have no means of know
ing"
"Well, am told that he gave you
much of his history and that you lent
him money in Deadwood."
81 did lend him, though at the time
thought was giving him, twenty dol
lars to pay pressing debts which he had
to settle before he could leave there and
come to us. He was destitute and starv-
ing. He did tell me something of his
past, but whether it was true or not
cannot say. The more see of him the
more believe it; believe he was gen.
tleman born and bred, and that he had
had hard luck, lost home and friends
and fortune; that he took to the west
and mining; that he made and lost al
ternately; that now he is reaping some
reward for his labor. What l know is
That he is tiptop soldier, of whom TIE
whole regiment has reason to be proud, f,
even though don't know what may he
his own name"
Holden was listening eagerly to every
word.
"41ay l ask question, colonel?"
Certainly, doctor"
Brewster, did he ever tell you where
his home was-where his relatives now
liver"
"Yes-Louisville; and Ihave packet
which, should he be killed or mortally
wounded, have promised to unwrap
and express to the address written with
in. do not now even know what it is"
"Well, did he never speak of having
lived in st. Louis-having had friends
there?'
Never so much as mentioned the
place, doctor"
For moment there was silence,
broken only by the dismal moan of the
rising gale, the flap of canvas, and the
creak of straining guyropes. Farquhar
was still thinking deeply. At last he
looked up.
Captain Rolfe has lodged with me
very serious charges against Ellis, and
bases them on the report of professional
detectives. AS you know, | gave Ellis
permission to ride over to the railway
on Gorham's report that he had some
important personal matters to look after.
Has he returned yety'
He had not up to stables, sir, but his
pass does not expire until tattoo, and |
almost hope he has not started in face of
this wind. 1t looks like blizzard COM
ing"
"When did Rolfe get these reports, if
may askT' queried Holden. II sent n
telegram day before yesterday TO Mrs.
Holden that ought to have reached her
that very evening-it was to forestall
any sensational newspaper story about
the majors wound-and certainly
looked for q reply of some sort yester-
day."
"The wires are down both east and
west, I'm told-cut by 'friendlies' at the
reservation, very probably. No dispatch
has passed either way since yesterday"
answered the colonel. "Rolfe's must
have come before that. Possibly we
will have later news when the sergeant
rides back tonight. Igave him an order
to get any kilograms that might have ar
rived for the regiment. What time does
the train get in from the east-do you
know, doctors"
Somewhere about three, sir, but l
fear there will be no mail for us for a
day or two. Old hands here say it is
madness to face a Dakota blizzard on
the open prairie, and some of the officers
think we are in for gale, to say the
least"
"Well, Brewster" said the colonel
kindly, "your statement is all that
was needed to put an end to any idea
that you knew all about Ellis before his
enlistment. OF course | shall have to
look into Captain Rolfes charges against
him; but say nothing about the matter
for the present"
The cavalry trumpet, weird and fitful
on the wings of the gale, was sounding
first call for retreat as Brewster left the
colonels tent and started down the gen.
tie slope to join his troop. Already the
snow flakes were driving almost hoIi-
zontally with the biting wind, and in
the rapidly gathering gloom the men
came huddling from their rude shelters,
and bundled to the ears in their great
coats stood stamping and swinging their
arms, impatient to have roll call over
and done with The colonel came forth
n moment later, and together he and
Holden tramped over to the turf walled
structure in which their wounded com
Tade lay. The air was now so thick
with snow that objects a hundred yards
distant were blurred and those beyond
entirely obscured. Holden softly un-
strapped and raised the canvas flap and
poked his fur capped head within the
aperture.
TO BE CONTINUED.
The Christian Endeavor member
shin has grown from 6S i'm 1881 TO