Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-09
FROM THE RANKS.
 By CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
lCopyrigh,. 1894, by the J. B. Lippincott Col
CHAPTER XV.


 lowed Sunday night. The garrison woke at Tuesdays reveille in much perturba- tion of spirit, as has been said, but by o'clock and breakfast time one cause of perplexity was at an end Relief had come with Monday afternoon and Alice Renwick's letter saying she would not attend the german, and now still great CT relief ill the news that sped from mouth to mouth-Lieutenant Jerrold was ill close arrest. Armltage and Chester had been again in consultation Monday night, said the gossips, and something new had been discovered no ono knew just what-and the tolls had settled upon Jerrold's handsome head, and now he was to be tried. As usual i'll such cases, the news came i'll through the kitchen, and most officers heard it at the breakfast table from the lips of their better halves, who could hardly find words to express their senti- mcnts as to the inability of their lords to explain the new phase of the sltua- tion. When the first sergeant of Com pany B came around to Captain Armi- tagc with the siCkbOOk soon after 6 ill the morning the captain briefly direct cd him to transfer Lieutenant Jerrold on the morning report from present for duty to ''in arrest and no sooner was it known at the quarters of Company B than it began to work back to officers TOW through the medium of the servants and strikers.
 It was the sole topic of talk for full hour. Many ladies who had intended going to town by the early train almost perilcd their chances of catching the same ill their eagerness to hear further details.
 But the shriek of the whistle far up the valley broke up the group that was so buSily chatting and speculating over ill the quadrangle, and with shy yet curious eyes the party of at least doz- Cn-matrons and maids, wives or sisters of the officcrs-scurricd past the dark ened windows of MT. Jerrold's quarters, and through the mysterious passage west of the coloncl's silent house, and down the long stairs, just i'll time to catch the train that whirlcd them away city ward almost as soon as It had dlsgorSed the morning mail. Chatting and laugh ing and full of blithe anticipation of the gloricS of the coming german, ill prepa- ration for which most of their number had found 1t necessary to run ill for just an hours shopping, they went jubilant- ly on their way. Shopping done, they would all meet, take luncheon together at the WOman'S Exchange, return to the post by the afternoon train and have plenty of time for little nap before dressing for the german. Perhaps the most interesting question now up for discussion was, Who would lead with MT. Rollins: The train went puffing into the crowded depot, the ladies has tened forth and ill moment were on the street, cabs and carriages were pass cd ill diSdain, brisk walk of block carried them to the main thOroughfare and into the heart of the shopping dis trict, rush of hoofs and wheels and pc dcstriauS there encountered them, and the roar assailcd their sensitive and un- accustomed ears, yet high above it all pierced and pcalcd the shrill voices of the nvw>bovs darting here and there with their eagerly bought journals. But women bent OH germans and shopping have time and ears for no such news as that which demands the publication of extras. Some of them never hear or heed the cry: Indian massacre" Here ware! All about the killin of Major Thornton an his sojersr' "Ex- try! Extry.'
 IL is not until they reach the broad portals of the great Stewart of the west that one of their number. half incredu- lously, buys a copy and reads aloud: Major Thornton. -th infantry, Cap tain Langham and Lieutenant Bliss, -th cavalry. and 30 men are killed 1 Captains Wright and Lane and Lieutcn ants Willard and Brooks, -th caval- " and some 10 more men are seriously wounded. The rest of the command Is corralled by an overwhelming force of Indians. and their only hope is to hold out until help can reach them. All troops along the line of the Union Pa- cific are already under orders.
 ''Oh, isn't it Clrcadful:'
 | ''ItS, but aren't you glad it wasn' t ours: OA. look. There's Nina Beaubien over thcr" in her carriage. Do let's find out if she: going to lead with Rollins. |"
 NP viCtiS! Far out in the glorious 1 park country in the heart of the Cen tcnnial State little hand of blue coats sent to suCcur pcrilcd agent is mak- ing desperate stand against fearful odds. Less than 200 men has the exalted ] "l>'lblll tfI tiIc tlt Ei-AI tLItnb stut 1pLA LII 1 through the wildt rn"S< to find and, if need bc. fight its way through five times its weight in well armed foes The officers and men have no special quarrel with those Indians, nor the In diaHs with them. Only two winters be- furr, when those same Indians were sick and starving, and their lying go be- tHeUns, the bureau employees, would give them neither food nor justice, q small band made their way to the rail way and were fed on soldier food and their wrongs righted by soldier justice. But another snarl has come now, and this time the bureau people arc in a pickle and the army-ever between two fires at least, and thankful when it isn't skis ordered to send q little force and 20 out there and help the agent main. tain his authority. The very night be fore the column reaches the borders oi the reservation the leading chiefs come i'll camp to interview the officers, shake hands, beg tobacco and try on theil clothes, then go back to their braves anC laugh as they tell there arc only hand ful, and plan the mOrrow's ambuscad, and massacre. VD victis! There ar, women and children among the garri sons along the Union Pacific who's hearts have little room for thoughts O germans in the horror of this morning tidings But Sibley is miles and mile away, and, as Mrs. Wheeler says, aren' you glad it wasn't ours?
 Out at the fort there is q differen scene. The morning journals and tn
 clicking telegraph send q thrill through ; out the whole command. The train ha
 barely whistled out of sight when tn
 ringing notes of officers call resoun