The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-08-10

low who didn't get blessed thing but
scars was the commanding lieutenant
your worthy self-thanks to wiseacres
at Washington who say Indian fighting
isn't war.
Didn't l get letter of thanks from
tho department commanders" grins
Drummond. What else could / ex-
pect?"
"What eise?" is Wings impulsive
rejoinder. Then, as though mindful
of some admonition, quoting at once
and speaking in tone less suggestive,
"Well, in your case 1 suppose you can
be content with nothing, but bless me
if could" Then, suddenly rising and
respectfully touching his weather beat
en- hat, he salutes q stoutly built, sol
dierly looking man In rough scouting
dress, whose only badge of rank is the
furnished shoulder strap with the sill
yer leaf on the shabbiest old fatigue
coat to be found in the battalion, most
of whose members, however, wear no
coat at all.
"Hullo, Wing-didn't mean to dis
turb your siesta-Drummond here?"
says the commander in his offhand
way, and at sound of tho well known
voice Drummond, too, is on his feet in
twinkling.
"Seen the papers that came in to-
day." queries the colonel, obliterating
from his sentences all verbal superhui-
ties.
"Not yet, sir; any news?"
HI to pay in Chicago, so far as
heard from. The railway strike has
taken firm hold there. Police and mi
litia both seem unable to do anything
against the mob, and the authorities
are stampeded. Your home, isn't it ?"
sit was once, sir, but that was many
long year ago."
"W-e-ell, says the colonel reflect
lively, stroking his grizzled beard, cit g
my belief there is worse TO come. 1t
isn't the striking railway hands that
will do the mischief, but every time
there's a strike all the thieves and
thugs and blackguards in the commu-
nifty turn out. That's what happened
in Pittsburg--that what's the matter
in Chicago. It looks to me as though
the plea for regular troops would have
to be granted.
"Think we can get there, sir?" asks
Wing eagerly.
Cant say. We're supposed to have
our hands full covering this section Of
Nebraska, though l haven't heard of a
hostile Sioux this summer. Besides,
they have full regiments Of infantry at
Omaha and along the lakes. Doesn't
Mrs. Wing say anything about the
trouble?'
"Her letter is four days old, sir, and
only says her father looks upon the sit
uation as one of much gravity, but
women rarely see troubles of this kind
until they come to their doors.
"Well, this is The Times of two days
ago. 1t reached Sidney at breakfast
time this morning, and Hatton brought
two or three copies out when he came
with the mail. Thought you two might
be interested. And with that the
colonel goes strolling along down the
bank of the stream, pausing here and
there to chat with some officers or give
some order relative to the grazing OF
the horses-one Of his especial "fads. !"
And this evening, just as the sun dis
appears over the low bluff lying to the
west and the horses are being picketed
for the night, while from score of cook
fires the appetizing SAVIOR of antelope
steak and tho aroma of "soldier coffee"
rise upon the air, little dust cloud
sweeps out from the ravine into which
disappears the Sidney road and comes
floating out across the prairie. Keen
eyed troopers quickly note the speed
with which it travels toward them.
Officers and men, who have just been
looking to the security of their steeds,
pause now on their way to supper and
stand gazing through the cleaning at
the coming cloud. In five minutes the
cause is apparent--two swift riders,
urging their horses to full speed, racing
for the ford. Five minutes more and
the foremost throws himself from the
saddle in the midst of tho group at the
colonel's tent and hands that officer O
Geographic dispatch, which is received,
opened, read with imperturbable gray.
ity and pocketed. To the nantes,
chagrin Of the courier and disappoint-
ment of his officers, the colonel simply
says:
"W-e-ell, I'm going to supper. You
all'd better have yours too"
"Why, blame his old hider' pants
tho courier later, 1.-THE quartermastel
told me never to lose second, but gil
tbot 70 him bafora dark The Inn II