The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12

mood for petting. She was up in arms.
She was being defrauded. Uncle Fenton
had no business whatever to sen1 Willy
away on such quest at such a time. Ii
was worse than inconsiderate. 1t was out
rageous, and then Mrs. Farrar's face went
white again as she asked what Kitty
meant, and then Kitty's nerve gave way
and she buried her bonny face on that
motherly shoulder and burst into tears.
81 thought you heard,' she sobbed
''They have only just told me. Captain
Farwell came home to change his dress
and / asked him where Will was, and he
said he left him offering his services to
Uncle Fenton to ride ahead to the Indians
and he wanted to know if l didn't think
Will was trump. l don't-I didn't
think it's simply h-h-heartless in him.
And then Mrs. Farrar raised her eyes
appealingly to Ormsby, and he went with.
out word. He knew what she needed
and he fastened in search of Will He
found him at Fenton's, whittier he had
accompanied the colonel, and where he
was still pleading and tugging at his tiny
mustache and tramping up and down and
biting his nails, while Fenton, in the
adjoining room, was calmly getting out Of
his dress clothes and into winter field
garb.
"Would you mind dropping this and
going down to the chaplain S and comfort.
ing your mother and my sister, said
Ormsby, as soon as he could get in word
edgewise.
eyes. go, Will, said Fenton, ''and tell
her thatthere is nothing whatever in this
affair to worry about. We're merely going
to bring old Big Road up here to take
Christmas dinner at the fort. There's nc
chance for fight, or you should go along
No; it's useless arguing, my boy. I'd dc
anything for you that's right, but this is
absolutely unreasonable on your part
Now go and tell those two blessed women
that you're to remain on guard over them
and they'll rise up and call me blessed-at
least they ought to-"
And so, finally, Ormsby got the peppery
young fellow out of the house and fairly
started, Ormsby keeping pace with him as
he strobe excitedly from the room.
81 want you to do something for me
WILL" said he in a low tone, as they
fastened along. 'Im going with the com.
mand, and haven't moment to spare
Give this note to Mrs. Daunton for me as
soon as possible after you reach the house
May rely upon your"
And as he spoke he held forth an enve
lope, evidently snugly filled and Farrar took
1t mechanically and without reply. The boy
was thinking only of his own disappoint
ment. "Do you understand, Will?" per.
sisted Ormsby. sit is of great Importance
that she should have it before 10 o'clock
You won't forget?" and, wondering now
Farrar promised, and Ormsby turned alb
ruptly back.
81 wish to the Lord I were in your
place." was Door Wills parting shout, as
the guardsman hurried back to dress fol
the night ride. Already the four troops had
marched to stables and were saddling. AL
ready there were sounds of excitement
over across the river, and much scurryine
through the struggling street of the cattle
town of well-mounted ranchmen and cow.
punchers. Thorpe was as good as his word
He was rousing the country with a venge.
ance, hoping to ride down the valley in
strong force within the hour and wind ur
the, whole business" before the cavalry
could come to the rescue of the offending
band. Will could hear the occasional whoon
and yell that came ringing over on the still
night air, and he was in a petulant mood
bordering on evaporation, when admitted