The San Francisco call., 1895-05-19
CHAPTER XIII.
6I CAPT, onAS. KING.

.
of snow and spread a spotless coverlet over
the Valley of the Platte, softening rude
outlines, Gaping with glistening white
roof and chimney, tree and tower, and
mercifully obliterating the unsightly
streaks that led across the frozen river, and
the deep red blotches that smeared the post
at No. 6.
Two discoveries had been made by the
officer of the guard in his search after the
removal of Graice, struggling and cursing
savagely, to the prison-room on the second
floor, where Leale himself directed him
placed, instead of among the garrison pris-
oners in the general room. One was that
the sentry had received from some source
q flask of whisky after being placed on
post, for, half emptied, it was found in
woodpile back of the officers quarters. The
other was that he had more than once
meandered from the beaten path to the
rear gateway leading to the Farrars' quar-
ters, as though some powerful attraction
drew and held him thither.
Even before the tragedy which had
shocked the garrison at taps busy tongues
had everywhere been telling of Thorp's
furious denunciation of Graice and of the
statement as to his claim to being the son
of an officer. Members of the guard had
noticed the fury that seemed to possess
Graice after that episode. He SUNK away
from his kind as though unable to face
them after having passively received such
scoring. He had twice been refused by
the sergeant permission to leave the guard
house, as it was surmised he had liquor
hidden somewhere and was craving its
fiery comfort and stimulant now. So
strong was his conviction on this head that
the sergeant had searched him before let
ting Gralce parade with his relief at 1915.
But Graice knew too much to conceal a
flask about his person. Looking only for
liquor, the sergeant unluckily had failed to
notice the keen knife that was secreted
within the breast of his overcoat, and that
knife had done bloody and disastrous work.
1t was evident to all that he must have
been drinking heavily after taking his post,
for he was reeling when led to the guard
house, and the mad imprecations on his
lips were frightful to hear.
Up to the reveille Christmas morning
not word had come from Fenton's COM
mand, but soon after stable call a courier
came riding in with a note to Leale. Cali
right" it cheerily read. 1--WE found the
whole band spelling for fight and ready
to clean out half the country anyhow, but
the cowboys kept at respectful distance
ull'1 we SOI lE6TS. linen Wnen IleY knew
tight wouldn't be allowed they came
charging down and demanded battle or
the surrender OF White Wolf and his three
pals. Two of the latter were half way to
Crazy Woman's Fork by this time, and /
do not officially know the other, so the
whole village moves up under our wing
and Will camp on the low ground to the
west of the fort. Then when the civil
authorities come with warrants and the
assurance that the two shall have fair play
and square trial, Big Road will surren-
der the alleged murderers. Meantime no
cowboy shall be allowed on the reserva-
ton. We should be back by noon."
Signed, "Fenton''
And by noon back they came, the big
squad of regulars the motley village of
Sioux, followed at very discreet distance
by an equally motley array OF COWBOYS and
citizens, and all Christmas afternoon the
industrious squaws were pitching the
tepees on the westward flats, herding the
ponies and cooking for their lords, while
most of these latter were loafing about the
post, glad OF chance to prowl around the
quarters and storehouses, and beg for any,
thing they saw or fancied. AS for society
at Frayne, 1t accepted the bliss of the stu
alton as readily as it had mourned the
necessity that sent the command away.
and except in one or two households, all
thought was centered in the briefly inter
rupted preparations for the festivities of
the coming night.
Wyoming winter DAYS are short enough:
yet this, almost the shortest of the year,
had already proved too long, too trying, to
more than one comparative stranger
within the gates of Fort Frayne The
story of Graice's furious outbreak, of
Crow knife's devotion and dangerous
wound, had gone like wildtire over the
once more crowded garrison. The former
as has been said, was safely locked IN the
smaller prison-room of the old guard
house, where for time he had been heard
savagely raging at his bars and kicking at
the resoundipg woodwork. Crow Knife
borne on a blanket to the hospital, Law
silent, patient, and lowering between life
and death, the captain whom he loved and
Tor whom he had periled his life sitting
steadfast by his side.
Night came on strangely still. The boom
OF the sunset gun and the evening chorus
OF the trumpets and the voices of the men
at rollcall, all muffied by the fleecv fall
OF snow, yet there was premonition in the
air, and old-timers glanced at the sky and
at the yellow sunset, gloomily predicting
ugly weather before the coming morn.
Within the CHEEKY messrooms, where the
troopers were wont to flock with hustle
and chaff and good-natured soldierly noise.
mlngllng with the clatter of plate and
knife and spoon among the cozy homes
across the parade, where the families of the
OIHCerS gaInered at dinner, the gloom of
Graice's drunken crime, mingling with the
shadows of wintery cleaning, seemed to
oppress every heart, killing JOYOUS laugh
ter. saddening soldier tones, sitting merry
quips and iests, strangling every effort
to throw off the weight that had settled
on old and young, on one and all. Even
among the more reckless and Indifferent of
the men Leale's impartiality and Justice
had won respect that outlived their dread
of his stern and unyielding discipline. Even
those who had suffered at his hands could
not but admire more than they hated him.
Among nine-tenths of the troopers he was
held in solid esteem, among very many in
almost enthusiastic affection, but one and
all they united in praise of his conduct on
this trying occasion, and in deep, if not
loud, denunciation of his brutalized assail-
ant. AS for the other, the more reputable
if red-skinned savage, the soldiers had but
one opinion. Crow Knife was the whitest
Indian in Wyoming, and they meant it as
compliment despite its unfiattering possi-
bilities. Graice himself had made no
friends. A man with grievance is never
popular among soldiers, high or low, and
. Graice's sullen, surly ways had estranged
even those in whom his mouthings
against his superiors of every rank. from
colonel to corporal might POSSIBLY have