Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-10-02
XIV.

THE Battle of the Ghosts" so Big
Roads people called it long months
after, fought late at night and far up
the slopes of the Elk range, was report.
ed at Fort Frayne before the rising of
another sun. The mysterious system Of
signaling which enabled the Indians of
the reservations i'll Nebraska to know
the details of the Custer massacre before
they could be wired from Bismarck
was here i'll use again, and st1agglers
from the band far back at Trooper creek,
and ever the cowboys and ranchmen
carousing about Bunko Jim's in honor
of the triumph of their plans, knew all
about Farwcll's o%vertaking the village,
of Farrar's desperate stand and Wayne's
long gallop to their support before the
first tidings We're whispered within the
silent walls across the stream or even
guessed at by the grim old soldier rous-
ing from his sleep barely ten miles from
the seat of action. The first news to
reach the garrison came from Jimtown
and was laughed to scorn by members
of the guard. The next words went fear
fully along among the kitchens Of Off
GERS row and speedily reached the ears
of the anxious wives and children Of the
soldiers in the field, and still the sur
geon left in charge at Frayne refused to
believe the rumors and hastened to fer.
bid that any one should speak OF them
where they could reach the ears of the
household of Farrar, for the croakcrs
told of fell disaster and of the death of
the last soldier Of that honored name.
But bad news travels fast, and the
direful tidings reached Lucretia Fen
tons ears while Kitty still slept the
sleep of the young, the innocent and
unsuspicious, and what Lucretia knew
she could never conceal. The morning
gun had failed to wake Wills dainty
l%adylove, the trumpets ram no reveille,
for there was 10 garrison to rouse, and
only u trumpeter remained to sound
the calls, but people were up and astiI
and h%urrying from house to house long
before the usual hour, and Marjorie
Farrar, watching by the bedside of her
stricken daughter. heard with straining
ears the excited tones of the servants at
the back doors and but for Helen DAM
tons vigilance would herself have gone
to ascertain the cause. STIMULATING that
her friend should not go down stairs,
Helen had FASTENED forth. finding their
own kitchen deserted, and, as the colo
ncl's house was but Il few rods AVA and
Lucret;a was there at the gate in yche-
ment rccitative with Mrs. Amory and
certain of the younger bellies of the gar.
risou as listeners, Helen hastened thith.
er. only to see the party scatter at her
approach. This in itself was ominous,
hut it was no time for hesitation. Some
of the party were evidently i'll tears.
The old chaplain was rapidly approach
ing from his quarters on the westward
side; the doctor, iieldglass in hand. wa
studying the snowy. expanse to h nortl
from the edge of the bluff. With hin
stood the sergeant of the guard, and an
other noncommissioned officer was has
teniDg toward him up the sentry pos
Of No. .. 1t was TO them she appealed
and III their faces she read the first i'll
timation IF i'll news.
The doctor turned as though he hat
been expecting her and held forth hi
hand. Il am glad you are here" h
said. 'for / have reason TO disteliev,
/; the news that has been frit,ering in eve
! since dawn. hut / wish it kept frol,
: Mrs. Farrar as long az possible"
Hefen's fare had turned white as tn
snow. He saw it and drew her arm
within his own. "~Stragglers from Bi