Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-12-19
CHAPTER XIV.

"The Battle of the Ghosts" 80 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 in Nebraska to know
the details Of the Custer massacre before
they could be wired from Bismarck
was here in use again, and stragglers
from tho band far back at Trooper creek,
and even the cowboys and ranchmen
carousing about Bunko Jim's in honor
of the triumph of their plans, knew all
about Farwell's overtaking the village,
of Farrar's desperate stand and Wayne's
long gallop to their support before the
first tidings were 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 for.
bid that any one should speak of them
where they could reach the ears Of the
household of Farrar, for the croakers
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
toms 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
1adylove, the trumpets rang no reveille,
for there was no garrison to rouse, and
only one trumpeter remained to sound
the calls, but people were up and asti1
and hurrying from house to house long
before the usual hour, and Marjorie
Farrar, watching by the bedside Of her
stricken daughter, heard with strainlng
ears the excited tones of the servants at
the back doors and but for Helen Daun-
toms vigilance would herself have gone
to ascertain the cause. Stipulating that
her friend should not 60 down stairs,
Helen had hastened forth, finding their
own kitchen deserted, and, as the colo
nel's house was but few rods away and
Lucretia was there at the gate in vehe-
ment recitative with Mrs. Amory and
certain of the younger bellies of the gar
rison as listeners, Helen hastened thith-
er, only to see the party scatter at her
approach. This in itself was ominous,
but it was no time for hesitation. Some
of the party were evidently in tears.
The old chaplain was rapidly approach.
ing from his quarters on the westward
side; the doctor, fieldglass in hand, was
studying the snowy expanse to the north
from the edge of the bluff With him
stood the sergeant Of the guard, and an
other noncommissioned officer was has,
tening toward him up the sentry post
of No. 5. 1t was to them she appealed,
and in their faces she read the first i'll
timation Of i'll news.
The doctor turned as though he had
been expecting her and held forth his
hand. II am glad you are here, ," he
said, "for I have reason to disbelieve
the news that has been frittering in ever
since dawn, but I wish it kept from
Mrs. Farrar as long as possible.
Hclen's face had turned white as the
snow. He saw it and drew her arm