The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-12-01
eesYaerr. ,ses. sy 2. n anYsos nle,v.

heard In excited talk. Along officers
low many door was opened and wom-
en- and children were peering out in
search Of explanation Of the unusual
summons. Over at tho adjutant's office
dark throng had gathered. the officers
Of the garrison and other knots as Of SOL
diers or Indians could be seen, but jack
and Ellis saw, heard, nothing of this.
Her voice had tho ring Of steel to it as
she answered:
"If 1T were just question Of my own
happiness, might trust you, but 1t Is
my mothers happiness--perhaps her
life. I must know all there Is to know
about that woman whom my mother
trusts 30 blindly. I must know for my.
SELF In the name of the love you offer
mo will you tell mo tho truth about
herp''
"Ellis. cannot tonight. I have
given my word.'
"Then keep 1t, "said she with sudden
passion. Keep it and keep your love. I"
Then she turned and fled within the
chaplain's cato, leaving him standing
on tho snowy walk without, sorrowing,
yet determined.
ing her with his eyes. Never stopping
to knock or ring, she turned tho knob
and lot herself into tho brightly lighted
hall. He caught glimpse Of the gray
haired chaplain bonding over a womanly
form. He caught ono fleeting view Of
Helen Daunton's anxious face. Eyi-
IDENTIFY tho call had boon heard there,
too and, coming as 1t did in the still
ness Of the holiday evening, It BODIED no
good. Only on rare occasions or some
sudden emergency was Fenton known
to call every duty officer to his presence,
even by day, and he would be almost
the last man to break In upon the fes-
tivities Of tho season with q stern call
to arms unless arms and men both were
needed somewhere. Tho day had been
one long trial to Mrs. Farrar, and since
noon one long torture to her. cherished
friend. And so, as they were seated
about the cbaplain's 8 fire and the trum.
pet notes were heard, and servant
hastening in said, Its off3oers' call,
str, duat as ELLIS feared her mother
was seized with sudden faintness. "My
boy, Willyl They won't take him, " she
faltered, and then sank back nerveleas
into her chair.
Ormsby turned and sped away for the
Office At least he could ascertain the
cause Of the summons and bring them
tidings If It meant no move, but the
first glance through the window at his
unole's face, as he stood surrounded by
his officers, told tho New Yorker, al
ready experienced in frontier garrison
life, that something imminent was In
the wind. Fenton was talking rapidly,
as was his wont when reused, and the
only faces in the group that did not
seem to kindle in response to the light
In his keen, sparkling eyes were those
Of two heavily blanketed Indians stand
ing sullen and imperturbable beside
him. Out in the snow half dozen nom
commissioned officers were gathered In
O group by the little knot Of Indian
ponies and cowboy bronohos. An Indian
boy, lolling In his saddle, replied in
monosyllables to their eager questions.
A brace Of cowboys, ono of them obvi-
ously in liquor, sought to impress upon
ell within hearing their version Of some
row that had evidently taken place.
Among the bystanders was Ormsby's
old friend, tho sergeant major, and 10
him he appealed.
WHATS up sergeantr"
"Been fight, sir--cowboys and In
dians. Christmas drunk, reckon. The
cowboys were having somo fun with
their 1ariata, and they roped old Big
Hoad or Ms pony and shos as him whom
he showed fight Then his two cons shot
Laramie Pete. and it looks like Q gen
eral sorimmage. Big Roads whole VII
laee is oamped only ten miles down
stream, md they re war dancing al
ready. There's q lot Of drunken COW boys
| over at town, and thoy swear they'll
rouse the county and olean ont the
! whole Indian outfit"
Thanking the staR sergeanb fog his
information, Ormsby pressed ON 10 the
| crowded room and stood In the outakirt
| Of tho throng OF offioera Benton was
| speaking as he entered the hail, and his
voice had no uncertain ring. He had
been questioning ono Of the cowboy
leaders, q soow1ing, semidoAant. bat
splendidly built specimen Of froptiez
ohtyalry, and 10 was evident that che
verdios Of she commapder wae against
these turbulent gentry and IN 2avoT ot
tho Indinns.
"By your own admission. Thospe.
your fellows are on q tear, and whethe1
they meant a as fpn or not IL was
rough etsh % bert and Hnothi,sg ksss-than
a mad Drained trick In my eyeE end On
outrage from tho Indian point OF view.
Big Road would have been no chief at
all IL he hadn't resented It furiously. II
may be, as you say, that he was frat Il
pull his gun. but you pulled him of hjf
horse The men that did 1t deserve 20 bt
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