Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-10-09
CHAPTER vi.
CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE.

Blunt turned sorrowfully away and
began to pace slowly up and down the
bank. Near at hand over little camp
fire his coffeepot was bubbling and
kissing enticingly, but even the aroma
of his accustomed morning beverage
failed to attract him. What was he to
do? What could he do? Ordered to re-
main there to escort the captain safely
to Red Cloud on his return from the
court, it was impossible to pursue.
Equally unwise would it be to send a
email SQUAD. Waller had taken his life
in his hands when he rode away through
the night, but he could cross the Raw
hide and be in comparative safety. so
far as the Indian attack was concerned,
BY sunrise of this day Now that day
light bad come. Blunt we'll knew that
every stretch of prairie from the Platte
to the White river would bs thoroughly
searched by keen and eager eyes, and
death would te the very least that any
small party of whites could expect He
knew perfectly we'll that already he
and his little troop were being closely
scrutinized from the distant ridges.
Had he not seen in the tepees OF the
Cheyennes, but the week before, as
many as three pairs Of binocular field
glasses, and had not Colonel Randall
told him they knew their use and value
as we'll as any one? If there was only
some way of getting word to Captain
Charlton at Laramiel There ran the
single wire of the military telegraph.
but there was neither Office nor station
nearer than Red Cloud Agency MOI
in the troop would thank him for being
ordered to go either way with dis
patches, though he knew the order
would be obeyed.
Silently and gloomily, instead Of with
their usual CHEEKY alacrity. the men
had got to work with their ourrycomb
and brushes and were touching up their
horses while waiting for their own
breakfast, and presently Blunt's orderly
came forward, holding tin cup OF
steaming coffee.
won't the lieutenant drink q little
of this, sir, and try bite Of bacon?
There isn't much appetite in the troop
this morning, sir. but it amt so much
because the moneys gone. I've known
the old sergeant and the hoy nigh unto
ten years now, sir, and never thought
It would come to this. "
Blunt thanked the soldier and sat
down at the edge of the rushing stream,
slipping bis coffee and trying to think
what to do. The drink warmed his blood
and cheered him up trifle. Ordering
bis horse to be saddled, he mounted and,
taking his rife, rode through the Mo
brara and out upon the open prairie on
the other side 1t was not long before
he found the hoof tracks made the night
before, and without knowing why he
slowly followed them out toward the low
ridge at the southwest For ten minutes
. be went at quiet walk and with down.
ward searching eyes as he reached the
road, striving to decide which hoof
prints were made by Waller's horse.
Suddenly back at camp he heard the
ringing report Of a cavalry carblne
borne on the rising breeze and. whirling
about, saw that they were signaling to
him.. Putting spurs to his steed, he gal
loped full tilt for the ford and then for
the first time saw the cause of the ex-
citement. Far up on the opposite slope
and Jogging easily down toward the
troop came an Indian pony and an Indi.
an rider, but not il war paint and feath-
ers. AS Mr. Blunt plunged through the
stream he recognized the young half
breed scout known to all Of the soldiers
as Little Bat, and Bat, without word,
rode up and handed him letter 1t
was from the commanding officer at
Fort Robinson and very much to the
point It read somewhat as follows:
Captain Charlton telegraphs that he
will be detained several days, Mean
time you are needed here. as the Indians
are again quitting the reservations in
large numbers Move Immediately upon
receipt Of this. -
That evening, therefore, the little
troop once more rode down the valley of
the White river, the Smoking Earth. ."
as the Indians called it. and by sunset
were camped at Red Cloud. In much
distress of mind Mr.. Blunt called upon
the commanding officer to tell him of
the disappearance of the money and his
trumpeter and to ask the colonel's ad-
vice as to the proper course for him to
pursue. 1t was agreed that kilograms
should be sent at once to the captain at
Fort Laramie and to the commanding
officer at Sidney barracks on the rail
way, notifying them of the crime and
the desertion. Blunt begged for mo-
ment's delay until he could hear from
Sergeant Graham, whom he had sent to
make certain investigations, and long
before tattoo the sergeant came, and
with him the hospital steward
Lieutenant, the storekeeper says he
sold just such handkerchief as that
to Trumpeter Waller last week, and the
steward can tell about the chloroform. "
Both officers looked inquiripgly at
the steward.
"Yes, sir, it was pay day that young
Waller handed me penciled note from
Sergeant Graham, saying that he had