Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-07-26
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Copyright. 1894. by the Auther
remain at the farmhouse up by the
canyon, and the lieutenant couIdn-J de-
tach any men as guard-he needs them
all at the post. Mrs. Downey was in
such pain that we were all worried
about her, so I borrowed the pony.
without saying anything to Sergt.
Kelly, and came up to get some medi-
cine
'.Well, great Scott, boy! That's TAX
ing tall chances" said the major.
Didn't you see or hear anybody"
"A fellow passed me, riding like mad,
about five or six miles out, sir. heard
him coming and slipped off the road a
few yards, not knowing who it might
be, and then, just a few minutes ago,
was halted by three cits-said they
were looking for a horse thief, but |
wasn't the one they were in search OF. :
Meantime the doctor had taken
Downeys note and was trying by the
light of the guard lantern to decipher
the i'll written scrawl. sShe has had
the same trouble before" said he, land
l can give her the medicine she needs,
back tonight"
'Oh, I've simply got to so, doctor, .
said the boy, eagerly. Mrs. Downey
has always been mighty kind to Randy
and me. She always gave us lunch at
her ranch when we were down there
fishing, and l told her I'd fetch the
medicine before daybreak or get
nabbed trying, Why, the Indians them
selves don't know the country around
here better than Randy and do,
though I've never been out this far at
night"
The ma jor, too, interposed an objec-
ton. 81 feel that we are responsible
for you, Leon, until Maj. Cullen gets
back and claims you. It isn't Apaches
only to be avoided They tell me your
Uncle Manuel is here again, and the
man you met riding full tilt was your
fathers old partner uncey- going to
meet Manuel, l judge, somewhere on the
old Tonic trail through the Socorro."
Then, indeed, Leon looked very
grave. ''Im more afraid of them than
/ am of Apaches," he said. "They don't
mean to take me back to mothers peo-
pie. l shouldn't want to go if they did.
I'm Yankee, like father, and | want
to stay here and grow up in the cav
airy Randy and are going to enlist
just as soon as we're eighteen. But all
the same l promised Mrs. Downey she
should have that medicine before day
and I'm going"
And SO, seeing how earnest the boy
was, and recognizing from his descrip-
ton that Mrs. Downey must be in great
pain, the major reluctantly assented.
''I'd send couple of men back with
you, lad, but 'tisn't likely the Indians
are anywhere along the road between
two parties of troops | don't think
they'd risk that At all events we'd
probably have known it before if they
were. We are all up here yet waiting
further news from Capt Foster. Mrs.
Foster is out there on her piazza now,
so you might see her while you're wait
ing. Then come over to my house and
have some coffee before you start"
1t was just 1880 by the guard house
clock when once again the young
courier mounted his why pony, and
started for the ten-mile ride back. He
went Looping away down the starlit
road the vial wrapped in his saddlebag,
after a hurried good-by, his black eyes
cleaning, his white teeth firmly set.
''Good grit, that boy" said the major,
looking after him. 81 wouldn't mind
having him for my own"
Good grit, indeed!' said Raymond.
s'Most boys I know would rather do
anything than risk that ride in the
dark in the midst of an Indian scare.
What time ought he to get there?"
well, his pony's fresh and speedy
by three or three-ffteen at latest. Now
it's time to hear from Foster
They were walking slowly back to
the porch of his unfinished quarters as
they tallzed-he, his adjutant and his
special friend, Capt. Raymond. Quiet
had settled down on the post. Wearied
with watching almost everybody had
gone to get such sleep as was possible,
but the guard and a few officers still
remained wide awake. Mrs. Foster,
unable to control her anxiety, was still
restlessly pacing the veranda or rock
ing in her big chair, and the officer of
In0 OdV, returning lfOHl TOUR OF Inc
sentry posts, was standing on the walk
and saying some reassuring words,
when the post commander and his party
came along.
Il feel dreadful nervous about that
boy, major" said she. "Of course,
it was all very brave of him to take
such risk for Mrs. Downey's sake, but
when Indians have dared to come with
in mile of us what's to prevent their
being all along that westward road now?
Couldn't you have sent few men?"
could, perhaps" said the major,
with an air that betrayed just little.
how much he resented it that any of
the ladies should question his judg-
ment, ''but there are two reasons why
| didn't-more than two, III fact. In
the first place, the boy had just come
safely in over the road, and that shows
that it is probably safe for tonight
at least. Even Apaches have to
sleep sometimes, you know. In the
second place, Capt. Foster has driven
ahead of him any Indians that