The Saint Paul globe., 1897-12-05


been thinking it all over. recall how
vigilant and dutiful he was at all times,
and my object in hurryinS out here
today at -ah-almost the instant 1
heard of his arrest, was to put in the
best words / could think of in his be-
half-to-ah-urge you to reconsider
your action, especially in view of all
-e-ah-encomiums passed upon his
conduct in this recent raid on the
Laramie"
The colonel whirled around upon him
as he had on Folsom. Maj Burleigh,
ne began, q call you to witness that L
am the most abused man in the army.
Here am I, sir, thirty five years in
service, full colonel, with war record
with the regulars that should command
respect, absolutely ignored by these
mushroom generals at Omaha and else
vhere-stripped of my command and
kept in ignorance of the movements of
my subOrdinates. Why, sir" he con-
tinUed, lashing himself on, as he rose
from his chair, there's my junior at
Frayne giving orders to my troop, sir;
presumes to send them scouting the
Laramie bottoms, when every man is
needed here, and then, when, as it hap
pens, my officer ard his men get into
q fight and drive the Indians, to whom
does he report, sir? Not to me, sir-not
to his legitimate commander, but he
sends cOuriers to Laramie and to
Frayne, and ignores me entirely
A light daWned on Burleigh in an in
slant. Well he knew that Deans reas-
ons for sending cOurieTS to those guard
posts of the Platte were to warn them
that a war party had crossed into their
territory, and was now in flight. There
was nothing to be gained by sending a
man galoping back to the line of the
railway, seventy-fiVe miles to the rear
no earthly reason for his doing So
But tle fact that he had sent runners
to offers junior. in rank to Stevens,
and had not sent one to him, fairly
"stuck in the crop of the captious old
commander, and he had determined to
sive the youngster a lesson. But now
the mail was in, and dispatches from
various quarters, and a telegram from
Omaha directing him to convey to
Lieut.. Dean the thanks and congratu-
l9tioES Of the general commanding the
department, who had just received full
particulars by Wire from Cheyenne, and
Stevens was glad enough to drop the
game, and Burleigh equally glad OF
this chance to impress Folsom with the
sense of his influence, as well as of his
justice.
'I admit all you say, colonel. I
have ong-ah-considered you most
unfairly treated, but really-ah-in
this case of Lieut.. Deans. it is. as l
result of-ah-er-not unnatural loss
of-er-balance at most exciting
time. A word of-ah-admonitiOn, if
you will pardon my suggestion, all he
probably needs. for he has really be-
haved very well-ah-surprisingly we'll
in conducting this-ah-pursuit."
And so was it settled that later the
colonel was to see Mr.. Dean, and ad-
monish accordingly but that mean
o1 MT 90 a WI
per in his ear that his arrest was end
cd and all would be explained later
thereby releasing him before the girls
discovered the fact that he was con-
fined in his tent.
But the adjutant came too late.
The fearful eyes of one, the flushed
and anxious faces of both damsels
and the set look in the eyes of both
the young officers at Deans tent, as
the adjutant approached, told him the
cat was out of the bag. THE expla-
nation cannot be made too promptly
for me, SIR" said Dean, as he received
the colonePs message and pernitted
the adjutant to depart without pre-
senting him to the two prettiest girls
he had seen in year. Nov, Loom
is just as quick as possible 1 want
you to go with me to that man Bur-
leigh. I'll cram his words down his
throat
Hush, Dean. of course, I'll stand
by you! But-both girls are looking.
Wait until tomorrow"
How many project for the NOR
row is dwarfed or drowned by events
unlocked for-unsuspected at the timei
Not ten minutes later Folsom and
Burleigh came strolling together to
the little tent. Ashamed of his ap-
parently unjust accusation, Folsom
had begged the quartermaster's par
don and insisted on his coming with
him and seeing the young people be-
fore driving back to town. The horses
were being groomed at the picket line
The Western sun was low. Long
shadows were thrown out over the
sward and the air was full of life and
exhileration. The somber fears that
had oppressed the quartermaster an
hour earlier were retiring before a
hope that then he dared not entertain.
'You-you stood by me like a trump,
Burleigh,' old Folsom was saying,
"even after I'd abused you like a
thief. If 1 can ever do you a good turn
don't you fail to let me know"
And Burleigh was thinking then
and there how desperately in need of
good turn he stood that minute.
What if Folsom would back him?
What If
But as they came in full view of the
the majors eagerly searching gaze
was rewarded by a sight that gave
him sudden pause. Halted and ex-
amining with almost professional in
terest the good points of a handsome
little bay. Lieut.. Loomis and Jessie
Dean were in animated chat. Halted
and facing each other. he with glow
ing admiration in his frank blue eyes,
she with shy pleasure in her joyous
face, Dean and Elinor Folsom stood
absorbed in some reminiscence Of
which he was talking eagerly. Neither
saw the coming pair. Neither heard
the rapid beat of bounding hoofs near
ing them in eager haste. Neither not
ed that horseman reined in, threw
himself from saddle and handed Bur-
leigh a telegraphic message which,
with trembling hands, he opened and
then read with staring eyes.
my heaven, Folsomp he cried 81
ought to have known something was
coming when 1 got orders to have
every mule and wheel ready Every
things to be rushed to the Big Horn
at once. Just as you predicted. Red
Clouds band has broken loose. There's