The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-11-01

AdAe OruereQ silence.
Go you back to Worth fast as you
cans said he to VIM. ..Write the re-.
port for me to sign before you start.
Tell the colonel where what is left of
the stolen property can be found, and
Well bring Marsden along with us. The
quicker you get there the more you can
save"
Worth was $50 miles away on a bee
line, and Vim had to twist and turn,
but he rode with buoyant heart. By
prompt measures much of his misfor-
tune might be wiped out. Then, with
the profferea loan with which to settle
his accounts and pay off certain pressing
creditors, he could start afresh, his head
at last above the waters that had weigh
ed him down. He would lead simple,
Inexpensive life, and Laura would have
to help him. He could set aside one
fourth. or even perhaps one-third, of his
Pay to send each month to the bank at
San Antonio. It would be hard, but at
least he would be honest and manful.
and Laura would have to try to dress
and live inexpensively. She used to say
she would rather share exile and poverty
with him than palace with any other
man. but that seemed a bit like hyper
bole in the light Of her subsequent ca
reer.
Longsbefore this. he said, the bank
would have sent the money to Worth.
It was doubtless now awaiting him in
Fuller's SAFE or possibly 1rotts. How
blessed thing it was that the cashier
should have been an old and warm
friend Of his father-that he should
have written proffering aid for old
times sake to the son of the soldier he
had known and been aided by and had
learned to love in bygone days. 1t was
odd that Mr.. Cashier Bolton had not
made himself known to him, Harry
Winn, when he and his lovely bride
were in San Antonio, but all the more
was the offer appreciated. 1t was odd
that he should couple with the offer a
condition that VIM should give his
word not to tell the name Of his IA
TIERS friend and his own benefactor,
and further to agree neither to drink
nor bet a cent on any game of chance
until the money was repaid. He was
not given to drinking, but he had heard
OF fondness on his fathers part for
cards and had felt the fascination him
self. All right. He would promise
gladly.
They got fresh horses at midway
camp where small detachment guard
ed the Cougar springs, rested during
the hot hours Of the first day after
long night ride, then set forth, chasing
their long shadows in the late after
noon, and, riding on through the night,
hove in sight of the twinkling lights in
the company kitchens at Worth just as
the dawn was spreading over the east.
ward prairie At the guardhouse
aroused by the sentry's warning,
sergeant tumbled off his bench and ran
sleepily out to meet them. 1t was q
man whom VIM had frequently seen
lowering about his quarters IN attend
ance upon their maid Of all work
.sAll we'll at home. Quigley?" he
queried hopefully.
"All we'll, sir. Leastwise Mira. VIM
and the baby is, SO Miss Purdy said yes
terday evenin. Mrs. Blythe, with her
children and Colonel Lawrence's, have
gone to San Antonio. They're all goin
home together. Any luck, sir?"
II should say SO. Hit EN- hard twice
and caught Marsden alive.''
Great Beg pardon, lieutenant,
but that's the best news yet!'' The SOL
dier's eyes danced and pleaded for more,
but Vim was eager to reach his home,
to tiptoe up to Laura's room, to kneel
by the bedside and fold her, waking, in
his strong, yearning arms to bend and
kiss his baby sleeping face. Hespurred
on across the parade The long, low
line of officers quarters lay black and
unrelieved against the reddening sky
Only in one or two were faint night
lights burning, one down near the
southern end, the room Of the officer Of
the day, another in his own. The Stats
of the blinds, half turned, revealed the
glimmer Of lamp within. Probably
baby was awake and demanding enter
tainment, and there could be no sur
prising Laura as he had planned. Still,
he guided his horse SO as to avoid peb-
bles or anything that would click
against the shod hoofs. The home COM
4uk WOuAu w Uuo 6Wc6toE 1OC AUS DeluS,
unheralded.
"Never mind the saddlebags, " he
murmured to his orderly "Take the
horses to stables and bring the traps
over by and BY" Then he tiptoed
around to the back Of the house. The
front door. he knew, would be locked
So would that opening on the little gal
lery in rear. But there was the window
OF his den. He could easily raise il
from outside and let himself in without
any ones being the wiser A glance al
his watch showed him that in ten min
utes the morning gun would fire and
the post wake up to the shrill reveille
Of the infantry flies and drums. Even
though Laura should be- a-rake and uI
with her baby the surprise might be
attempted. The back porch was lighted
up with the glow from the east. The
back door of the Barclay Brayton estab.
lishment was ajar, and some one waf