Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-09-02

iutn MeES Hidhlu8 uoHu tHtll Dullhh
for the night when the first sergeant
entered the barrack room and called
for Private Donovan.
''Herel'' answered a voice from the
lower end Of the room.
"Rerort to the adjutant, mounted,
for courier duty as soon us you can
possibly get ready" and tho sergeant
closed the door with a bang.
The Young fellow who had answered
the sergeant's inquiry was not more
than 10, but tall and well-made, with
that trim appearance for which the
American soldier is noted As he was
rolling blanket aud getting together
the articles usually required for such
duty, the first sergeant again entered
and impatiently commanded him to
make haste.
''Never mind any extras, Mickey
the Rljutant seems to be in terrible
hurry to get you off; so just take an
extra hundred rounds OF ammunition
and enough rations to last you for one
day, &c your horse and report to him
at his quarters. The sentinel has or
ders to let you in the stable to get the
animal out"
"All right, sarge, Gil boy" said
Mickey, with an utter disregard of the
difference in rank that was common in
the days of frontier service.
Twenty minutes later Donovan draw
rein at the adiutaut's quarters and
dismounted, but before he could tie NJ
his horse the door opened, and Lieu
tenant Haley appeared.
Private Donovan, G troop, reports
for detached service, sir, "and Mickey
right hand was raised to his hat with
military promptitude.
VERY well, Donovan, tie your horse
to that post and come inside"
When he entered the room the lieu.
tenant addressed him in serious tones
81 want to tell you, Donovan, that
the duty you are about to enter upon
is fraught with great danger to your.
self, and, in fact, you stand gool
chance Of never returning; for l wani
you to ride to the railroad with mes,
sage to the commanding officer, who
has gone there to meet his daughter,
have Just received news by scout
that the whole Cheyenne nation will
probably be on the war-path by day
light tomorrow.
Mickey did not vince, and the
lieutenant went on; '1f yon succeed
in getting through, the general can
remain there until the mounted troops,
which will Immediately follow You,
arrive to escort him to the post. II
you can get through Dead Mans
Canon very early in the morning you
may be in time to cross the open
country before the Indians are astir. .
''If there is such thing as reaching
the place | will deliver your message
to the general" said Mickey. "Any
written message to be carried, sir?"
Eyes; here is paper You will de-
liver to General Farr. il you manage
to get through, which explains your
journey to him. The train is not due
at Rock Greek until about 10 O'Clock
in the morning, so you have time to
ride the distance with good horse. y
Donovan took the orders, placed
them in the inside pocket of his blan.
ket shirt, unhitched his horse and
leaped into the saddle. He crossed
the parade at a sweeping gallop and in
few minutes was lost to sight in the
darkness. General Farr was an off.
Ger who commanded the respect and
goodwill Of every man in his regi-
ment. His daughter was worshipped
by all the enlisted men because Of her
kindly ways and the interest she man
ifested in them upon her annual visits
to the postl She had discovered on q
previous visit that Mickey was the
pupil of an intelligent man in one OF
the troops, and she at once interested
herself in his studies, assisting him
in many lesson while he was on duty
as orderly at her fathers quarters
To this young fellow, whose only
memories were of kicks and cuffs,
home ess wandefings and starvation,
this lovely young girl seemed being
OF another world. He thought Of her
as he rode along through the darkness
and felt thrill of pride in the fact
that he had been selected to warn hei
father of the threatened danger and
probably save her from death at the
hands Of the Indians.
At the end of three hours Micke,
had reached the first range Of hills,
and he knew it must be after midnight.
He did not want to push his horse toe
hard at the start, for if he succeeded
in getting through the canon there
was still a stretch of level prairie
over which he must race for 80 miles
to reach the railroad, and if the In
dians were out again it might end in 9
race for life.
After allowing his horse to browse
for few minutes, he frightened ths
saddie-girth, mounted and set out fol
the next range. 1t was difficult WORK
riding down the steep incline into The
valley, but once at the foot he raced
across the bottom lauds and did mol
draw rein until the towering heights
of the Black Hills doomed up before
him. Here he gave his horse a short
rest, while he himself munched a hard
tack and refreshed himself with coffee
from his canteen.
He decided to take the trail leading
over the summit instead Of going
through the canon, for he reasoned
that he would be in better position
to make fightoutside the canon than
in it, il the Indians had already en-.
tered, and also he stood a greater
chance Of escaping observation.
BY the time he reached the summit
Of the range great bars OF golden light
were beginning to shoot through ths
eastern heavens. He anxiously scanned
the prairie that stretched away below
him to the horizon, but not living