The Delta independent., 1898-10-07

leaves Ae tEo 0nOuluers, nunS AOoseiy
about his shrunken form. The trousers.
with their narrow welt Of yellow at the
seam looked far too big for him. His
forage cap. still natty in shape, was old
and worn. His chin and cheeks bristled
with "a stubbly grayish beard. All tho
old alert manner was gone. Tho once
bright eyes were bleary and dull. Neigh
bors said that coor Ned had been drink
ing deep of the contents of demijoha
q sympathetic soul had scr. him, and
half an eye could tell that his lip was
trernulous. Tho colonel arose and held
out his hand.
Come in, Lawrence. old fellow, and
tell me what can do for yoa." He
spoke kindly. and Brooks. too. trrnei
toward the desolate man.
You've done-all.ycu could-both
of you God bless you. was the falter-
ing answer. 1--WE come to say ! start
at once. I'm going right TO Washington
to have this s;raightened ont. want
to thank you. ,clonel, and you. too,
Crooks, fer sIi sour willing help III
try to show my appreciation Of it when
get back.
but Ada and little jim. Lawrence.
Surely they're rot ready for iha; lcrg
journey yct." said Frazier, thinking
sorrowfully Of what his wife had told
him only tho day before-that they had
no decent winter clothing to their
names.
"It's ell right. Old Maramy stays
right hero with them. She has taken
care of them, you know. ever since my
poor wife died. oan keep my old quar-
tcrs month. can't I?' lie queried,
with quivering smile 'Even il the
order ism I revoked. 1t would be month
or more before any one cculd come to
take my place Mrs. Elyiho will lock
after the children day and night"
Frazier turned nppcaliugly TO Brooks,
who shook his head and refused to
speak. and So the colonel Ind to-
Lawrence, God knows hato to say
ono word Of encouragement. bnt .car
II fear you'd better walt till next
weeks stage and take these pocr little
folks with you. I've watched this
thing. know how dean good fel-
lows. confident as yourself. havc gone
on to Washington and found 1t all use
less"
1T can't DO useless SIR" burst In
the captain iinpctuous!y. "Truth Is
truth und must prevail. II after all my
years Of service can find no friends in
the war Office. then life is n lie and n
sham. Senator Hall writes me that ho
will leave no stonc uEslrncd. No. colo
mel, take tho stage ut Eoon today
Will you let Winn ride with mo ns far
as Castle Peak? I've got to run down
and sec Fuller now
"Winn can go with Jon. certainly.
but indeed. Lawrence. 1 shall have To
see you again about this"
"I'll stop OH tho way back. :" said
Lawrence rc.vously. Fuller promised
to SEQ mo before he went out 20 his
ranch" Aud hastily tho captain turned
away.
For . moment tho two seniors stood
there silcutly gazing into each others
eycs "Whas GAIA osso do or Ray!' asked
the colonel nt last ~ sapposc Fuller
h going to les hin, havo money for tho
trip lie can afford TO. God knows. aftor
all hos made oct NJ this garrison but
the question Is. ougbt I not to mako
Door Lawrcncc understand that IT'S n
gone cascy lie 10 irsaiiy OFT already.
Ills successor is Oh his way here got
the icttur this morning"
ION his way here? Who Is hep
qucricd tho major in sudden interest
"They didn't know wien Stone cauio
through San Autonio ten days ago.
"Man named Barclay; just 20: his
captaincy IN tho Neutrality-suspicious.
out Of that. of course. -
"Darclay-Barclay. you say?" cjncn'
lated tho major In excitement well.
Of all tho
'.Of all tho what?" demanded the
colonel impdtientiy "Nothing wrong
with him. hope.
"wrongY No. OF they wouldn't h.vo
dubted him Galahad Eut. talk nbout
ups and downs in TexaI. this leafs all
Does Winn known"
II don't know that nny cne knows
but you and me-. answered the veteran.
half testify What's amissr What Las
Winn TO do with it?"
BLOOD and blue bla.csi Why. Of
course you couldn't know Three years
ago Barclay believed himself engaged
20 a girl. and she threw him over for
Wjnn, and now we'll have all three Of
st.<... r,,hs i,aro M W crfh -