The Delta independent., 1898-12-16

Of column, wa. led ty Barclay and
Brayton, both OF whom Lad marked the
absence Of tho sGbaltcrn Of the leading
company, and neither Of whom was
surprised wien ten miles out there came
galloping past them, with touch Of
the hand TO his hat hriIn, the late regt-
mental columissary. Lieutenant Harry
VIM.
That's goodl" said Erayton as h.
saw his classrIate ride up to the major
and report, then fail back and range
himself alongside MEllane But Bar
clay was silent
"Nuu think he ought not to have
corIes'' asked Erayton. half hesitating
ly. as he glanced at MS silent leader.
I'm thinking more of others-who
should be here, was the answer. yet
those two have 20 much 10 leave" And
Braytnn. following the glance Of his
captains eyes fully understood.
The morning grew warm ms the sun
began to climb above the distant low
lying hills to the cast. The dust soon
rose in dense clouds from beneath the
crushing hoofs, and, leaving Brayton
with the troop. Barclay cut across the
chord of long are in the trail and
reined mp alongside the major. The
command at the moment was moving
at sharp .rot through long. low de-
preston in the prairielike surface.
Brooks returned the captains punctil-
ious salute with CHEEKY nod and cor
dial word Of greeting IL
with your p~ ff3i0et sir. I. vill
fall back 100 yards 'or'sos divide the
troop into sections and SO avoid the
dust s
Brooke ..larredibtcl, over his shoul.
der "Why, certainly. captain. said
he II ought to have known the dust
woald be rising by this time. It's
O'Clock. he continued, glancing at his
watch Barclay turned in saddle and
signaled with his gauntlet, ,.whereat
Brayton slackened speed to the walk.
and gap began to grow between the
rcarmost horses Of Mullane's troop and
the head of DIS alres sdy dust = tolp =
ride with o. fasmept. won't ybu.I
Barclay.'' called the major sfRnincairt
iy as his subordinate seemed on the
pciut of refining aside to wait for his
men. II want you two to know each
other" And tho new and the old cap
tain Of ID troop, who had courteoup-
iy shaken hands with each other when
presented in the dim light of the declin-
ing moon at o'clock, now frosted side
by side. Lawenco eying his s,:cedHscr
with keen yet pleasant interest He had
been hearing all manner Of good OF him
durirg tho waEeful watches Of the
night and was manfully fighting
ayuiilst ths faint yet irreprrssiole feel
ing Of Jealous dislike with which broad
er and better iucn than he have had TO
struggle ON heing supp,anted. Do what
he ~ -ht to battle against it. Lawrence
brd b,cn conscious of it hour after hour.
and felt that he WINGED time and again
when some Of the callers spoke evon
guardedly Of the changes Barclay WIS
making in The old troop changes all
nrn except the ultra conservative rank
ar element as the ranker was so often
constisute,; ut that pecElior time. BE- IL
uuderstuUdJ coGld sac were for the bot
ter.
"You and Barclay lead on, will you.
Ecds" said the major. in Lis genial
way Il wish 10 speak with Mullsne a
moment " Whereat he rei;!cd out to
the righ. aud waited for the biz Irish
man to come iunginY up MuIlaue was
already spurriug close nj has heels,
ploomily ryins tho com oiunti0u IN
trout 'Ths-o are Oirish aud sh.
M on4 a their Boss appreciatIee and
broad minded szponsnts. Private Ter
eBco Ngiyanoy, bss told ua. snd IL gall
81 the veteran Dragon 70 so bis Junior
To rank hidden 60 ride even for tho mo
rnsus at ;ns head ~ the swiftly moving
coiaInn. 50 reckless al the fact that
his individual spurs would call for q
c-.sil forcing uf the pace along his en-
tirc troop. uoV' moving in long column
# twoa. Mul'aBo lad spusred his horse
g. eirsn ilo ~ yard sap between him
s1ig ard t.,e major orderly. determined
that there stsa.d be no conference Of
tie poNe.s IN which he was not repre-
se.ltefi
Captain Mullapc" said Crooks. 81
see IL is getting dusty. Ycu might di
vide into sections, as ID troop has done.
and keep 80 wards apart, SO that the
dust can blow aside md not choke your
men
This IL l. troop, sorr. an my men
are not babes in arrunis." was Null
lanes inagn ficent reply. At any other
time he might have felt the p.rtinence
of the sGggi tion, but here was n case
where n dorghboy captain. bcead. bad
inst gated the measure for the comfort
of his men That was enough to damn
it iu the eyes of the old dragon The
answer was shouted. too. with doub.e
intent Mulisne desired Barclay to hear
what he thought Of ruch over-oIici-
diiy IL not quite 90 easily as was Law
renee. gave no sign. lie was iisssnin-
with head inclined to the words Of tho
keen canpsigner on his right
Brooks was quick TO note tho tnfer-
s.c.. sE. rxs.f. sSr.rr ,r1 10