The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-07-11
THE DESERTER WENT
DOWN THE RIVER.
A STORY OF MILITARY DISCIPLINE.

ing from tall flagstaff on the pa az
rade ground at Fort Buford, II
waved gracefully in the afternoon 81
,reeze The small expanse OF turf that
Hoped down to the swift-Tolling Mis- a
iouri was dotted with trim buildings, -
which seemingly won a martial appear =
lnce from their occupants. A chill a
vas noticeable in the air, though June !,
.eigned and countless mosquitoes :
reigned also, lowering in dense swarms :,
over the willows near the rivers edge :
whose spiteful sting was =
out of proportion to their
size. Even the stoical Indians from !.
the eros Ventres village, two miles
north, Just over the boundary line in
Montana, were visibly affected by
those ubiquitous pests, and waved
eagles wings before their imperturb-
able. grave faces as they stood upon
the banks. while a cargo Of military |
supplies was being unloaded from
down river boat.
Hitler and thither. across the parade
ground, figures in blue were moving
slowIy-soldiers with the dull, apa-
thetic counteEances characterizing so
MANY troops upon the western from
tier. But to-day there was Frightening
of faces, quickening Of steps, for the
"down-river'' had brought letters from
the states and home.
An unusually generous mail, TOO
Several men laughed when they saw
Zacl, Brayton with deeper bronze on
| his checks and a letter in his hand.
He had never been known 10 receive
one since the coming of the company
10 Fort Buford. He was tall, awk-
ward fellow, one of those STAMPING
men who suggest some mistake on the
nart of nature in choosing material TOO
hastily. He stood now just opposite
the gymnasium, the ret Il. eerlng %
his grasp, the torn envelope crushed N
ore strong hand. He had read il over
twice, and was beginning at the FIST
page again, mumbling ii indistinctly
''Iou and me amt been as much &c
each other as husband and wife oughtel
be. If we had, you wouldn't never have
gone away. I've kept silence long time
waiting forycu tosay you cared, but you
don't say that yet; and now it's my
cough and the strange feelings all oveI
me that make me write. The doctor
says il won't be J g-and there's little
Jim and the baby"
He stopped suddenly and crumpled
the pitiful scrawl in his brawny fist
and pushed the back Of his hand across
his deep-set eyes.
II don't know rightly what III do
he began. desperately; and then he
Strengthened up. as a comrade ap'
preached, laughing.
Lots of news, Zack?" he queried in
a teasing way.
Ten minutes later lack Brayton
stood more awkwardly than ever, be-
fore the highest authority in the fort
That officer had received pleasant news
from home, and he unbent his military
dignity to a surprising degree, and was
chatting merrily with several subor-
dinates.
well, my man." was his remark,
when lacks presence was noticed.
The private saluted awkwardly. He
began to speak in low, hesitating
voice.
"Beggin' your pardon, colonel, but
I've got word I'd like to say-least'
wise. if"
Talk TO your captain" interrupted
the officer, recalling his dignity now,
He was tired of hearing complaints. and
there had been too many Of late.
"Not as I'd oughter bother you, sir
but the fact is"
well, speak out. What is it?" sale
the officer, with some show of impa
tience.
MY wife" he began, huskily, "sht
is sick, and 1 lowed maybe you had q
wife. colonel. an you'd know how"
where is she?'
lack in Missoury."
"And you want furlough? It's i'm
possible, sir. II we needed half the re
quests we shouldn't have a soldier lef
on the post. Don't you see, my gooC
fellow?"
"Yes, sir" replied lack, simply.
When he was clear Of the quartersh,
leaned against post as if needing sup
port of some sort. Yet lack was |
strong man. certainly.
In this high latitude the sun cheat,
you out of the evening hours, and set'
at nearly ten o'clock. A detachment
of troops were assisting the steamboa
roustabouts in unloading military sup
plies. At dark flambeaux were farinG
from the boats guards, by the light o
which they completed their labors
Then the bluecoats marched back t.
the barracks, preceded by a train o
government wagons.
A few roustabouts, huddled upon tn
boiler deck, were grumbling unitedl,
about some trifie, as Missouri rive
roustabouts have habit of doing. Tn
night became very dark at last-so darl
that even had one been looking in tina
, direction he would not have noticed
man who crept out of the willow bog
and, stepping cautiously into an Indial
''buli-boat" at the wharf. drifted OF
with the swift current under cover o
friendly shadows.
In few moments, at best, the man
absence from the fort would be dis
= covered. 1t was one chance in a hun
dred, but lack Brayton took hi