The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-02-09

Then Grafton followed the trail of the
adiutant--wcn straightwny to Buxton,
who was taking his MONDAY sicsta and
hated to be disturbed at such n time
and was crusty. ms could be expected,
when asked permission by Capt Graf
ton to ride out and meet the wounded
officer. lie few into n tantrum.
my God. siri No. sir. Am to scat
ter my medical staff to the four winds,
with Hrady and Ccrcoran past praying
for here. and then have my troop lead
ers scattering tool The Lord only
knows what's going to happen before
we get through with this day, and now
Merrinm's shot and otherwise injured,
and al on account of those beggarly
greasers. No, sirl Not another man
goes out till we've rounded up those al
ready afeld."
Capt. Grafton turned without q word
of remonstrance. with his usual grave
salute. From there he went to see that
Merriam's home was in readiness, and
then to his wife, who read tidings of
new disaster in his troubled eyes
"Oh, Georgel" she cried "Will this
dreadful day. never end? The servants
say Merria7n's shot and mortally
wounded, and that the Riflers are
wrecked at Calamas Gorge"
Merriam is shot and notenortally
wounded, dear, and the Riflers refused
TO be wrecked at Calamas Gorge Where
is Mrs. McLane? Has She heard ?"
Doing placidly in her room-too
much shaken to come downstairs to-
day. Had her coffee and her luncheon
in bed, and I gave Annette positive or
ders to let her know nothing about
Florence, and she hasn't. But present.
ly, when she dresses for the afternoon
and comes down and hears about Ran
dy? What then ?"
still sleeping, is she?" asked Graf
ton, ignoring for a moment the ques-
ton as to what might happen when
their guest awoke and heard the news.
Yet l think you said she was greatly
excited after getting that second dis
patch, and had been dreadfully nerv-
GUS"
"She certainly was for some hours,
and you know she walked and tossed
last night after she came upstairs.
Then she seemed to fall into a deep
sleep, and Annette said she could hard
ly arouse her for her coffee this morn
ing"
Grafton tugged at his mustache and
gave himself over to deep thought a
few minutes, Mrs. Grafton anxiously
watching his face.
WELL" said he, starting up, and, as
II were, shaking himself together, "let
her have her sleep out. l fancy more
news is on the road; know her lawyer
is"
.'Why! Mr.. Parry ?-her brother-in-
lnw?"
"The very same, Harriet, and his
train is sidetraclsed by strikers miles
above Cimarron. There are three dis
patches from him for Randy now"
Mrs Grafton was silent moment as
she stood by his side looking up into his
thoughtful face, us though seeking
there the solution of the questions that
puzzled her. Then, busting away with
her finger tips some flakes of cigar
ashes that chung to the brenst of the
captains undress coat, she ventured:
There are two things can't under
stand. If he's her lawyer why he should
be wiring to Randy and not to her. and
why it is the strikers don't cut the
wires if they want to cut off all bust
ness"
His broad, brown hand patted caress-
ingly the taper, white fingers toying
about the little toggle of his watch
chain, as he looked down into her anx-
ious, upturned face.
"His letters to Fan have been unan-
swered, and he probably expects her to
pay as little attention to his dispatches.
AS for the wires, they are more neces-
sary to the strikers in their combina-
tons than to anybody else, otherwise
they'd have cut them long ago-ah, here
comes our messenger now
And sure enough the orderly trum-
peter came trotting up the steps, the
usual brown envelope in his hand
Mrs. Grafton eagerly watched her
husband as he read. Il thought So"
said he, looking quietly up. Read
that" and handed her the Dispatch
ITO Capt. Grafton, Fort Sedgwick:
Thanks for your courtesy Shocked to
hear OF Merriam's mishap. Mrs. McLane
should have met me in Denver three lays
ago. Must be ready moment road opens.
EDWARD PARRY"
Three hours later, just as the ladies'
and children began to appear in their
fresh afternoon toilets and their baby
carriages and nurses were in force along
the gravel walk, and the band was as
sembling for its daily concert on the
parade, a vision of womanly loneliness.
albeit CARRIED in somber black, came
smilingly down the stairs at Grafton's
and rustling out to shower gracious
welcome on the little group of ladies
and officers on the front piazza. Some
OF the men were Whitaker and
Minturn notably being nearest the door
others summing themselves out along
the fence, while the ladies occupied
their camp-chairs or the steps as best
pleased their fancy. Grafton's was a.
ways a popular rendezvous on the cav
airy side, and to-day the assembly was
more numerous than usual, and any
body but Fanny MoLane could not have
failed to note how deep was the shadow
that oversPread every face. how somber
and mirthless the tenor of the talk. In
tent only on charming, she came trip
ping.y forth, bestowing a white hand |
on the red-stripcd Miuturn, who was
prompt to seize it, and smiles and mods |
and ChlrrupS uron everybody Tho ,,,a,, |