The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-24
PRIVATE PATRICK T|ERHAN AND HIS MONT ANA RECORD

his fallen estate and of them mis-
chievously called out: Here comes a
rookie" Herman heard the loud laugh
with which the recruits on stable guard
answered the youngsters sally. He set
his teeth and his eyes flashed angrily.
He threw saddle out on to Joe Hooker
and with more vicious dig of the spur
than the horse had ever before felt from
that hee! set out at a charge" pace
across the prairie. Oh, the meanness
and the degradation of it all. His only
thought was now of drink that would
bring forgetfulness. The promise--wbat
was the promise of private worth?
He tried to toss the thought of it to
the sharp blowing wind, but it chung
tenaciously.
Miles City came in sight. Herman
rode past the scat tered outlying shacks
and reaching the heart of the place
made straight for the bar of the "Jolly
Trooper" He called for brandy, filled
the glass, raised it, and then as If mir
rored in it's contents he read the
words: I've known the chevron and
the plain sleeve to do the trick as
WE'LL Herman put the liquor back on
the bar, paid for it and turned for the
door. Then the thought of the gibes
of the recruits came into his mind like
knife. He turned to the bar again,
touched the glass, dropped it and then
said sharply: "Give me a bottle of
brandy" He took the flask outside
and put 1t in his saddle bag. Thus far
he had kept the letter of his word.
Herman headed Joe Hooker for the
railroad station. He was conscious of
a change in the atmosphere as he gal
loped through the streets. The wind
was soughing along in way which the
experienced trooper knew presaged a
blizzard. The scurrying clouds were
already shaking out light burden of
snow He rode into shed near sta
ton, took out the bottle from the sad
die bag. drew the cork, put the mouth
to his lips and then again he found
himself mentally repeating: I've
known the chevron and the plain
sleeve to do the trick as WE'LL The
cork was pressed home almost vicious
ly, and the bottle with its untasted con-
tents went back into the bag.
At the station platform Tiernan
found the station ambulance. The
driver said that he had been sent over
TO meet Colonel Blake's sister. Mrs.
Carruthers, her son and the coloneFs
daughter, Miss Molly Blake.
They arrived" said the driver in
response to Tiernan's question, ION an
earlier train than was expected and
left for the post in an open wagon be-
fore ] arrived. Mrs. Carruthers' son,
who came with her, hired the team,
said he knew the way and would drive
the party over. They've had half an
hour the start, and if they keep to the
new road they can make the post be-
fore the blizzard is strong enough to
hurt them. It's too late now for me
to put back, however, and I'm going to
stay here"
Tiernan looked at the sky. The clouds
had banked up thickly and the snow
was coming faster, blown by a con-
stantly rising wind. 1.-THE last time
young Carruthers was at the post"
he thought. "the old road was in use
one If he takes the old trail round
the bluff they're lost" Then he
thought of Molly, whom 10 years ago in
the far-off Apache country he had
taught to ride. Molly, for whom he
had been bodygfuard all through her
childhood. Some storTn-blown snow
buntings whirled past the station plat
form and sought shelter under the lee
of a bank. Tiernan's eye followed
them When those birds of the frozen
north seek shelter he knew what was
to be expected Of the elements. With
out a word to a soul he mounted and
struck off into the very teeth of the
storm. Don't fail me this day, Joe
Hooker" he said.
The horse, as if in answer, galloped
steadily forward. The air seemed turn
ed to ice, yet the wind kept ever rising.
They came at last to the parting of the
old and the new roads. Herman slip
ped from his horse, and at a part of
the now disused TRAIL sheltered slight
ly by an embankment, he found the
fresh mark of a wheel. Carruthers
had taken the old roundabout road.
The blizzard was at its height. Tier
nan blinded his horse and bending low
over the saddle kept him to his task
with encouraging words. For an hour
they kept steadily on in the face Of
that tempest. To any others than
that plalns-tried soldier and steed the
blizzard would have meant death. He
had hoped to overtake those whom he
sought in time to take them back to
the new path. That hope was given
over long since. Suddenly Joe Hooker
stopped. There was an obstruction on
the trail. Herman slid from the sad
die, his limbs already stiffened with the
cold. and with one hand on his steed's
bride he led the way gropinsly for
ward for few steps. There he found
an open carriage empty, and with two
horses overcome in the trail. Tiernan's
heart nearly failed him. He knew he
al OF tha tl0i1t where the trail