Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-04-27
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
Conway, Convalescing, had been bun
died back to town, leaving blessings on
the head of his fair nurse and reader.
Corporal Shannon, kicked by mule in
the quartermaster $ corral, was installed
III his place. The daily reading was go
ing on III the hospital despite social
duties that grew moro exacting as Miss
Leroy became better known and more
appreciated. Over III the sorrel troops
quarters Hunter, despite intleXible re-
serve as to his past, had won the good
will of most of the men. Quin, a garri-
son bully, pitching upona smaller com
rade for fancied atfront, had been
himself pitched into a snOwdrift and
when he rushed at his antagonist was
fOOred fat by as neat swing on the
Jaw as ever the TIL had heard of. 1t
was a now blow, i'll fact, to the regi-
ment. and the story went from barracll
to burraCk that the sUrrels had got Il
swell boxer as we'll as rider Curiosity
AS to Hunters antecedents burst all
bounds. Major Mainwaring assertion
that he had seen the fellow somewhere
before and knew he must be deserter
was sufficient to make the recruit an OBJ
JeCt of interest in garrison society, even
il he had not won distinction as trainer
of Mrs Rays beautiful mare, whose
delicate mouth and eastern schooling
made her somewhat too sensitive for or
binary cavalry handling.
Ray, once the light rider of the regi-
ment, could have coached her beautiful
ly, but Ray was growing bulky with
years, and an old bullet wound in the
thigh received during Sioux campaign
years before was troubling him as win
ter wore on. What no one understood
was how Ray came to select Hunter,
for Ray declared be had no previous
knowledge Of him whatever, which was
true Truscott, when appealed to for
his opinion, smiled gravely, as was his
wont, and said Ray had as unerring an
eye for hOrsenan as he had for
horse. But it was in Sudstown, where
dwelt the wives and daughters of the
soldiery, that Trooper Hunters goings
and comings, doings and sayings, were
becoming matters of such absorbing in
terest He was credited with being fabu-
lousy wealthy, among other things, for
he certainly had money at his COM
mand. He also had friends and ac-
qualntauCes-sOme said wife and
family, or at least ladylove-som
where in town, for he had twice asked
for passes, and more than once was be-
lieved to have gone thither without
that formaity. Mrs Merriweather
who held her head so high above the
other women, was accused of "setting
her cap" for the stranger, and she laid
herself open to calumny by declaring to
one or two envious danes that Mr.
Hunter was a frequent caller, only Dan
didn like it and had warned him off.
Indeed, he got to coming too often for
his own good" said she, which meant
worlds Of helpless regret on her part,
Men sought the confidence of the
new soldier, but gave it up in ignorance
IS deep as that with which they came to
him. Some he laughed at, some he
snubbed, none he gratified. 1t was for
tunate he knew how to fight, for there
We're evil spirits that would have maulod
him otherwise on general principles,
protego. He at least should have fair
play, despite the hints of the first ser
geant that Conway could tell something
about him, and had even asked him.
Sergeant Fellows, where he could find
Hunter the night he came out with a
warrant and was knitted by Hcaly Ray
rode to town and demanded of Conway
what he knew or suspected, and Con-
way said, Nothing, at least nothing
that could prove, "
Ray had fouted the idea Of Hunter Il
being connected in any way with the
train robbers-indeed, it was doubtful
if the leaders would ever be caught.
They were lost to all search, deep in
the hills and their luckless accomplices
were still held awaiting the action of
some federal official yet to arrive.
Stannard and Mainwaring had had al
most an open rupture all on account OF
Hunter, who, daily exercising and train
ing Mrs. Rays pretty Stella, was, new
erthelcss, performing all other duties
with his troop. Mainwaring, noting
how successful Hunter had been with
Stella, concluded that he should like to
have him try his hand on Velvet, Mrs.
hainwaring's saddler, who had never
been known to jump and was cOnfound-
ed when the trooper most respectfully
but positively begged to be excused,
Anterior was away, summoned to meet
the department commander at Pawnee,
Stannard was in temporary command.
Mainwaring asked that the trooper
should be directed to perform duty foI
him, for VIII ~ he was perfectly willing
to pay, or else be ordered to cease doing
it for Ray, Stannard said no soldier
could be compelled to perform menial
service for any officer il he didn't wish
to, and if he did not wish to train Mrs
Mainwaring's horse he should not be
made to. Mainwaring declared training
horses could not be mental service in
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