The Winslow mail., 1899-01-21
THE DESERTER WENT
DOWN THE RIVER.
FSNHE starry emblem of Freedom float
A STORY OF MILITARY DISCIPLINE.

breeze. The small eXpanse of turf that
sloped down to the swift-rolling Mis-
scEri vGs dctted with trim buildings,
which seemingly won a martial appear
dnce from their occupants. 4 chill
was noticeable in the air, though June
reigned and countless mosquitoes
reigned also, lowering in dense swarms
over the willows near the rivers edge
mosquitoes whose spiteful sting was
altogether cut of proportion to their
size. Even the stoical Indians from
the Gros 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 cargo of military
supplies was being unloaded from a
.'down river" boat.
Hither and thither, across the parade
ground, figures in blue were moving
slowly-soldiers with the dull, apa-
thetic countenances 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
Zack Drayton with a deeper bronze on
his cheeks and a letter in his hand.
He had never been known 10 receive
one since the coming Of the company
to Fort Buford. He was a tall awk-
ward fellow, one OF those shambling
men who suggest some mistake on the
part of nature in choosing material too
hastily. He stood now just opposite
the gymnasium, the letter fiuttering in
his grasp the torn envelope crushed in
twice, and was beginning at the first
page again, mumbling it iGdistirctly:
''You and me amt been as much to
each other as hus band and wife oughter
be. If we had, you wouldn't never have
gone away. I've kept silence d long time,
waiting foryou tosay you cared, butyou
don't say that yet; and now it's my
cough and the strange feelings all over
me that make me write. The doctor
says it won't be long-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 dcep-set eyes.
81 don't know rightly what I'll do"
he began, desperately; and then he
Strengthened up, as comrade ap-
preached, laughing.
Lots of news, Zack?" he queried in
a teasing way.
Ten minutes later Zack Brayton
stood more awl2wardly 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 Zacks presence was noticed.
The private saluted awkwardly. He
began to speak in a low, hesitating
voice.
'Beggin' your pardon, colonel, but
I've got a 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"
"WcI, speak out What is it?" said
the officer, with some show of impa--
-ience.
My wife" he began, huskily, "she
is sick, and l lowed maybe you had
wife, colonel, an you'd know how
"Where is she?"
''BacI in Missoury"
"And you want furlough? It's i'm
possible, sir If we needed half the re-
quests we shouldn't have a soldier left
en- the post. Don't you see, my good
fellow?"
Eyes, SIR replied Zack, simply.
When he was clear of the quarters he
leaned against post as if needing sup
port of some sort. Yet Zack was
strong man, certainly.
In this high latitude the sun cheats
you out Of the evening hours, and sets
at nearly ten o'clock. A detachment
of troops were assisting the steamboat
roustabouts in unloading military sup
plies. At dark fambeaux were faring
from the boats guards, by the light of
which they completed their labors.
Then the bluecoats marched back to
the barracks, preceded by train of
government wagons.
A 70 Io
boiler deck, were grumbling uniiedly
about some trife, as Missouri river
r0ustab bouts have habit of doing The
night became very dark at last-so dark
that even had one been looking in that
direction he would not have noticed a
man who crept out of the willow bog.
and, stepping cautiously into an Indian
"bull-boat" at the wharf, drifted off
with the swift current under cover of
friendly shadows.
In q few moments, at best, the mans
absence from the fort would be dis
covered. 1t was one chance in a hun
dred, but Zack Brayton took his
chance, and floated down the river. The
lights of the steamer receded in the
darkness; not sound broke the still
ness save the plash, plash of the pad
die. Bending forward, straining his
eyes to catch the first glimpse of danger
in whatever form, the current bore him
on.
''Only for her-her and her children"
he muttered, under his breath, while
his eyes grew moist. He wiped them
hastily, as though anyone could per-
ceive his weakness.
On-on; The water undulated great