Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-05-18

for her. But Hunter had had to go back
TO duty with his troop had met Miss
Leroy only on the long afternoons and
evenings when he, with two or three
other bluejackets, worked at the fes.
looming and decorating under her active
supervision of the post assembly hall.
Then ho had had an interview with
Ray, his captain, that brought matters
to climax. He applied for and received
his furlough in the midst of the holt
days, left his kit with the first sergeant,
his uniform with Murray, the car:,en-
ter, and Butte in snowstorm, the
Pullman smoker, and familiar looking
tweeds, travelling cap, and ulster, at
which Jim Long stared in astonished
recognition when as he alighted from
his cab at the Junction swell civilian
stepped up and smilingly rendered him
| a cigar.
Whatever clouds had lowered over
the house of Hunter were waited away
the night of that decisive conference of
the powers, when Stannard and Trus-
colt demolished tho theories of Main
waring and the aspersions Of Brady and
company. Even Conway had limped
out of his buggy few days later to say
he, too, had been fooled (He was des-
tined to be fooled still more when a Jail
delivery turned loose his seven star per
formers on Christmas eve.) Corporal
Croxford and Trooper Elzey still main
tanned their conviction of Hunters
guilt until Mrs Merriweather weaken
ed over her husbands death and con-
trmed his whole confession. The Kid
was enjoying a temporary relapse into
virtue and was wearing halo. until
pay day. Mrs. Merriweather bailed out
by Freeman, was living in temporary
retirement in Butte, yet already begin
ming to take notice, and all Ransom
was wondering what Trooper Hunter
had gone on 30 days furlough for and
betting two to one that he never would
come back, when he suddenly came.
He had been gone but 90 of the 80
days. He reported in person in the nat
test of fatigue uniforms to Captain Ray
just before stable call one sharp, clear
January afternoon, and in brief con-
versation asked Of his captain that he
would send to Miss Leroy little pack
age he had brought with him from the
east and was manifestly disappointed
when told that she had gone.
Then they probably had not met at
all and Ransom was off the scent again.
just what might have been the result
of this disappointment had matters re-
manned in the usual midwinter plane of
monotony cannot be stated. What did
happen was a sudden call from the &c.
partment commander, "a sudden demand
for a strong escort to accompany him to
the hills, despite the biting weather, for
sacred Indian lands were being invaded,
and only his presence could prevail up
on the Sioux to trust the matter of
righting the wrong to him and Uncle
Sam. Him they trusted readily enough,
but shook their shaggy heads at men
tion of the Great Father. LET the Gray
Fox leave enough soldiers here to drive
away the would be miners and pros
pectors, and they would keep the
peace. And so it was ordered. March
and April saw the swell trooper deeply
interested now, despite longings for
news from civilization, in daily contact
with and study of these warlike people,
learning their upcouth language, buying
their furs and beadwork, winning their
good will by unexpected gifts and
straightforward dealing May came and
trouble. Congress was too busy with
other matters to heed the request of the
president that the recommendation of
the general commanding the department
Of the frontier be Immediately carried
out. The horned cattle and other sup
plies failed to arrive. The Indians said,
sold again, and scalped an attache
of the nearest agency as "A hint Of what
might happen to the agent himself if he
didn't expedite those supplies. Mid-May
Jailed to bring the goods, but it brought
the grass, and that was enough. Storm
signals had been set for fortnight, yet
the tornado burst with sudden and
shocking force Five hundred warriors
swooped suddenly into the lower valley
of the Ska. On: went every available
man from Ransom, Rossiter and Win.
throp, and there was war to the knife
ere the Gray Fox could interpose
, A dandy" battalion was that with
which Mainwaring danced away that
sweet May morning, men and horses the
; pictures of health and high condition and
eager for the field and the fray. Stan
nard, with his four troops, had marched
eastward for the lower valley, but Main
, wariug was to hasten to the hills, gather
up the little force still in stockade a.
, the nearest agency, then sweep on dowr
to join the others The telegraph lint
was repaired to Crested Butte, wher,
] the mutiny began, and there came thi
0 startling message just i'll time to NEE
= them:
? Sioux agency reports that Lore
t Lunemouth and party of friends, IL il
/ all, including guides, passed up the SIX;
en- route to the northern hills two day
before the outbreak. Use all means il
, your power to find and protect him
, Acknowledge receipt and report action.
r 1t was forwarded to Mainwaring b,
, Atherton. who said he was coming post
haste to take command in person in tina
part Of the field; meantime to lose not
a moment, but to do his best. AS usual
the call went out for Ray.
9 Two days later, away up among tn
v pine crested heights, hot on the trail Q
= a big war party of Indians the sorre
a troop was pushing. Mainwaring, wit
r the three remaining companies, wa
). y Nil 4 N W. b