Waterbury Democrat., 1900-10-31

mans getting worse ratt1eu every day,". was the comment, as the crash of wheels through loose gravel an nounced the coming of the buggy, and Burleigh hastened out, labored into his seat, and took the whip and reins. The blooded mare in the shafts darted forward at the i'm stant, but he gathered and drew her in, the nervous creature almost set ting on her launches.
 Say to Capt. Newhall when he gets back-that I'll see him this evening"" called Burleigh over his shoulder. "Now, damn you, golf you want to!" and the lash fell on the gisten- ing, quivering flank, and with her head pointed for the hard, open prai- rie, the pretty creature sped like mad over the smooth roadway and whirled the light buggy out past the scattered wooden tenements of the exterior limits of the frontier town-the tall white staff, tipped by its patch of color Tapping in the mountain breeze, and the dingy wooden buildings on the distant bluff whirling into view as he spun around the corner whcrc the village lost itself in the prairie; and there, long reaches ahead of him, just winding up the ascent to the post was a stylish team and trap. John Folsom and the girls had taken an early start and got ahead of him. Old Stevens was up and about as Folsom's carriage drovs swiftly through the garrison and passed straight out by the northeast gate. "I'll be back to see you in a moment shouted the old driver s1nilelessly, as i he shot by the lonely colonel, going, pepers in hand, to his office, and Stew ems we'll knew he was in for trouble. Already the story was blazing about the post that nothing but the timely arrival of Dean and his men had saved FolSom's ranch, and Folsom's people. Already the men, wondering and indignant at their young leaders arrest, were shouting over the suffers bar their peans in his praise, and their denuEciation of his treatment. Over the meeting of sister and brother at the latter's little tent let us draw veil. He stepped forth in moment and bade his other visitors welcome, shook hands eagerly with Loomis and urged their coming in, but he never passed from under the awning or 'hy," and Folsom well knew the reason.
 Jump out, daughter" he said to Pappoose, and Loomis assisted her to alight and led her straight up to Dean, and for the first time in those two years the ex-cadet captain and the whilom little schoolgirl with the heavy braids of hair looked into each others eyes, and in Dean'S there was amaze, and at least momentary de- light. He still wore his field rig, and | the rent in the dark-blue flannel shirt was still apparent. He was clasping Miss Folsom's hand and looking straight into the big dark eyes that were so unusually soft and humid, . when Jessie's voice was heard as she came springing forth from the tent:
 Look, Nell, look! Your picture!" she cried. as with the bullet-marked carte de visite in her hand she fitted 1 straight to her friend.
 "Why, where did this come from?" asked Miss Folsom in surprise, "and what's happened to it?-all creased and black there!" Then both the girls and Loomis looked to him for explana ton, while Folsom drove away, and l tNSu tuC DIOuZS uilI tuu lIS boy was blushing.
 ''I-borrowed it for a minute-at the ranch just as Jake came in wound ed, and there was no time to return it, you know. We had to gallop right out"
 ''Then--you Had it with you in the Indian fi~ht?" cried Jess. in thrilling excitement. "KeaIly? Oh, Nell! How l wish it were mine. But how'd it get so blackened tberc-and crushed |? You haven't told us.''
 Tell you some other time, Jess. Don't crowd a fellow" he laughed. But when his eyes stole their one quick glance at Elinor, standing there in silence, he saw the color creeping up like sunset glow all over her beau
 tiful face as shs turned quickly away
 Lannion had told them of the close shave the lieutenant had had and the
 havoc played by that bullet in the l breast pocket of his hunting shirt.