Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-07-10
his mind, added tho other.

then Captain Cline rode up. followed
by the girls horse. She called out
good morning and announced that she
was ready, and when the captain raj.
He'd her on being bit nervous she
forced laugh and charged him with
being four long minutes behind the
hour agreed. AS she was lifted into
the saddle she caught one more glance
OF the corporal, and the watchful Pri
vate Harkins again whispered to his
chum:
Jim, we've got mystery here or
I'm an old woman. The girl is flushing
ag'in Who knows but what we may
have n marriage between our Gentle
man Corporal and the colonel's daugh-
terr'
Remember the gulfw growled
O'Brien.
I'D find way to ty over 1t IL was
in love-" ~
The two riders went gnlloping away.
followed at distance Of 100 yards by
the escort. 1t was beautiful morning
in summer, with the blue haze lying
thick over the distant mountains and
blood of both horse and man tingle.
Now and then the pace was slackened
down u bit to breathe the horses, but
no halt was made until the Devils
basin was reached. Close UP against
the base of Fire mountain was a natu.
raj dip, and in this dip, or basin, were
half dozea spoutlng hot water
springs There was also a circular
lake which steamed and bubhled. and
now and then from the crevces of the
rocks at the west end of the basin
steam was forced out, with the notes
Of fog horn. The escort halted 40
yards from the riders, and the men sat
about on the rocks and ate the break
fast they had brought with them and
smoked thei, pipes and gossiped. Mean
while Corporal Haynes climbed to the
top of a great bowlder and surveyed
the country about with his keen eyes.
1t was threc-quarters of an hour be-
fore he suddenly started and looked
flxedly into the north beyond the basin
aud after three or four minutes came
sliding down the rock and said to the
lounging troopers:
"Men, see to your arms and lie close.
I'm going up to report to the captain"
Captain Cline and the colonel's
daughter were breakfasting on n fat
topped rock overlooking the basin,
while their horses were fastened to
tree near by. They saw Corporal
Haynes approaching, and the captain
likewise noticed that the girl flushed
and became nervous. He was a single
man, and, though not exactly in love
with her. spark of jealousy blazed up
in his heart. The corporal's past was
a sealed book to his troop commander
as well as his comrades. He had been
made corporal because of his atten-
tion to duty, his soldierly carriage and
| the moral influence an educated man
| always exerts, and the captain had
been rather proud of his Gentleman
Corporal" In fash it came to him
| that this soldier and the colonel's
| daughter might have been something
to each other in the past, and the
| thought angered him.
"Dld call yon?" he harshly asked
as the corporal came to a halt and sa.
luted.
"No. sir" was the reply, "but I
thought 1t best to tell you that ] have
made out Indians beyond the basin to
the north"
"It's all nonsense. Not an Indian
has been seen hcreahouts for months"
But there are Indians skulklng
about, SIR" persisted the corporal. II
made sure Of 1t before came to you"
'Go back to your men" was the sui.
len reply
The corporal had looked straight at
presence Of the girl. She was flushing
and paling alternately, and as he stood
there twirling the cap he had doffed
In silent recognition she protested:
But, captain, f there are Indians
there Is danger If this-this soldier
saw Indians
Didn't you hear mc?" shouted the
captain at the lingering corporal.
The corporal saluted, turned on his
heel and returned to his men. The
gulf between officer and man did not
permit him to explain in the face OF
that blunt command, but when he had
reached the troopers he quietly said:
"Mcn, I have been up to the captain
to report that there Is band of al
least so Indians skulking down this
way from Red Bird pass, They have
seen us and are after us. The captain
doesn't believe me, and you will get
ready for fight. They'll be here
within half an hour Softly now. JUS
overhaul your carbines and cartridges
and make no display to frighten tht
girl. The reds have got to flank tho
basin on this side, and they will hay,
to strike us first We've got good GOV
ei, and we can stand 'em off for III,
day."
But when night comes" asked ont
OF the men, though without tremol
In his tones.
Get quietly ready" was the reply.
Meanwhile there was an argument
between the captain and the colonel's
daughter, He sought to assure hcl
that morning. had been seen ana that
there was not the slightest danger; but
10 his annoyance, she persisted In be
lieving that there must be gooC
grounds for the corporals report. Thi,
annoyance made MIN delay matters
and nearly half an hour had passed
and II was very much against til,
grain when he shouted for the soldier
to approach and sneeringly asked:
"Well, corporal, isn't II about tim,
your Indians showed up?"