Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-25

'"TelI me wnat has happened, daddy"
was her quiet greeting, as she linked
her hands over his burly arm, and look
ing into her uplifted, thoughtful eyes,
SO full of intelligence and deep atfec-
ton, he bent and kissed her cheek.
by Jove, daughter, I believe it's the
best thing I can do. Come into the
library"
That night the moon beamed bright
~ down on the wide-spreading valley,
ginting on the peaks. still snow-tipped,
far in the southern sky, and softening
the rugged faces of the nearer range,
black with their clustering beard of
spruce and pine. The band played
sweetly on the broad parade until after
the tattoo drums had echoed over the
plains and the garrison bellies strolled
aimlessly in the elfin light-all nature
SO layishly inviting, yet SO little val
ued now that nearly every man was
gone. Out in the camp of c troop men
were fitting swiftly to and, fro, horses
were starting and stamping at the
picket ropes, eager eyes and tilted ears
inquiring the cause of all this stir and
hustle among the tents. In front of
the canvas home of the young COM
mander grave-faced group had gath
cred, two gentle girls among them, one
with tear-dimmed eyes. Old Folsom
stood apart in murmured conference
with Griggs, the sutler. The regi-.
mental quartermaster was deep in con-
sultation with Dean, the two officers
pacing slowly up and down. One or
two young people from the garrison
had spent a few minutes earlier in the
evening striving to be interesting to
the girls; but Jessie's fearful eyes and
Miss Folsom's grave manner proved
hint sufficient to induce them to with
draw, each bidding Dean good night,
safe journey and speedy return, and
the hand-clasps were kind and cordial.
The colonel himself had paid brief
visit to camp, his adjutant in attend-
ance, and had given Mr.. Dean ten min
utes of talk concerning a country Dean
knew all about, but that "Pecksnitf"
had never seen. "It is responsibility
/ own i should have expected to see
placed on older shoulders" said he,
but prudence and-and, let me sug-
gest, cool-headedness-will probably
to start"
Ready now, sir, SO far as that's con-
cerned; but we start at three"
"Oh, ah--yes, of course-well-ah-
it leaves me practically with no COM
mand. but I'll hope to have you back,
Mr.. Dean. Good-by." Then as he
passed Folsom the colonel whispered:
"That's $4,000 as good as thrown
away"
''Ten thousand dollars!" answered
the trader in reply. "What do you
mean?"
"That's what those boys are to run
the gantlet with. My-ah-protests
are entirely unayailing."
For a moment Folsom stood there
dumb. "Do you mean" he finally cried,
"that--that it's beyond Frayne that
they're going-that it's money they're
to take?"
Hush! Certainly, but it mustn't be
known. Every road agent in Wyoming
would be out, and every Indian from
the Platte to Hudson bay would be on
the watch. He's to take ten men and
slip through. The money comes out
from Burleigh tonight"
The colonel turned away, and.
reckoning to his staff officer to join
him, stumped onward to the garrison.
The prolonged wall of the bugle, aid
ed by the rising night wind, sent the
solemn strains of taps sailing down
the dimly-lighted valley, and with
staring eyes old Folsom stood gazing
after the departing officers, then
whirled about toward the tents. There
in front of Dean stood Pappoose, her
hands clasped tightly over the hilt of
the saber the striker" had leaned
against the lid of the mess chest but
a moment before, her lovely face smil-
ing up into the owners.
you'll come back by way of Halls,
won't you?" she was blithely saying.
"Perhaps l can coax father to take
us there to meet you"
''By heaven, Burleigh," muttered
the old trader to himself, "are you the
deepest man 1 ever met, or only the
most Internal scoundrel?"
(To be Continued)
Agitated.