Willmar tribune., 1900-12-19

pull at FO1sOm1S HaSk, turned back and
showed them the body Of the fallen
brave. One look was enough for Hal
and the comrade with him. Don't
let my wife know ho it was,' he had
muttered to his friend. It would only
make her more nervous There lay
Chaska, Lizette's eldest brother, and
we'll Hal Folsom knew that death would
never go unavenged. z.z.ss@
It ever q time comes when [ can do
yon a good turn, Lieutenant" ," said he.
that afternoon. as, worn-out with long
hours of pursuit and scout, the troop
was encountered slowly marching back
to the Laramie, '.I'll do it if it costs
me the whole ranch.''' But Dean smiled
and said they wouldn't have missed
that chance even for. the ranch. What
a blessed piece Of luck it was that the
commanding officer at Frayne had bid.
den him take that route. instead of the
direct road to Gate City! He had sent
men riding in to both posts on the
Platte, with penciled lines telling of
the Indian raid and it's results. Once,
well covered by darkness the little.
band had easily escaped their pursuers,
and were now safe across the river and
we'll ahead of all possibility of success
full pursuit. But if anything were
needed to prove the real temper of the
Sioux the authorities had it. Now was
the time to grapple that Ogallalla tribe
and bring it to terms before it could
be reinforced by half the young men
in the villages of the northern plains.
The Platte, Of course, would be pa
trolled by strong force of cavalry for
some weeks to come, and no new foray
need be dreaded yet awhile. Red
Clouds people would "lay low" and
watch the effect of this exploit before
attempting another. If the White;
Father '.got mad" and ordered "heap
soldiers" there to punish them, then
they must; disayow all participation in
the affair, even though one of their
best young braves was prominent in
the outrage, and had paid for the lux
ury with his life-even though Burning
Star was trying to hide the fresh scar
of rifle bullet along his upper arm.
Together Dean and Folsom rode back
to the ranch, and another night was
spent there before the troop was sufh-
ciently rested to push on to Emory.
"Remember this, lieutenant" said
Folsom again, as he pressed his hand at
parting, "there's nothing too good for
you and C. troop at my home. If ever
you need friend you'll find one here"
And the time was coming when Mar
shall Dean would need allthat he could
muster.
Two days later-stiM a march away
from Emory-a courier overlook him
with a letter from his late post COM
mander: "Your vigorous pursuit and
prompt, soldierly action have added to
the fine record already made and merit
hearty commendation.' The cordial
words brought sunshine to his heart.
How proud Jess would be, and mother!
He had not had word from either for
over a week: The latter, though far
from strong, was content at home in
the loving care Of his sister, and in the
hope that he would soon obtain the
leave of absence so long anticipated,
and, after Jess's brief visit to Pap
poose's new home, would come to
gladden. the eyes of kith and kin, but
mothers most of all, bringing Jessie
with him. Little hope Of leave Of alb
sence was there now, and less was he
the man to ask it with such troubles
looming up all along the line of from
tier posts to the north. But at least
there would be the joy of seeing Jess in
few days and showing her his troop
her and Pappoose. How wonderfully
that little schoolgirl must have grown
and developed! How beautiful girl
she must now be If that photograph
was no flatterer! BY the way, where
was that photo? What had he done
with it? For the first time in four
days he remembered his picking it up
when Mrs. Hal Folsom collapsed at
sight Of Jake's swooning. Down in the
depths of the side pocket of his heavy
blue flannel hunting shirt he found It,
crumpled a bit, and all it's lower left
hand corner bent and blackened and
crushed. Chaska's last shot that tore
it's way so close below the young sol
dier's bounding heart, just nipping and
soaring the skin, had left it's worst
mark on that dainty carte de visite.
In that same pocket, too, was another
packets letter which had been picked
up on the floor of the hut at Reno after
Burleigh left-one for which the major
had searched in vain, for it was under
meath lot of newspapers. ''You take
that after him." said the cantonment
commander, as Dean followed with the
troop next day, and little dreamed
what it contained. = s.
That very day, in the heavy, old
fashioned sleeping cars of the Union
Pacific, two young girls were seated in
their section on the northward side.
One, dark-eyed, radiant beauty, gazed
out over the desolate slopes and far
reaching stretches of prairie and dis
tant lines Of bald bluff, with. delight in
her dancing eyes. 4 The other; q win
some maid Of 10, looked on with mild
wonderment, not unmixed with disap-
pointment she would gladly have hid
den. TO Elinor the scenes Of her child
hood were dear and welcome; to Jessie
there was too much that was somber,
too little that was inviting. But pres
emily, as the long train rolled slowly
to the platform Of rude wooden sta
tion building, there came sight at
which the eyes Of both girls danced in
eager interest row OF A. z tents on
the open prairie, long line Of horses
tethered to the picket ropes, groups
OF, stalWart. sunburned men in rough
blue garb, 9 silken guidon Tapping BY
the tents Of the officers. IL was one nf