Waterbury Democrat., 1900-11-10
CHAPTER XXI.

not word came back from Dean. I he furious storm that swept the hills and swelled the rivers was the talk of every army post within two hundred miles, while iu the gambling hclls and saloons of Laramie, Cheyenne and Gate City zsen spoke of it in low tones and with bated breath. If ever the bolts of Heaven were launched to defeat a foul crime it was right there at Canyon Springs. for the story was all over Wyoming by this time how the worst gang of cutthroats that ever invested the wide west had g2lIoped in strong force Q that wild, seQuestcrcd nook to murder Dean and his whole party of the hated ''blue bellies" if need be, but al all hazards to get the precious package in his charge. Fifty thousand dollars in government greenbacks it contained If Hank EirdEall, their chos- en leader. could be believed, and hith- erto he h sd never led them astray. He swors that he had the straight tip," and that every man who took an hon. est part in the fight, that was sure to ensue, should have his square one thousand dollars. Thirty to ten, sur rounding the soldiers along the bluffs on every side, they counted on easy victory. But the warning thunder had been enough for the young troop leader, and prompted him to break camp and get out of the gorge. They were starting when BirdEalls scouts peered over the bank and the outlaw ordered instant pursuit, just in time to meet the fury of the flood and to see T. foI1 of11 ,fry in & sewer.
 But who betrayed the secret? What officer or government employe re- vealed the fact that Dean was going with so much treasure ?-and what could have been his object? BirdsaIl had taken to the mountains and was beyond pursuit. shorty" one of his men, rescued from drowning by the mail carrier and escort coming down from Frayne, confessed the plot, and the general was now at Emory investi- gating. Maj. Burleigh had taken to his bed. Capt. Newhall was reported gone to Denver. Old John Folsom lay with bandaged head and blinded eyes in a darkened room, asSiduously nursed by Pappoose and Jessie, who in turn were devotedly attended by Mrs. Fletcher. Possessed of some strange nervous excitement, this energetic woman was tirelcss in her effort to be of use. Minus ten of their very best, "C" troop still camped at Emory, the general holding it for public escort duty, and, to his huge delight, young Loomis was assigned to command it until Dean should return. There came a day when the news arrived from Frayne that the Laramie column had crossed the Platte and marched on for the Big Horn, and then John Folsom began to mend and was allowed to sit, up, and told the doctor he had need to see Maj. Burleigh without delay, but Burleigh could not leave his bed, said the physician in attendance-a very different practitioner from Folsom'5 and the old man began to fret and fume, and asked for writing materials. He wrote Burleigh a note, and the doc tor forbade his patients reading any thing. Maj. Burleigh, said he, was a very sick man, and in wretchedly nervous condition. Serious conse- quences were feared unless utter quiet could be assured.
 Then Folsom was pronounced well enough to be taken out fora drive, and he and Pappoose had the back seat to- gether, while Jessie, with Harry Loom is to drive, sat in front, and Jess was shy and happy, for Loomis had plainly lost his heart to his comrades pretty sister. Marshall had now been gone nine days and could soon be expected home, said everybody, for with big force going up there the Indians would scatter and ''the boys" would have no trouble coming back. And so this love ly summer afternoon everyone seemed bright and joyous at the fort, listening to the band and wondering, some of the party, at least, how much longer it would be before they could hope to hear from the absent, when there arose sudden sounds of suppressed commo- tion in the camp of "C'' troop. A cou- rier was coming like mad on the road from Frayne-a courier whose panting horse refined up minute, with heaving aanks- in the midst of the throqgipg