The Iola register., 1900-11-30


generals staff and expect to go un.
whipped? Was that butt-headed sub.
altern TO be the means of running his
prospects right here and now when he
stood so sorely in need of aid? Was
the devil himself in league against
him, that that boys sister should turn
out to be the closest friend old Fol
SONS daughter ever had-a girl to
whom father and daughter both were
devoted, and through her were doubt
less interested in the very man he
had been plotting to pull DOWN. Bur
leigh savagely ground his teeth to-
gether.
"Go and hurry that buggy" he or
dered, as he crushed the sheet of pa
per on which he had been nervously
figuring. Then, springing up, he be-
gan pacing his Office with impatient
stride. A clerk glanced quickly up
from his desk. watched him one mo-
ment with attentive eye, and looked
significantly at his neighbor. "Old
mans getting worse ratified every
day." was the comment, us the crash
of wheels through loose gravel an
nounced the coming of the buggy,
and Burleigh FASTENED out, labored
into his seat, and took the whip and
reins. The blooded mare in the
shafts darted forward at the in
stant, but he gathered and drew her
in, the nervous creature almost set
Ting on her launches.
"Say TO Capt. Newhall when he gets
baclS-that I'll see him this evening"
called Burleigh over his shoulder
"Now, damn you. go-if you want
toll" and the lash fell on the glisten-
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 where
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 drove swiftly
through the garrison and passed
straight out by the northeast gate.
"I'll he back TO see you in a moment,
shouted the old driver smilelessly, as
he shot by the lonely colonel, going,
pepers in hand, TO his Office. and Stew
ems well 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
denunciation of his treatment. Over
the meeting of sister and brother at
the latter's little tent let us draw a
veil. He stepped forth in a 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 oil
fly" and Folsom well knew the
reason.
Jump out, daughter" he said tc
Pappoose. and Loomis assisted hel
TO alight and led her straight up tC
Dean. and for the first time in those
two years the eX-cadet captain anC
the whilom little schoolgirl with tn,
heavy braids sf hair looked into eacl
otner's eyes, and in Deans there wa,
| amaze, and at least momentary de
| light. He still wore his field rig. anC
the rent in the dark-blue flannel shir
was still apparent. He was claspinl
Miss Folsom's hand and looking
straight into the big dark eyes tina
were so unusually soft and humid
when Jessie's voice was heard as sh,
came springing forth from the tent:
Look, Nell, look! Your picture!
she cried, as with the bullet-markcC
carte de yisite in her hand she flitte,
straight to her friend.
'Why, where did this come from :?
] uShtu NlSS IOlSOln III SuIDIlHt, ullN
what's happened to it?-all creased
and black there!" Then both the girl
and Loomis looked to him for eXplana
tion, while Folsom drove away, ant
even through the bronze and tan th
boy was blushing.
"I-borrowed it for a minute--a
the ranch just as Jake came in wound
ed, and there was no time to return
it. you know. We had to gallop righ
out"
"Then-you had it with you in tn
Indian fight?" cried Jess, in thrilling
excitement. Really? Oh, Nell! How
l wish it were mine. But how'd i
get so blacliened there-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 on,
quick glance at Elinor, standing ther,
in silence, he saw the color creepin.
! nm like gnuSat olpur a II nVa,, ba,. =,