Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-08-14
on earth it was he had f4cn the lat

AZ SO engrOSSed was ne IN this that IL
was only. when sa;ssecond time lad.
dressed. that he whirled. a9,out and
found himself confronting d tall and
slender young officer, with frank,
handsome blue eyes and fine, clear.
cut face, a man perhaps Ave years his
senior. in age and one grade in rank
for his oyercoat bore the single. loon
and braid of first lieutenant. ~
He was in riding-boots and spurs,
as Ray noted at first glance, and there
behind him stood an orderly holding
the horses Of both.
Pardon me. I am Lieut.. Stuyves-
ant, of Gen. Vinton's staff. This ID
the officer of the guard, I believe,
and am sent to make some inquiry
OF prisoners man named Murray
I'VE, have such man." said Ray,
eying the newcomer with soldierly
appreciation of his general appear
ahce and not without envy of his
inches. ''But he's just been locked in
cell, and it will take an order from
the officer of the day to fetch him
out-unless you could see him in
there with other prisoners within
earshot."
"Not very well," answered Stuy-
vesant, looking curiously into the
dark eyes of the youngster. per
haps I'd better see the officer of the
day at once"
you'll find him at the club. He's
just gone ,in,'' said Ray, mindful of
the fact that this was the captain
time for cocktail, and with court
eous salute the aide-de-camp has
tened away.
In five minutes he was back with q
penciled scrawl from kress to the ef-
feet that Lieut.. Stuyvesant was to
be permitted to interview the prison
er Murray outside the guardhouse,
but sentries must be placed to pre-
vent escape.
Quickly young Ray called out the
corporal and two men, warned them
of the duty demanded, stationed them
up and down the road and opposite
the guardhouse, but just out of ear
shot, ordered the prisoner brought
forth, and then, leaving Stuyvesant
standing at the post of No. /, stepped
dozen yards away into the mist.
A minute later out came the
sergeant, marshalling Murray after
him, a sentry at his heels. Then in
the gathering darkness the tall Off
Ger and the short, thick-set soldier
~ lo lot
coiled and began glancing quickly, fur
lively about him.
, Just how it all happened Ray could
never quite tell. The light was now
feeble, the lamps We're only just be-
ginning. to burn. There was mo-
ment of low-toned talk between the
two, question twice repeated in
frmer tone, then n sudden, desperate
spring and dash for. liberty.
Like center rush-a charging bull
the prisoner came head on straight
to where young Ray was standing,
needless OF a yell to halt, and in less
time than it takes to tell it the 1.-THE
little athlete of West Points crack
football team had sprung and tackled
and downed him in his tracks.
Biting, cursing, straining, the big
bully lay in the mud, overpowered
now by the. instant dash of the guard,
while their bantam officer, rising and
disgustedly contemplating the smear
of wet soil all over his new overcoat,
was presently aware of Stuyvesant,
bending forward, extending a helping
hand and exclaiming:
"By Jove, but that was a neat
tackle! You must have been a Joy
to your team. What was it?''
West Point-last years.
"And may ask-the. name?"
my names Ray" said Sandy, with
beaming smile, showing a row of
even, white teeth under the budding,
dark mustache, and Stuyvesant felt
the warm blood surging> to- his fore
head, just as it had before that day
in the generals tent, ,u.
II think should have known that"
he presently stammered. 1T was
Miss Ray who so skillfully treated
those poor fellows burned out on our
train. I suppose you heard of it?''
''Well, yes,'' answered the young
ster, again curiously studying the
face of his tall visitor. '"Then it was
you she-I heard about. Wish I
weren't on duty. IA be glad to have
you over at my: quarters or the club
II wish So, too, and yet I'm lucky
in finding you here, .since''--and here
stuyyesant turned. and looked re-
sentfully towards the bedraggled fig
ure of Murray, now being supported
back to the cells since that fellow
proved so ,churlish and r migrate full.
He's all wrath at being put behind
the bars and WON'T ont answer Y *s any ques-
tions.''. H.. r.. ~ =.
"What else could he expect?" asked
Ray, bluntly. "He's deserter.''
"a deserter!" exclaimed Stuyve-
SAINT, in surprise. "Who says sop
"Capt. Kress, officer of the day, or
at least cit who came with him to
identify him. They. say he skipped
from the Seventh cavalry
At this piece of information Mr..
Stuyvesant whirled about again in
added establishment. why" said he,
"this upsets-one theory complete
ly. I declare, if that's true we're all
at sea-. I beg pardon" he continued,
but now with marked hesitancy-
"you know-you've heard, I suppose,
about-Foster?'
''What Foster?'
why, the recruit, you know, the
one we lost at Port Costa,' and the
blue eyes were .curiously and intently
studying the face of the younger SOL
der, dimly visible now that the guard
house lamps were beginning to glow.
.*."I knew there was recruit miss
ing. and-seems to me that was the