The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-04-20
CHAPTER xxII.-CoNrmuED

trace of them has been found" said
Loring. "Day after tomorrow that
safe-opener should reach us. If you
have influence with Col. Stevens you
should urge him TO have a guard at
the quartermaster's depot, even il he
had to strip the fort. The general
cannot be reached by wire"
"Why?" asked Folsom, looking up
in alarm. "You don't suppose he'd
come back to rob his own Officer
''He is not the man TO take a risk,
but there are those with him not so
careful and the hand that sent Bird
sails gang in chase of Dean could
send them here, with the safe-key.
Those few clerks and employees would
be no match for them"
"By heaven, believe you're right"
cried Folsom. (Which way are you
going now?"
Back to the hotel by way of the
depot" was the answer. "Will you
go?'
"One moment. do not travel about
Just now without u gum" said Folsom,
stepping within doors, and even the
low sound of their vtices died away and
all was still as a desert. The old trader
did not return at once. Something de-
tanned him--Miss Folsom, probably,
reasoned the engineer, as he stood
there leaning on the gate. Aloft n
blind creaked audibly, and gazing up
ward, Loring saw dark, shadowy
shutter at the third-story window
10 Ia. IN in1 ff
move It. Why should human hands be
so stcalthy? Then dim hight shone
through the Stats, and the shade was
raised, and, while calmly watching
the performance, Loring became aware
of dim, faint, far-away click Of
horses hoofs at the gallop, coming
from the north. IF that were from the
eastward, now" thought he, "it might
bring stirring news" But the sound
died away after a moment, as though
the rider had dived into sandy soil.
just then Folsom reappeared. "Ihad
20 explain TO my daughter. She is most
reluctant 10 have me go out at night
just now"
Naturally" said Loring, calmly.
"And have you been way up 10 the
third story? / suppose Miss Folsom
has gone 20 her room"
"The girls have, both OF them-but
not TO the third story. That's Mrs.
Flctcher's room"
"Ah, yes. The woman, believe, who
accidentally scared your horse and
threw your"
"Thc very onel" he answered. I'm
blessed IL / know what should have
taken her out at that hour. She says
she needed air and n walk, but why
should she have chosen the back. gate
and the alley as way TO air and sun
shine?"
Would you mind taking me through
that way?" asked the engineer, sud
denly. TITS the short cut TO the depot,
i understand"
"Why, certainly. hadn't thought OF
that" said Folsom. "Come right on"
And so while the hoofbcats up the
road grew louder, the two turned
quickly back TO the rear of the big
frame house. That coming horse
brings news" muttered Loring TO him
self. as he turned the corner 1--WE can
head him Oft, but l want TO see this
situation first"
Looking away southeastward from
the porch OF FolsomTs homestead, one
could sec In the daytime n vista OF
shinglcd roofs and open yards, broad
valley, with a corral and Enclosures on
the southern edge of the town, but not
tree. Tonight only dim black shad-
ows told where roof and chimney
stood, and not a sign could they see
NJ the depot. Loring curiously gazed
sloft at the rear and side windows of
the third story. "They command quite
view, suppose" said he, and even as
he spoke the sash OF the southeast
room was softly raised, me blind
swung slightly outward. That woman
watching and listening againl And IL
was she whose sudden and startling mp
pearance at the rear gate had led TO
Folsom's throw 40 early the morning.
Burleigh and his mysterious friend
we're found missing from their quar-
fs1s iust after dswn--the very morning