The Irish standard., 1901-02-02
CHAPTER N1V.-CoNT1NuEp.


Fletcher 1 thought you were in your
ROOM"
"For Mr.. Folsom, please, when he 10
at leisure" was the answer, in I'M
rutfled tones. II believe it easier to
take active part in the preparations
than to lie there thinking"
At one the girls were to lunch at
the fort, as has been said, and it was
time for them to dress. There were
wished to talk with her father and,
with more reluctance than she had
yet experienced, she left him to hear
what Mrs. Fletcher might have to say.
The conference was brief enough,
whatever its nature, for presently his
voice was heard at the foot of the
stairs.
I'm going over to the depot few
minutes, Daught. I wish to see Bur-
leigh. Don't wait for me. Start when
ever you are ready. Where do the
boys meet you?'
Here, daddy, at half-past twelve"
1t was high noon now, and the ruddy-
faced old fellow grew redder as the
summer sun beat down on his gray
head, but he STROBE sturdily down the
broad avenue that led to the heart of
the busting new town, turned to the
right at the first cross street beyond
his own big block, and ten minutes
brisk tramp brought him to the gate
way of Burleigh's stockaded inclosure.
Two or three employees lounging about
the gate were gazing curiously within.
Silently they let him pass them by,
but sound of angry voices rose upon
the heated air. Just within the gate
stood the orderly trumpeter holding
two horses by the rens, one of them
Marshall Deans, and n sudden idea
occurred to Folsom as he glanced at
the open windows of the office build
ing. There was no installing the
speaker within. 1t was Burleigh.
Leave my Office Instantly, sir, or I'll
prefer charges that will stick"
"Not till I've said what L came to
say, Maj. Burleigh. I've abundant evil
dence Of what you've been saying at
my expense. You asserted that lost
my nerve the day we met Red Clouds
band-you who never dared get out
of the ambulance until the danger was
over. It's common talk in the troop.
At Frayne, at Reno, and here at Emory
you have maligncd me just as you did
in the cars to my friend here, Mr..
LOOMS, and in hearing of my sister.
will not accept your denial nor will
leave your Office till you swallow
your words"
Then, by God, III have you thrown
out, you young whpsnapper!"
And then Folsom. with fear at his
heart, ran around to the doorway to
lnterpoSr. He came too late. There
was sound of II furious scuifle within,
rafting of chairs, crunching of
feet on sandcd floor. and as he sprang
up the steps he saw Dean easily squirm-
ing out from the grasp of some men,
Der Of the clerical force, who, at his
masters bidding. had thrown himself
upon the young officer, who then deft-
ly tripped his heels from under him
and dropped him Oh the floor, while
Loomis confronted the others who
would have made some show of obeying
of a whip lash, Il crack and snap and
swish, and u red welt shot across Bur-
leigh's livid face as he himself stag
gered back to his desk. With raging
tongue and frantic oath he leapcd out
again, leveled pistol in his hand, but
even before he could pull trigger, or
Folsom interpose, LOOMS stick came
down like n flash on the outstretched
wrist, and the pistol clattered to the
floor. =
Good God, boys! what are you do
ing?" cried the trader, as he hurled
himself between them. "Stop this in
stantly. Sit down, Burleigh. Come
out, Dean-come out at once! And
you, too, Looms."
I'm entirely ready-now," said the
cavalry lieutenant, though his eyes
were flaming and his lips were rigid.
But whenever Maj. Burleigh wants
to finish this lie can find me-" and
with these words he backed slowly to
the door, face TO the painting and dis
ordered foe.
"Fnish this! you young hound, I'll
finish you'll" screamed Burleigh, as he
shook his clenched fist at the retiring
pair.
go, boys, got" implored Folsom.
"l'll see you by and by. No-no-sit
9 still, Burleigh. Don't you speak. This
must stop right here"
And so the old mans counsels pre-
vailed. and the two friends, with
grave, pallid, but determined faces
came out into the sunshine, and with
much deliberation and somewhat os-
tentatious calm proceeded to where
the orderly waited with the horses.
"You will see-the ladies out to
camp, Loomis?" asked Dean. II must
gallop on ahead"
cay, ay, go on, reckon"
But on this scene there suddenly
appeared third party, in the par
tial guise of an officer and the grip
OF Bacchus. Lurching down the
office steps, with flushed face and
bloodshot eyes, came Capt. New
hall.
"Genlm'n," said he, thickly, "le'm
Introduce m'self. Haven't tn honor
y'r 'quaint's. I'm Cam New (hic)M.
Cap'n N-n(hic)oohaul (this cost pro-
digious effort and much balancine),
an'-an' you sherv'd that f'ler pepper
ficky RI. He's damn scoun'rl-
Qen'lemen-an' ole frien' mine"