The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-01-04

Riding night and day in wide detour
Michel had made his way to the late
ly beleaguered spot, and what he
brought was joyous news, indeed
Within the coming week the post
would have no more to fear. Within a
day or two the contractors, then,
would have their money, and that
would tap the suffers stores and joy
would reign supreme. Enviously the
soldiers eyed the artisans. Not for
weeks could their paymaster be looked
for, while the funds for the civilians
might reach them on the morrow
provided Red Cloud did not interfere
He couldn't and wouldn't, said the
commando, because he and his braves
were all off to the southeast, hunting
buffalo. He could and might, said
Michel that night at ten o'clock, aft
er taps had sent the garrison to bed
for by the time he left Frayne there
were other riders up from Gate City,
and all the garrison had learned that
Lieut. Dean was taking something like
fifty thousand dollars in greenbacks
up to the Gap, with only ten men TO
guard It, and Maj. Burleigh was wild
with anxiety lest he shouldn't get
through, and had been nearly crazy
since he heard of Deans narrow es-
cape at Canyon Springs The officer
of the day who heard this story told
It, with the teller, to the post com
mander, and that veteran sat up
late and cross-questioned long. Mi
chel's English might be broken, but
not his statement. The last arrival
Mt Frayne before he left was one Of
Mai. Burleigh's own men from Gate
City. He said the general and his
staff were expected at Emory the
next day, investigating matters, for
old Stevens had got stampeded be
cause his sergeant major was assault
ed and old Folsom knocked out and a
drunken captain by the name of New
hall had been making trouble and it
had all told on Maj. Burleigh, who had
taken to his bed with nervous prostra-
ton.
So, while the garrison went to rest
happy, the commanding officer walked
long, and finally slept soundly and
might have slept late, but that just at
dawn, full half an hour before the time
for revcille, there came q sharp knock
Ing at the de- "a p. log hut, and the
imperative voice OF the. officer Of the
day:
Colonel colonel, I say! There's
sharp firing out here in the hills TO
the SOUTH"
The peaks 10 the west were just ting
ing with purple and red, rehcctcdfrom
the eastward sky, and faint light was
beginning TO steal down into the deep
valley in which the environment lay
sleeping, when the veteran commander
came hurrying out, half dressed, and
hied him, with his attendant officer, to
the southern angle of the stockade.
There on the narrow ledge or platform
built under the sharp tops OF the up
right logs, were grouped the silent,
grave-faced guard, dozen men, intent
ly listening. Thither presently came
running others of the officers or men,
suddenly awakened by sense of some
thing unusual going on. Far away
among the wooded heights to the
south, echoing from the rocky pail
sades to the west, could be heard the
pop, pop of distant musketry, pune
tuated sometimes with louder bang as
N :arge caliber rifles closer at hand,
Little time was there in which to
hazard opinion as to the cause, One or
two men, faint-henrted at the thought
Of the peril of Indian battle and hope
full of influencing the judgment of their
Superiors, began the murmur of big
hunt, buffalo drive" etc, CHANGING
gurtively AT the colonel the while as
though to observe the effect, But an
imperative silence, you idiots!" from
The officer of the day put sudden end
20 their coujectures. Only moment
lid the commander listen. Then, quick
and startling. came the order: Sound
TO arms!" and within the minute the
stirring peal of the cavalry trumpet
was answered by the hoarse thunder
of the snare drum, beating the long
'oll. Out from their dog tents" and
unfinished log hnts came the be.
wildered men. Often as the alarm had
sounded on the frontier there was a
thrill and ring about it this time that
told OF action close at hand. Out from