The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-03-02
CHAPTER xIv.-coSrrsUEp.

cletcnerF lflnoubnt you were IN your
room"
. For Mr.. Folsom, please, when he is
Jat leisure" was the answer, in un-
rufiIed tones. 81 believe il 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 il was
time for them TO dress. There were
other matters on which Elinor much
wished to talk with her father and,
with more reluctance than she had
yet experienced, she left him 10 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
lin going over 70 the depot few
Minutes, paught. II wish to see Bur-
leigh. Don't,wait for me. Start when
ever you are ready. Where do the
boys meet you?"
9Here, daddy, at half-past twelve
e,1twas high noon now, and the ruddy-
faced 5old fellow grew redder as the
summer sun beat down on his gray
head, but he strobe sturdily down the
broad avenue that led 10 the heart Of
the busting new town, turned 10 the
right at the first cross street beyond
lis own big block, and ten minutes
brisk tramp brought him 10 the gate
way OF Burleigh's stockaded Enclosure.
Two or three employees Longing about
the gate were gazing curiously within.
Silently they let him pass them by,
hut a sound ofiangry voices rose upon
the heated air. just within the gate
Itood the orderly trumpeter holding
two horses by the reins, one Of them
Marshall Deans. and sudden idea
occurred TO Folsom as he glanced at
the open windows OF the Office build
ing. There was no installing the
speak er within. 1t was Burleigh.
''teave my Office instantly, sir, or I'll
prefer charges that will stick"
mot till I've said what / came TO
say, Mai. Burleigh. I've abundant evil
dence of what you've been saying at
my sexpeDsf. sYpu'psserted that lost
my nerve the day we met Red Clouds
band---yop who never dared get out
OF the ambulance until the danger was
over. It's common talk in the troop.
AtFrayna. at Reno, and here at Emory
You have maligned me just ms you did
in the cars TO my friend here, Mr..
LOOMS, and in hearing OF my sister.
l will ot-acoept. your denial nor win
leave your Office till you swallow
your words"
"Then, by God, I'll have you thrown
out, you Young whipsnapperl"
And then Folsom, with fear at his
heart, ran around TO the doorway 10
ipterpose. lie came too late. There
was q sound OF n furious scufile within,
rafting OF chairs, q crunching Of
feet on sanded floor, and as he sprang
up the steps he saw Dean easily squirm-
ing out from the grasp OF some mem
Der of the clerical force, who, at his
masters bidding, had thrown himself
upon the young officer, who then deft-
4y~tripped his heels from under him
and dropped him on the floor, while
Loomis confronted the others who
would have made some show of obeyipg
orders. And then there wnssthe whirr
OF n whip lash, crack and snap and
swish, and red welt shot across Bur
,lsigh's livid. face. as, he himself stag
gered back 70 his desk. With raging
tongue and frantic oath he leaped out
fagnin, a leyeled pistoiin his hand. but
even before he ,codld. pull trigger. or
/ Folsom intcrpose, 1oomis' stick came
down like fash on the outstretched
wrist, and the pistol clattered to the
hoorss ~ t4.tAfA,t ~
Good God. bossi what are you do
ing?" cried the trader, rs he hurled
himself, between them. "Stop this I'M
staniiy< Sit down, Burleigh. Come
out, Dean--come out at oncel And
you. too, Loomis.f ta.
7s2 ''I'm entirely rcady-~now. said thc
cavalry Merchant though his eyes
were flaming and his lips were rigid.
"fiut wheneyer Maj. Burleigh wants
90 finish THIS he can find me" and
with these words he backed slowly 10
the door. face to the PaEiiuy ard dis.
ordered zoe :.