Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-07-05

Fletcher induced him to come there, for
he had the key to the safe at the quar-
:ermaster's depot, and was going to get
the money Maj. Burleigh dared not take
when he fed. I can't understand 1t at
| all. and Pappoose doesn't like to talk about
it But Mr.. Folsom was robbed of lots of
money by Maj Burleigh. Mrs. Fletcher
| is mixed up in 1t in such queer way. I
can't explain now. She was nearly crazy
| when we came away, and Mr.. Folsom was
| so good and kind to her. left nurse with
her. and made her stay at the house, al
though she wanted to pack her things and
| go to the hotel or the jail, she didn't care
| which; but he wouldn't let her.
And right in the midst Of 1t all Ned
Lannfon, who came with news before, gal
Hoped in to tell how Halbert Folsom had
been missing two days. and Mrs. Folsom
was crazy with fear, so Mr.. Folsom left
Lieut.. Loring to attend to all the mat
| tiers about the robbery and started at once
for the ranch. and Pappoose. of course. in
| sisted on going with him, and would not
| be left behind. And here we are. Now
| can see the hills where you had the fight
and wore Elinor's picture. and 1t was right
| out there among them that Halbert was
| found. Horse thieves had run OF his best
horses-the same gang Of murderers that,
| they say. planned to trap you and that
| you outwitted. Oh! Marshall. was ever
| a girl SO proud of her brotheri-and they
| shot Hal and he was found and taken
care of by some Indian people, tame ones,
| a II,
in love with him four years ago. Wasn't
is romantic? And she's gone again. but
| Hal is safe here, although Mrs. Folsom Is
| more than half-crazy, and now old Mr..
Folsom is worried to death. and says we
| must start back for home tomorrow. It's
| seventy-f1ve miles, and we don't want to
| go at all, only I'm SO eager to see you, and
| I heard--at least Mr.. LOOMS told me you'd
be back any day. and he has your troop
| till you come, and he's so fond of you
| Oh, here's Pappoose to say this must go
| at once
The colonel sat watching the young
| fellow as he read. '.Bad news, Dean %
he queried.
Every kind of news, sir. It's all
whirl. The devil seems to have
broken loose in Wyoming. Let me
| skim through LOOMS note"
Dear Dean: In case the letter sent yes
/ terday passes you on the way. add line
| to say that If ever I said a mean thing
about Loring when we were in the corps,
take it back. I thought him a prig when
we wore the gray. He rather held us
UNDER anyhow, being class ahead, you
know, but the way he has PANIED out here
and wiped up Wyoming with the only men
| ever knew that tried to wrong you is
simply wonderful. He's nabbed three of
| the Birdsall gang and is away now after
Burleigh. The news from Folsom's ranch
| is more reaSSuring. Hal was shot by horse
was found and taken care Of by friendly
Indians, but Mrs. Hal had an awful scare
and sent for the old man, who went, of
course-both young ladies going with him.
They were miles away before we knew of
it at the fort. I tried to persuade old Peck
sniff that he ought to let me go with twenty
troopers to guard the ranch and scout the
Laramie, and he threatened to put me in
arrest. OF all the double-dashed, pfg-head-
ed old idiots he's the worst. don't want
people at the ranch to be scared, but If
the Sioux only would make some demon
stration this way that would give me
chance, I'd try to earn a little of the rep
utation that you're winning, old boy, and
no man knows better how much you de-
serve 1t than
''Your friend and classmate, HANK L.
"P. Storing took ten of the troop into
the Black Hills to beat up Burleigh, but
he said if they struck Indian sign he meant
to make for Folsom's ranch. Now, If we
could only meet there!'
The sun was well down at the
west. The days march had been long
and tedious, as only cavalry marches
are when long wagon trains have to
be escorted. Dean had not yet fully
recovered strength, but anxiety lent
him energy.
IF Mr.. Folsom says there is need
of cavalry guard at the Laramie, it
is because he breads another Indian
visit, colonel. have nine men in
good shape. Our horses are fresh, or
will be after few hours rest. May
I push on to-night?"
And to the young soldiers surprise
the elder placed a trembling hand
upon his shoulder and looked him
earnestly into the eyes. Dean, my
boy, it's my belief you cannot start
too soon. Do you know who Lii
zette is?'
1--WE heard the story" said Mar
shall, briefly. "She must have been
lowering about there for some time"
eyes, and now her people know it,
and it will rekindle their hatred. The
moment I heard of this I sent old
Bat to watch the crossing at La
Bonte. Not an hour ago this came in
by the hand of his boy and the
colonel held out scrap of paper
1t was rude Photograph. rough
sketch, map-liSe, of winding river
another and smaller one separated
from the first by chain of noun
tains. The larger one was decorated
by a fiag-pole with stars and stripes
at the top and figure with musket
and bayonet at the bottom. The
smaller one by little house, with
smoke issuing from the chimney, and
woman beside it. Above all, its
head over the mountains pointing to-
ward the house, its tail extending
north of the bigger stream, was a
comet-the "totem" or sign of the
Ogal1alla lover of Lizette. The story
was told at glance. Burning Star
was already south of the Platte and
lurking in the mountains near Fol-
SONS ranch.