Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-05-10
just how it all happened Raw could

Just how it all happened Ray could
never quite tell. The light was now
feeble, the lamps were only just be-
ginning to burn. There was q mo-
ment of low-toned talk between the
two, question twice repeated in
firmer tone, then sudden, desperate
spring and dash for liberty.
Like a center rush-a charging bull
the prisoner came head on straight
to where young Ray was standing,
needless of yell to halt, and in less
time than it takes to tell 1t the 1.-THE
little athlete of West Points crack
football team had sprung and tackled
and downed him in his tracks.
Biting, cursing, straining, the big
bully lay in the mud, overpowered
now by the instant dash of the guard.
while their bantam officer, rising and
disgustedly contemplating the smear
of wet soil all over his new overcoat,
was presently aware of Stuyvesant,
bending forward, extending helping
hand and exclaiming:
by Jove, but that was a neat
tackle! You must have been Joy
to your team. What was it?"
West Point-last years.
"And may l ask-the name?"
my names Ray" said Sandy, with
beaming smile, showing row of
even, white teeth under the budding,
dark mustache, and Stuyvesant felt
the warm blood surging to his fore
head, Just as it had before that day
in the generals tent.
II think should have known that"
he presently stammered. ut was
Miss Ray who so sllillfully treated
those poor fellows burned out on our
train. 1 suppose you heard of it?"
We'll, yes" answered the young
ster, again curiously studying the
face of his tall visitor. "Then it was
you she Il heard about. Wish I
weren't on duty. I'd be glad to have
you over at my quarters or the club"
II wish SO, too, and yet I'm lucky
in finding you here, since"-and here
sentfully towards the bedraggled fig
ure of Murray, now being supported
back to the cells-"since that fellow
proved so churlish and ungrateful.
He's all wrath at being put behind
the bars and won't answer any ques-
tons"
"What else could he expeot?" asked
Ray, bluntly. Hes deserter."
"a deserter!" exclaimed Stuyve-
SAINT, in surprise. "Who says SOP"
Capt. Kress, officer of the day, or
at least a cit who came with him to
identify him. They say he skipped
from the Seventh cavalry
AT this piece of information Mr..
Stuyvesant whirled about again in
added astonishment. Why" said he,
this upsets-one theory complete
ly. l declare, if that's true we're all
at sea. l beg pardon he continued,
but now with marked hesitancy-
you know-you've heard, l suppose,
about-Foster?"
What Foster?"
why, the recruit, you know, the
one we lost at Port Costa" and the
blue eyes We're curiouslN and intently
studying the face of the younger sol
der, dimly visible now that the
guard-house lamps We're beginning to
glow
Il knew there was recruit miss
ing, and-seems to me that was the
name," answered Ray.
''And-didn't you know who he was
that it was-pardon me. the man
who-lived near you-had IA ranch"
Great Scott! You don't mean
Wally Foster. He enlisted and in
the cavalry. Well, I'm" And
now Mr. Rays merriment overcame
him. Il never thought there was
that much to Wally He was lack
adaisical sort of spook when 1 saw
him. What possessed him to enlist?
He's no stuff for soldier"
Stuyvesant hesitated That letter of
old Col. Martindale's was shown him
in confidence. But Rays next impet-
nous outburst settled it.
"Oh. by Jove! 1 see tits"
And here the white teeth cleaned
in the lamplight, for Mr.. Ray was
laughing heartily.
"Yes? It's what?" smiled Stuyve-
SAINT, sympathetically
cts my sister, reckon" laughed
Ry. sShe once said she wouldn't
marry outside OF the army, and he
heard it,"
"Oh-did she?" said Stuyvesant, re-
dectively, and then he was silent.
ITO be continued