The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-05-09

~
Of all the--c-ab-encomiums passed |
upon his conduct in this recent raid on
the Laramie"
The colonel whirled around upon him
rs he had on Folsom. Mai. Burlcigh."
he began, ~ call you TO witness that
I am the most abused man In the army.
Here I am. sir, 35 years in service. n
full colonel, with n war record with
the regulars that should command re-
spect, absolutely ignored by these
generals at Omaha and else
Of my command and
kept in ignorance of the movements Of
my subordinates. Why, sir" he con-
tinued. lashing himself on. as he rose
from his chair, 'bere's my junior at
Frayne giving orders to my troop, sir;
presumes to send them scouting the
Laramie bottoms, when every man is
needed here, and then, when, as IL hap
pens, my officer and his men get into
a fight and drive the Indians, to whom
does he report, sir? Not to me, sir
not to his legitimate commander, but he
sends couriers to Laramie and to
Frayne, and ignores me entirely"
A light dawned on Burleigh in an
instant. Well he knew that Deans rea-
sons for sending couriers to those
guard posts Of the Platte were to warn
them that n war party had crossed
into their territory, and was now in
fight. There was nothing to be gained
by sending n man galloping back to
the line of the railway rs miles to the
rcar-no earthly reason for his doing
SO. But the fact that he had sent run
ners to officers junior in rank to
Stevens, and had not sent one to him,
fairly "stuck in the CROP OF the cap
tious old commander, and he had de-
termined to give the youngstcr les
son. But now the mail was in, and
dispatches from various quarters, and
n telegram from Omaha directing him
to convey to Lieut.. Dean the thanks
and congratulations of the general
commanding the department, who had
just received full particulars by wire
from Cheyenne, and Stevens was glad
enough to drop the game, and Burleigh
| equally glad Of this chance to impress
Folsom with the sense of his influence
rs we'll as of his justice.
~ admit all you say, colonel. have
long-ah-considered you most unfair.
| ly treated, but really-ah-in this case
Of Lieut.. Deans, IL is, as said before
inexperience and-ah-thc result Of
ah-er-not unnatural loss of-er-
balance at most exciting time. A
word of-ah-admonition. IL you will
pardon my suggestion, is all he prob
ably needs, for he has really behaved
very well-ah-surprisingly well In
conducting this-ah-pursuit."
And SO was IL settled that later tn,
colonel was to see Mr.. Dean and ad
monish accordingly, but that mean
time the adjutant should go and whis
per in his ear that his arrest was end
ed, and all would be explained later
thereby releasing him before the girl,
discovered the fact that he was con
fined to his tent.
But the adjutant came too late. Tn,
fearful eyes of one, the flushed anr
anxious faces of both damsels, and tn,
set look in the eyes Of both the young
officers at Deans tent, rs the adjutan
approached, told him the cat was ou
of the bag. "The explanation canno
be made too promptly for me. sir" sale
Dean, us he received the colonel's mes
sage and permitted the adjutant to de
part without presenting him to the t~
prettiest girls he had seen in year
Now, Loomis, just as quick as pos
sible want you to go with me to tha
man Burleigh. I'll cram his wordi
down his throat"
Hush, Dean, of course, I'll stand b,
you! But both girls are looking. Wal
until tomorrow"
How many a project for tho morrow
Is dwarfed or drowned by events un
looked for-unsuspected at the time
Not ten minutes later Folsom ant
Burleigh came strolling together Il
the little tent. Ashamed OF his appar
emily unjust accusation, Folsom hat
begged the quartermaster's pardon
and insisted on his coming with hin
and seeing the young people before
driving back to town. The horses
| were DtluS HTooIV' Ut th' Pith'' ""'
The western sun was low. Long shad
ows were thrown out over the swar'
and the air was full of life and exhila
ration. The somber fears that had op
pressed the quartermaster an hou
earlier were retiring before n hop
that. then he dare not entertain.
"You-you stood by me like
trump, Burlcigh," old Folsom was say
ing, "even after Id abused you like I
thief. II / can ever do you good turl
don't fail to let me know"
And Burleigh was thinking then ant
there how desperately in need OF
good turn he stood that minute. Wha
II Folsom would back him? What If
But as they came In full view of tn
picket line beyond the row OF tents
the majors eagerly searching gaze wa
rewarded by IA sight that gave him
sudden pause. Halted and examining
with almost professional interest th
good points of a handsome little bay
Lieut.. Loomis and Jessie Dean were Il
animated chat. Halted and facini
each other, he with glowing adnira
tion in his frank blue eyes, she wit
shy pleasure in her joyous face, Deai
and ElinOr Folsom stood absorbed il
some reminiscence of which he wa
talking eagcrly. Neither saw the com
ing pair. Neither heard the rapid bea
Of bounding hoofs near them In cage
haste. Neither noted that a horsemni
: reined In. threw himself from saddl
and handed Burleigh a telegraph
message which, with trembling hands
he opened and then read with startin
eyes.
any heaven, Folsom!" he cried. 6
ought to have known something wa