The Irish standard., 1901-03-23


swered: Il am here! open quick!"
"Swear that You are alone!"
"Oh, stop that damned nonsense! OF
course I'm alone" was the sullen re.
ply, and at the sound of the voice Lor.
ing seemed fairly to CULVER. The gate
was unbarred. ~ mans form, slender
and shadowy, squeezed in and seemed
peering cautiously about. "You got
my note?' he began. "You know
what's happened?"
But womun's muffled scream was
the answer. With aspiring like cat
Loring threw himself on the intruder
and bore him down. In an instant Fol.
som had barred the gate, and the WON.
an, moaning, fell upon her knees.
Mercy! Mercy!' she cried. "It is
all my fault. sent for him."
"Take your hands off, damn you, OF
you'll pay for this." cried the under.
most man. "I'm Capt. Newhall, of the
army"
YOU'RE thief" answered Loring
through his set teeth. Hand over the
key Of that safe"
The sound of hoofbeats at the front
had suddenly ceased. There was a
sputter and scurry in the alley behind
Full half a dozen horses must have
gone tearing down to the east. Other
lights were popping in the windows
now. Folsom's household was alarmed
Attracted by the scream and the sound
of a scutfie. a man came hurrying to.
ward them from the front.
Halt! Who are you?" challenged
Folsom, covering him with his revolver
Don't shoot. I'm Ned Lannion-
just in from the ranch. Have you heard
anything of Hal, sir?'
"of Hale" gasped Folsom, dropping
his pistol in dsmay. sin Gods name
what's wrong?'
"God only knows, sir. Mrs. Halls
nigh crazy. Hes been gone two days.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Five days later the women and chill.
dren from Warriors Gap, most of them
bereaved, all of them unnerved by the
experiences of that awful day, arrived
at Fort Frayne, escorted by a strong
command of infantry and all that was
left of the cavalry troop at the stock.
AIDE. A sad procession it was as it slow.
ly forded the Platte and assembled the
winding road to the post, where sor.
rowing, sympathetic army women met
and ministered to them. With them
too, came such of the wounded as could
be moved, and at the head of the little
squad of horse rode Lieut.. Dean
whom the post commander and several
officers greeted almost etrusively.
Yet almost the first question was:
"Did you see any Indians?"
Not one" answered Dean. "They
seem to have drawn away from the Big
Horn road entirely. Why do you ask?'
he added, anXiously.
'There were signal fires out al
Eagle Butte last night, and I've just
had letter from old Folsom ut the
ranch on the Laramie. He begs us to
send q guard at once. and l haven't
horseman. There's been the devil
to pay at young Folsom's place."
Deans face went a shade paler
"What's happened?" he asked.
"a dozen of his best horses run of
by Birdsall's gang, probably to re
place those they lost in the flood, anc
Hal himself was shot and left fol
dead in the hills. He'd died but TO,
an Ogallalla girl and a couple of half
breeds who had hunting-lodge ouI
near the Peak. There are letters TO,
you at the Office"
There were two-one from LOOMS
at Emory; one from Jessie, of al
places in the world, at Folsom'i
ranch. This he read first.
such an exciting. journey, Marshall dear.
said she. land l can't begin to tell yo,
all the strange things that have happened
for MT T. Fo oa, , says the messenger mus
That villain. Maj. Burleigh. who dared t
speak Ill Of you. turned out to be as bat
as l ever said he was. They haven't cuugh
him yet. but They've got Capt. Newhall
Mr.. Folsom and MIR. Loring did that
caught him in the back yard of our house
down by the gate. and in some way Mrs
he had the key to the safe at the quar-
;ermaster's depot and was going to ge
the money, Maj. Burleish dared not take
all. and Pappoose doesn't like to talk about
it. liut Mr.. Folsom was robbed OF lots Of
money BY Maj. hurleisl. Mrs. Fletcher
can't explain now. she WAS nearly crazy
when We came away, and Mr. Folsom was
50 good and kind to her, left u nurse Will
ucr, and made her stay at the house, al
though she wanted to pack her things ant
so to the hotel or the Jail, she didn't ear,
which; but he wouldn let her.
And right in the midst Of ii all Nee
l4anuion, who came with news before, gal
Hoped in to tell how llalbert Folsom hat
been missing two days. and Mrs. FOLSOM
was crazy with tear SO AIR Folsom lcf
tiers about The robbery and started at onc'
Tor the ranch. and lappoosc, OF course. in
sisted on going with him, and would no
| be left behind. And here we are. Now
can the hills where you had the iigh
and wore Elinor's picture, and it was RICH
out there among them that llalhert wa
horses-the same gang OF murderers that
they say. planned to trap you and tina
you outwitted;, Oh! Marshall. was eve
a girl so proud of her brother!-and the
shot Hal and he was found and take
care of by some Indian people. tame one.
and one was 4 gtrl, I.lzette, who had falle
Hal is safe here. although Mrs. FOLSOM
more than ha!l-crazy, and now old Nj
must start back Tor home to morrow. 1t
seventy-tlve miles. and we don't want
| go at all, only I'm so eager to see YOU, an
| nGafu--al least MI. l.OolllS luli me YOU
| be back amy day. and he has Your truu
till you come, aud he's so fond OF YOU
Oh, here's Pappoose to say this must 6
at once"
The colonel sat watching the youn
fellow as he read. dad news, Dean ?
he qucried.
Every kind of news, SIR It's 4
whirl. The devil seems to hay
broken loose in Wyoming. Let III
skim through LOOMS note"