Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-03-13

i SASA spoke d single NAMES ~ SIeOE&e!
And without, in the alley voice an
Awered: II am here! open quick!"
''Swear that you are alone!''
"Oh, stop that damned nonsense! O.
course Tmaalone! was the sullen re
i ply, and at the sound of the voice Lor
ing seemed fairly to culver. The gate
i was unbarred: A mans form, slender
and shadowy, squeezed in and seemed
peering cautiously about. .'You got
my note o. he began. '''You know
what's happened" ~. F., Fl.
But woman's muffled scream was
the answer. With spring 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. 1T is
all my fault. I sent for him. s@
.'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 a thief" answered Loring
through his set teeth. Hand over the
Key OI tndC sure.
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 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 Hal?" gasped Folsom, dropping
his pistol in dismay. I'm Gods name,
what's wrong?"
''God only knows, sir. Mrs. Halls
nigh crazy. He's been gone two days"
| CHAPTER XIII.
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 strong
command of infantry and all that was
left of the cavalry troop at the stock
ade. A sad procession it was as it slow
~ 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
1,o
squad of horse rode Lieut. Dean,
whom the post commander and several
officers greeted almost effusively.
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 at
Eagle Butte last night, and I've just
had letter from old Folsom at the
ranch on the Laramie. He begs US to
! send guard at once. and I haven't
horseman. There's been the devil
to pay at young Folsom's place.
Deans face went shade paler.
"What's happened?" he asked.
"A dozen of his best horses run off
by Birdsall's gang, probably to re-
place those they lost in the flood, and
Hal himself was shot and left for
dead in the hills. He'd died but for
an Ogallalla girl and couple of half
breeds who had hunting-lodge out
| near the Peak. There are letters for
you at the office"
|. There were two-one from LOOMS.
at Emory; one from Jessie, of all
places in the world, at Folsom's
ranch. This he read first.
1--WE got here late night before last, after
| such an exciting journey, Marshall dear"
said she, and l can't begin to tell You
all the strange things that have happened.
for MT Folsom says the messenger must
FAT Sat t H},i1 orf Fiayne in twenty minutes
speak Ill of you, turned out to be as bad
as ever said he was. They haven't caught
n nm YET ,.d put they've got Capt. NeWhan.
caught him in the back yard Of our house,
down by the gate, and in some way Mrs.
Fletcher induced him to come there, for
the money Maj. Burleigh dared not take
when he fled. can't understand it at
AAAs anu dppOOSe uOeSn [ ike TO talk about
IT. But MT. Folsom was robbed of lots of
money by Maj. Burleigh. Mrs Fletcher
! Ia mixed up iii it In such a queer way, /
cant explain now: She was nearly crazy
so good and kind to her, left nurse with
her, and made her stay at the house, al
though te 81 she wanted to pack her things and
which; but he wouldn't let her.
And right in the midst of 1t all Ned
Lann1on, who game with news before, gal
tn fol hnv IIoJ1 TN@1-
been missing two days, and Mrs. Folsom
was crazy with fear. so Mr.. Folsom left
Lieu Lieut.: Loring to attend to; all the mat
for; the ranch. and Pappoose.' Of course, in
sisted on going with him, and would not
! be lett behind And here we are. Now
and wore Elinor's picture. and It was right
out there among them that Halbert was
found. Horse thieves had run off his best
horses-the same gang of murderers that.
you outwitted: on! Marshall. was was eve. ever
girl so proud Of her brother!-and they
shot Hal and he was found and taken
and don one was girl, Lizette. who had fallen
IN love with MIN four years ago. Wasn't
Is romantic? And she's gone again, but
more than half-crazy, and now. old Mr.,
Folsom Is worried to death, and saws we
must start back for home tomorrow. It's
60 at all, only I'm so eager to see YOU and
| heard at least Mr.. Loomis told me YOU'D
be back. any day. and he has your troop
| TIL you come, and he's so fond of you
on. here's Pappoose to say this must &c
| at once"
The colonel sat watching the young
fellow as he read. bad news, Dean p
he queried. 4 r. = 4<S.
every kind of news, sir. It's all
. whirl. The devil seems to have
broken loose in oming. Let. me
skim through LOOMS note.' S., -.
i Dear Dean: In case. the letter sent yes
Il terday passes you on the way, add q I'M
II axa1I