Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-01-23
CHAPTER XIV.-CONTINUED.


"Were you looking for anyone, Mrs
Fletcher? I thought you were in YOU
ROOM
For Mr.. Folsom, please, when he i:
at leisure" was the answer, in un
ruff1ed tones. II believe it easier tt
take active part in the preparation:
than to lie there thinking."
At one the girls were to lunch al
the fort, as has been said, and it was
time for them to dress. There were
other matters on which Elinor much
wished to talk with her father and
with more reluctance than she haC
yet experienced. she left him to hear
what Mrs. Fletcher might have to say
The conference was brief enough
whatever it's nature, for presently his
voice was heard at the foot of the
stairs.
I'm going over to the depot a few
minutes, Daught. I wish to see Bur
leigh. Don't wait for me. Start when
ever you are ready. Where do the
boys meet you?"
Here, daddy, at half-past twelve y
faced old fellow grew redder as the
summer sun beat down on his gray
head, but he strobe sturdily down the
broad avenue that led to the heart of
the bustling new town, turned to the
right at the first cross street beyond
his own big block and ten minutes
brisk tramp brought him to the gate
Of R,11 al h ctr cd on1n
Two or three employees lounging about
The gate were gazing curiously within.
Silently they let him pass them by,
but sound of angry voices rose upon
the heated air. Just within the gate
stood the orderly trumpeter holding
two horses by the reins, one of them
Marshall Deans, and a sudden idea
occurred to Folsom as he glanced at
the open windows of the office build
Ing. There was no installing the
speaker within. 1t was Burleigh.
leave my office instantly, sir. or I'll
prefer charges that will stick-''
Not till I've said what 1 came to
say, Maj. Burleigh. I've abundant evil
dence of what you've been saying at
my nerve the day we met Red Clouds
band-you who never dared get out
of the ambulance until the danger was
over. It's common talk in the troop.
At Frayne, at Reno, and here at Emory
you have maligned me just as you did
in the cars to my friend here, Mr..
LOOMS, and in hearing of my sister.
/ will not accept your denial nor will
I leave your office till you swallow
your words"
Then, by God, I'll have you thrown
out, you young whipsnapper!"
And then Folsom, with fear at his
heart, ran around to the doorway to
5nterpose. He came too late. There
was a sound of furious scuff1e within,
u rafting OF chairs, crunching of
feet on sanded floor, and as he sprang
up the steps he saw Dean easily squirm-
ing out from the grasp of some men,
Der of the clerical force, who, at his
masters bidding, had thrown himself
upon the young officer, who then deft-
ly tripped his heels from under him
and dropped him on the floor, while
LOOMS confronted the others who
would have made some show of obeying
orders. And then there was the whirr
OF a whip lash, crack and snap and
swish, and red welt shot across Bur-
leigh's ivid face as he himself stag
gered back to his desk. With raging
tongue and frantic oath he leaped out
again, leveled pistol in his hand, but
even before he could pull trigger, or
Folsom interpose, LOOMS stick came
down like flash on the outstretched
wrist, and the pistol clattered to the
floor
"Good God, boys! what are you do
ing?" cried the trader, as he hurled
himself between them. ~Stop this in
stantly. Sit down, Burleigh. Come
out, Dean-come out at once! And
you, too, Loomis.'
I'm entirely ready-now," said the
cavalry lieutenant, though his eyes
were flaming and his lips were rigid
But whenever Maj. Burleigh wants
to finish this he can find me-" and
with these words he backed slowly to
the door, face to the painting and dis
ordered foe.
"Finish this! you young hound, I'll
finish you!" screamed Burleigh, as he
shook his clenched fist at the retiring
pair.
go, boys, go!" implored Folsom.
"1'll see you by and by. No-no-sit
still, Burleigh. Don't you spea ak. This
must StOD rirht here"
And so the old mans counsels pre-
vailed, and the two. friends, with
grave, pallid, but determined ia ces,
came out into the sunshine, and with
much elaboration and somewhat os-
tentatious calm proceeded to where
the orderly waited with the horses.
"You will see-the ladies out to
camp, Loomis?" asked Dean. II must
gallop on ahead" -.
Jay, ay, go on, reckon"
But on this scene there suddenly
appeared third party, in the par
tial guise of an officer and the grin
of Bacchus. .Lurching down the
Office steps, with: flushed face and
bloodshot eyes, came. Capt. New
hall.
"Gen'l'm'n,' said he, thickly, ''le'm
Introduce m'self. Haven't tn honor
y'r 'quaint's. I'm Cam New (hic)l
Cap'n Nm (hic) oohaul (this cost pro-
digious effort and much balancing).
an,-an' you sherx'd that f'ler pepper
hicky ri: -. Hes damn scoun RI
gentlemen an ole frien' mine"
For an instant he stood swaying IN
Steadily, with half extended hand. FOR
an instant the two young officers