The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-04-18

and, Of course, Pappoose-so close st
hand in town, there was gaining
ground at the post an impression that
the safety Of the board Of officers sent
TO choose the site Of the new Big Horn
post had been imperiled by Deans
weakening at a critical moment in
presence Of band of probably hostile
Sioux. Burleigh had plainly intimated
rs much to his chief clerk and Col.
Stevens, and when Loring ond Stone
came through n day or two later and
questions were asked about that meet
ing, the aidsdc-camp gave IL rs dis
tinctly to be understood that he had
| practically assumed command, Deans
inexpcricnce being manifest, and his
own prompt measures had extricated
the little detachment from most deli
cate and dangerous position. The en-
gineer, let IL be said, did not hear this
statement, and the nid was very care
full not to make II in his presence. He
was comparative stranger, and as no
one presumed to question him he vol
unteered no information.
| Planning to livouac until dawn Of the
next day Mt Folsom's, Dean had then in
tended to reach Fort Emory in three
easy marches. lie was anxious to
bring his horses In In best possible con.
dition. despite all their hard service;
yet now, barely two o'clock on this hot
June afternoon. came most unlocked
for. most importunate interruption
10 his plans. Springing to the gate at
4 A A. a a
cd his gaze to the distant peaks, recog-
nized instantly the nature OF the smoke
pufrs there rising, then turned for cx-
plnnation TO the swift-riding courier,
whose horses heels were making the
dust fly from the sun-dried soil. One
or Two ranch hands, with anxious faces.
came fastening over from the corral.
The darky cook rushed up from the
kitchen, rifle in hand. Plainly those
Mrs. Folsom. with staring eyes and
dreadful anxiety in her face, gazed
only Mt the hurrying courier, clinging
the while to the pillar of the portico,
as though needing support. The smoke
pufrs on the mountain, the dust-cloud
back of the tearing rider were symp-
toms enough for Dean.
u sect in your herd, sergeant" he
ii shouted, at the top of his voice; and
over the rushing of the Laramie his
words reached the rousing blvouac,
i and saddle blankets were sent swing
j ing In air in signal to the distant
N guards, and within few seconds every
!, horse was headed for home; and then,
, 4 to the sound of excited voices was add.
led the rousing thunder of scores OF
n bounding hoofs, us, NIL in dust-cloud
of their own, the sixty chargers came
., Ealloping in, ears erect, eyes ablaze,
Ia bos,rils wide, names and tails stream
10 ing in the blaze, guided by their eager
!, guards full tilt for camp. Out ran
Ihcir riders. brides in hand. to meet
- Ind check them. every horse when
I Iiithin n few yards NJ his master seem
-. lhg TO settle on his launches and plow
IN lp the turf in the sudden effort "a
beck his speed, long months Of service
b the plains and in the heart Of Indian
= hd having taught them In times OF
~ brm or peril that the quicker they
al hchcd the guiding hand and bore
rr fh. his soldier on his back, the
d,ker would vanish the common foe
I'm before the painting stecd of the
Mdlong courier came within bailing
., dance of the ranch, half the horse,
' ;, iThe troop were caught and the bits
!, wt rattling between their teeth;
:. III, as the messenger tore along the
gete slope that led to the gateway
a l..l. f.,l L.
- atle rise, Mrs. Folsom recognized one
~. of tr husbands herdsmen, man who
ha(lved long years in Wyoming and
M cod be unnerved by no false alarm
IS ander voice went up in u shrek OF
=. feats she read the tidings in his al
-. moEhastly face.
I'd "Vere is HALF" she screamed. "Oh
mo- whnhas happened?"
MI III SAFE" was the answering call
m. as tlrider waved reassuring hand
hut the instant he bent low
ir- "Thd God, you're here, lieutenant
he gted. "Mount quick. Halls cor
ralledwo miles out there updec the
buttdSioux!" And then they saw
that Twas swoonipg. that the blood
,at was s. ming down the left thigh and
IN leg, Il before hand could help him
ere he ro1 senseless. doubled up in the
or dust Is horses feet, and the weary
ich creatt tnever even started.
he ''Sad up. men!" rang the order
ith acrosst stream. And then while
crs strongtns lifted and bore the wound
so ed her4an to the porch, Dean turned
rds tn theIiling mistress, who, white
he faced terror-stricken, was wiring.
elk, ing hctnnds and moaning and run.
up, ming WIZ up aud down the walk and
ge, calling some one to GO and save
scd her hutd. Dean almost bore her 10
eN- n chair babe her fear nothing. lie
Ing and his In would lose not moment.
OF On the pr at her feet lay the little
on card phlgraph, and Dean, hardly
ret, thinkindhat he did, stopped, picked
Ity, IL up anfaced II in the pocket of his
ug- hunting lrt, Just as the trumpeter
I'M on his pikng gray reached the gate,
ght Deans btandsome charger trotting
see swiftly dgside. In an instant the
ch. lieutenanIas In saddle, In another
the second bper galloped up with his
old belt and bine. Already the men
his were leau into line across the
I'D, stream, aikidding the trumpeter tel,
in Sergt. Shalnessy to follow at speed,
to the young1icer struck spur to his
'er- horse and}rbine In hand, u single
wo trooper at heels. AWAY he darted
uld down the ky. G troop, splashing
han through \rd a moment later, took
Ity. the direct past the stockade Of
md the corral, appeared from sight a