The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-07-26

/ colouSl tebteIhs Was neNcTLueleSS II
deep anxiety as to the future. The
assurance that the Sioux, even in
their overwhelming numbers, would
not attack a stockade, was not suf-
fcient. Marshall would be on duty
again within very few days, the
colonel said. His wounds would heal
within the week, and it was only loss
of so much blood that had Frustrated
him. Within a few days, then, her
loved brother would be in saddle and
in the field against the Indians. Who
could assure her they would not have
another pitched battle7 Who could
say that the fate that befell the gar
rison at Warrior Gap might not await
the troop when next 1t rode away ?
And poor Jess had other anxieties,
/ too, by this time. Loomis was burn
ing with eagerness for orders to lead
it instantly to join the field column,
and importuned Col. Stevens, even in
the midst Of all the grief and shock
of the early evening. Almost angrily
the veteran colonel babe him attend
to HIS assigned duties and not de-
mand others &C" troop should not
with his advice and consent be sent
north of the Platte. First thing
you know, sir, after they've got all
the troops up along the Big Horn
youll see the Sioux in force this side
Of the river, numbering right and
left, and not company to oppose
them. No, sir, more than enough of
that troop have already been sacri-
fcedl The rest shall stay here"
And well was 1t, for one and all,
that Old Pecksniff" held firm to his
decision. 1t was one of his lucid in
tervals.
Late that evening, after ten o'clock,
there came the sound of hoofbeats
on the bard road and the crack Of a
long-lashed mule-whip, and the fort
ambulance clattered up to Folsom's
gate, and the colonel himself, his adj
jutant by his side, came nervously
up the gravel walk. Folsom met them
at his door. Instinctively he felt that
something new and startling was add
ed to the catalogue of the days dis
astrous tidings. Pecksniff's face was
eloquent Of gravest concern, mingled
with irrepressible excitement.
''Let me see you in private, quick"
he said "Mr.-ah-Mr. Adjutant,
will you kindly remain in the parlor,"
and, taking Folsom by the elbow.
Pecksnif led impetuously into the IL
brary. The girls had gone aloft only
moment before, but, dreading news
Of further evil, Pappoose came fut-
tering down.
''Go in and welcome the adiutank
dear" said Folsom, hurriedly. ''The
colonel and ! have some matters to
talk Of" Obediently, she turned at
once, and, glancing up the stairs,
noticed that Mrs Fletcher's door
must have been suddenly opened, for
the light from her room was now
streaming on the third-foor balus-
tiers. Listening againl What could
be the secret of that woman's in
tense watchfulness? In the parlor
the young staff officer was pacing up
and down, but his face lighted at
sight of Elinor.
''Do you lnow-Is there anything
new Anything worse2" she quickly
asked, as she gave her slim young
hand.
mot concerning our people," was
the significant answer. 'But / fear
there's more excitement coming"
Barely waiting for Elinor to with
n. I. 4 nj
som. "You know opposed the send
ing of that party2 You know it was
all ordered on Burleigh's urging and
do you not?"
'Yes, l heard So" said Folsom.
"What then?"
"You know he planned the whole
businessmen 'em around by Canyon
Springs and the Sweetwater?"
"Yes, heard that, too" said Fol-
som, still wondering
"You know some one must have put
that Birdsall gang on the scent, and
that Burleigh has had alleged nerve
prostration ever since, and has been |
too i'll to see anyone or to leave his
bed"
eyes, so we were told"
"Well, he's well enough to be up |
and away--God knows where, and |
here Is the reason--just in from the
north" and. trembling with excite
ment, Peclxsniff pointed TO the closing
paragraph of the letter in his hand;
cords, seals and wrapping were intact
when handed to the quartermaster, but the /
contents were nothing but worthless pa
per. 1t must have been SO when given TO
Lieut.. Dean"
Folsom's eyes were popping from
his head. He sank into a chair, gaz-
ng up in CONSERVATION.
Don't you see. mani" said Peck
sniff, "some one in the depot is short
10000 or so. Some one hoped to
,over this shortage in Just this way
20 send little squad with bogus
and then turn loose the big
rest gang of ruffians in the country.
They would have got it but for the
storm at Canyon Springs, and no one
would have been the wiser. They
couldn't have got it without muir
ferrous fight. No one would ever dare
;onfess his completely in 1t. No state
nent of theirs that there wasn't a
ent in the sack could ever be be-
ieved. Some ones shortage would
,e covered and his reputation saved.
The plot failed, and Gods mercy was
,ver Deans head. He'd "a been MUIR
ered or ruined IL the plan worked
nd now Burleigh's gonel"
CHAPTER XXI.