The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-05-30
CHAPTER XIv.-CoYTIyuEp.

Fletcher? i thought you were In your
ROOM" ..tl
"For Mr.. Folsom, please. when he is
at leisure" was the answer, in un-
ruffled tones. 81 believe IL easier to
take active part In the preparations
than 10 lie there thinking"
At one the girls We're to lunch at
the fort, as has been said, and IL 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 had
yet experienced. she left him to hear
what Mrs. Fletcher might have to say.
The conference was brief enough,
whatever its nature, for presently his
voice was heard at the foot of the
stairs.
I'm going over 10 the depot few
minutes, Daught. / wish to see Bur-
leigh. Don't wait for me. Start when
ever you are ready. Where do the
boys meet your"
Here, daddy, Mt hnlf-past twclve."
1t was high noon now, and the ruddy-
faced old fellow grew redder as the
summer sun beat down on his gray
head, but he strodc 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
way of Burleigh's stockaded inclosure.
Two or three employees lounging about
the gate were gazing curiously within.
Silently they let him pass them by,
but a 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 n sudden idea
! occurred to Folsom as he glanced mt
| the open windows of the Office build
| ing. There was no mistaking 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 ] came to
say, Maj. Burleigh. I've abundant evil
dence of what you've been saying at
my expense. You asserted that 1 lost
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 Mt Emory
you have maligned me just as you did
In the cars to my friend here, Mr..
Loom:s, and in hearing of my sister
will not accept your denial nor will
leave your Office till you swallow
your words"
"Then, by God, III have you thrown
out, you young whipsnapper!"
| And then Folsom, with fear at his
heart. ran around to the doorway &c
interpose. lie came too late. There
was sound of n furious scufiie within
n rafting of chairs, u crunching ol
feet on sanded floor, and as he spranp
up the steps he saw Dean easily sqairm
ing out from the grasp OF some mem
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 hin
and dropped him on the floor, Will,
Loomis confronted the others wht
would have made some show Of obey int
orders. And then there was the whiri
of whip lash, n crack and snap ant
swish, and a red welt shot across Bur
leigh's livid face as he himself stag
gered back TO his desk. With raging
tongue and frantic oath he leaped ou
again, n levcled pistol in his hand, bu
even before he could pull trigger. o.
Folsom intcrposc, Loomis' stick cam,
down like flash on the outstretche,
wrist, and the pistol clattercd to tn,
door. ~.'
Good God, boys! what are you do
ing?" cried the trader, as he hurlet
himself between them. "Stop this In
stantly. Sit down, Burleigh. Conn
out, Dean--come out at once! An'
you. too, Loomis."
I'm entirely ready--now," said tn
cavalry lieutenant, though his eye
, were flaming and his lips were rigid
But whenever Maj. Burleigh want
to finish this he can find me-" an,
with these words he backed slowly I,
the door, face to the painting and dis
ordered foe.
Finish this! yon young hound, II
, finish you!" screamed Burleigh, as h
shook his clenched fist ut the retiring
pair.
go, boys, go!" implored Folsom
"rll see you by and by. Nc -no-si
still, Burleigh. Don't you speak. Thi
must stop right here"
And so the old mans counsels pre-
vailed, and the two friends, witt
grave, pallid. but determined faces
came out into the sunshine, and wit
much deliberation and somewhat os
tentatious calm proceeded to iwher
the orderly waited with the horses.
. "You will see-the ladies out I
camp, Loomis?" asked Dean. ~ mus
gallop on ahead" r
"Ay, ay, go on, reckon"
But 1on this scene there suddenl
appeared a third party, in the pai
tial guise of nn officer and the gri
OF Bacchus. Lurching down tn
Office steps, with flushed face an
bloodshot eyes, came Capt. New
\ hall.
"Gen1'm'n," said he, thickly, "le'r
Introduce m'self. Haven't tn homo
y'r 'quaint's. I'm Cam New(hic) i
Cap'n N-n(hic) )oohaul (this cost pre-
digious effort and much balancing,
nn'--an' you sherv'd that f'ler per-pei
filcky RI. He's damn scoun'rl-
gen'lemen--an' ole frien' mine..
For an instant he stood swaying ur
steadily, with half extended hand. Fo
an instant the two young officer
gazed at him In contempt, then turnc
abruptly away.
| Good Lord, Marshall," said Loom
: is, as they cleared the gate. "if that
1 the only appreciation this days wor
y | ,.,tIl t,riou ,,s xxhat will tha ,a.,,It