Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1902-04-24

that morning, and all this he was think
OF while still fumbling over that dis
turbing note. Time was getting short,
too; there was no telling how much
longer they might stay. Mr.. Prime
had brought his only daughter all that
long journey across the continent on
the assurance that the boy he loved,
with whom he had quarreled, and
whom, in his anger, he had sorely re-
buked, had enlisted there in San Fran
cisco and was serving in regiment at
the great camp west of the city. He
had come full of hope and confidence;
he had found the young soldier de-
scribed, and, in his bitter disappoint-
ment, he declared there was no re-
semblance to justify the report sent him
by the boys own uncle, who vowed he
had met him with comrades on the
main street of the city, that the recog-
milton was mutual, for the boy had dart
ed around the first corner and escaped.
His companions were scattered by the
time Mr.. Lawrence turned to the spot,
after a brief, fruitless search, but pri-
vate detectives had taken it up and 10
cated' young Prime and telegraphed
the father in the distant east.
Now, Mr.. Lawrence was away on
business of his own. Written assur-
ances that he couldn't be mistaken lost
weight, and Mr.. Prime, disheartened,
was merely waiting the report of an
agent who thought he had traced the
boy to Tampa. In "a hours he might
spirit his daughter away on another
chase, and then there would be no fur
Their warrant for Miss Lawrence's re-
naming in the city. She would return
to her lovely home in one of the loveliest
of California valleys, miles away from
the raw fogs and chils of the Golden
Gate, and would be no more seen among
the camps. That, said Billy Gray to
himself, would take every bit of sun
shine from his life.
All this detail, or much of it, he had
learned from the fair lips of Miss Law
renee herself, for Mr.. Prime and his
daughter seemed to shrink from speak
ing of the matter. From the first Miss
Amy had had to take the young gentle
man under her personal wing, as it
were. In her desire to aid her uncle
and cousins in every way, and know
ing them to be strangers to the entire
camp, she had eagerly sent for him as
the first familiar or friendly object she
saw. Then when he came and was pre-
sented, and proved to possess little in
terest to the careworn man and his
anxious and devoted child, it devolved
upon Miss Lawrence to make much of
Billy in proportion as they made little
of him, and for three days or so the
blithe young fellow seemed fairly to
walk on air. Moreover, she had taken
him into family condolences in telling
him of the missing son and brother,
for both her uncle and cousin, she said,
were SO sensitive about it they could
not talk to anyone except when actual
ly necessary. They had leaned, as it
were, on the general and on Col Arm
strong for day, and then seemed to
draw away from both. They even
seemed to take it much amiss that her
father had to be absent when they
came, though they had sent no word,
until late, of their coming. He was on
his return, might arrive any hour, but
so might they go. Now if Billy could
only discover that missing SON
Then came an inspiration! Pencil
ing brief note he gave it to soldier of
his company and babe him take it to
the guard tents. 1t told Morton Of the
colonefs orders, issued that very day,
and babe him be patient-he hoped and
believed opportunity would be afforded
for an interview that evening. Then he
hunted up a subaltern of his own grade
whom he knew would probably be the
detail for officer-of-the-guard that
evening. Brooke he said, will you
swap tours with me if Gordon's willing?
l have-Td like nightly to exchange
ii it's all the same to you"
Brooke hesitated. He had social
hopes and aspirations of his own. BY
"swapping'' with Gray he might find
himself doomed to night in camp
when he had accepted for some pleas
ant function in town.
Thought you were keen to 90 in to-
night-right after retreat" he hazard
ed
well, l was" said Gray, pulling his
drab campaign hat down over his eyes
to shut out the glare of the westering
sun. but I've got-a new wrinkle"
Some bid for Friday? That's your
tour, isn't it?" And Brooke began
counting on his fingers. "Wait till 1
look at my notebook. Friday? Why,
that's the night of the Burton's card
party-thought you didn't know
them"
II don't" said Gray, glad enough to