The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-15
CHAPTER XXI.

grave Import were coming In from cate
City ana Cheyenne. Old John Folsom.
long time a trader among the Sioux and
known and trusted by the whole tribe.
had given warning weeks before that
perious consequences would attend the
srort 10 build another post along the
Big Horn. Red Cloud and his hosts of
warriors had sworn TO sweep IL from
The face OF the earth and every man OF
Its garrison with IL. All this had been
reported by the general 10 his superiors
NJ Washington, and all this had been
aerlded by the Indian bureau.
Against the judgment against the
counsel OF the department commander,
the work went on. A large force OF la
borers hired by Major Burleigh at Gate
City early in the spring had been sent
to Warrior Gap under strong escort.
and the unseasoned timber and fresh
cut logs were being rapidly dovetailed
and mortised. and long wagon trains laden
with stores and supplies. purchased by
Major Burleigh's agents were pushing out
across the Platte.
Indians. indeedr' said that expert
enced officer dlsdainfully. "They do not
presume 10 interfere!
And long since tho whisper had been
going the rounds that Major Buregh's
interest I'm the construction Of that new
post, involving an expense OF some hun
dreds OF thousands OF dollars, was some-
thing more than official. IL was John
Folsom and veteran officers OF the fight
ing force had pointed out that Indians
never do interfere when they see huge
trains Of provisions and supplies coming
just where they want them Orders
were orders, and the building went on
John Folsom said that any day the news
might come that Red Cloud and his
braves had massacred every man and
carried of every woman In the new
cantonment. Wives and children were
there, secure, as they believed. behind
the stout hearts and far and fast shoot
ing new breechloaders, trustful, too,
of tho Indians whom they had often fed
and welcomed at their doors In tho lar
ger and less exposed garrison.
Two OF our companies can stand Off
a thousand Sioux said one gallant
officer who based his confident report
on tho fact that with 80 OF the new
breechloaders. behind a log breastwork,
he had whipped a horde OF mountain
braves, armed only with lance and bow
and old 'smoothbores' or squirrel rifles.
I'VE came down through the whole
tribe" said Burleigh, with swelling
breast. IT had only a small troop OF
cavalry, and Red Cloud never so much
as raised yelp. He knew who was
running that outfit and didn't care TO
try conclusions"
1t all sounded very fine among the
barrooms and over the poker table at
Gate City. where Burieigh was a patron
and an oracle, but I'm the distant camps
along the Platte and Powder rivers and
among troopers and linesmen nearer
home there were odd glances and nudge
ing elbows whenever Burleigh's boast
tngs were repeated. Even as far as de-
partment headquarters the story was
being told that the mere report OF "Btg
band OF Sioux ahead" sent In by the
advance guard. "a report that brought
Loring and Stone leaping nimbly out
OF the ambulance, rifle In hand anu
ready for business, sent Burleigh under
the seat and left him there quaking.
Get your men down from the Big
Horn" was John Folsoms urgent ad-
vice to the department commander.
Get your men up there" was the or
der from Washington. and no wonder
the general was troubled. Then. I'm the
midst Of It all. began 20 come these ru-
mors affecting Burleigh's integrity;
then the determination TO send Boring
to look after this new boon companion
with whom Burlelgh was consorting; then
q dispatch from old Colonel Stevens "old
Pecksniff" as the irreverent youngsters |
called him, the commander OF Fort |
on the outskirts of Gate City. |
telling OF a tremendous storm that had |
OF the Medicine Bow and Rattlesnake |
hills just after Lieutenant Dean had been |
sent forth with small party Of troopers |
TO push through TO Warrior Gap with a |
big sum OF money, sl00 900 I'm cash, for the |
Of contractors and their men at |
the new post. and. what was OF thrill |
Ing import. there had been n deep laid [
scheme TO head him off. ambuscade him |
and get that money.
Hank Birdsall and his gang. "a -uf the I
worst toughs on the western frontier, |
had got the tip" from some one outside /
Of the post commander himself and one |
Of Burleigh's confidential clerks had the |
inkling OF the transaction. Moth
Ing but that storm could have defeated |
their purpose. Several OF the outlaws
and many OF their horses were drowned |
and one OF the gang, rescued at the last /
minute by the mail carrier to Frayne.
rescued Just I'm time 10 save his life, had
gasped his confession OF the plot Birdsall
and his people were now scattering over |
the territory, but old Pecksniff felt that
matters so serious demanded full report |
10 the department commander. and this
full report had reached Omaha the very
night that Loring got his orders TO leave
Fastening 10 the office I'm compliance
with the imperative summons, his heart
beating heavily despite his calm OF man
her, his thoughts reverting To that well
known face and the appealing voice at
his window despite his utmost efforts 20
forget them. Loring found the general.
With his chief OF stan and Captain
Stone. busy over kilograms and dis
patches. One OF these tfss general handed
10 the engineer. Then. as the latter read, |
he veteran OF three wars arose from his
hair, took the young soldier by the arm
Ind led him aside. a proceeding that
,aused Captain Stone 10 glance up from
he telegram he was swiftly copying and
o follow with anRering eyes until sud
ienly aware that the adjutant general
vas observing him. Then his pen renewed
ts scra tching. IL was not good that a
newcomer, a young lieutenant. should be
10 him. and II was too evident
hat between the general and the engi-
leer was a bond OF some kind the aid
ouid not explain.
DO you understand this7" asked the
-eneral, as he pointed TO the letter IN
,orings hand. IL was brief enough. 1t
ras written by clerk I'm BurlsiGhg C-
Ice 10 a fellow clerk I'm that OF the chief
at Omaha. and the latter
sd Il his duty. ne said. TO inform his Inn