Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1902-08-21

soldier whose ticket bore the name of
Norton, and was asked to tell whether
he had ever seen him before.
II have, sir" said the veteran, sadly
and gravely. "He is a deserter from he
-teenth. His name on our rolls was
Morton" And that night Col. Arm
strong cabled to "Primate," New York,
the single word Found" Nor was it
likely the lad would soon be lost again,
for sentry with fixed bayonet stood
within ten feet of his bed with orders
not to let him out of his sight second.
Mrs. Garrison appeared at the hos
pital that very evening and heard of the
episode, and reached Billy Gray's bed
side looking harassed, even baggard.
During the past three days she had been
accorded admission, for Gray was so
much improved there was no reason to
longer forbid; but on each occasion the
wounded volunteer officer and the brace
of attendants present had precluded all
possibility of confidential talk. She
must bide her time. Gray would be up
in few days. said the DOCTOR; and then
nothing would do, said Mrs. Garrison,
but he must be moved to their big,
roomy, lovely house on the bay side,
and be made strong and we'll again
made to give up those letters, too,
thought she; for she had wormed it out
of hystander that packet of some
kind had been given by the dying SOL
der to the lieutenant, and she well
knew what it must be. She had even
penned him a little note, since not a
whisper could be safely exchanged, and
headedit: Give this back to me the mo-
ment you have readit." In it she remind
ed him of his promise, and-did he need
to be reminded of hers? She knew that
packet of Nita's letters had been in
trusted to his care. She assured him
she had it straight from the surgeon
who attended both Latrobe and him
self, and they must reach the hands of
no man on earth, but must come to her.
Would he not give them at once or tell
her where she could find them?
He gave back the note, but closed his
eyes and turned away. In the presence
OF Armstrong day after day, and in the
recollection Of Latrobe's dying face and
the last parting touch of his stricken
hand, Gray's eyes were opening to his
own deplorable weakness. She plainly
saw her power was going, if not gone.
He had wrapped a silk handkerchief
about the packet and still kept it, with
mis- watch and purse, beneath his pillow.
He would not tell her where it lay. She
smiled archly for the benefit of the at
tendant; but her eyes again eagerly
claimed look from his, her lips framed
the word TOMORROW"
But neither on that morrow nor vet
the next day came her opportunity.
The gallant fellow who had lain there
for days, dumb and patient, but a bar
rier to her plans, had taken a turn for
the worse, and she was again denied adj
mission. Then came the tidings that
the barrier was removed, the long fight
was over; and the heartless woman
actually rejoiced. Now at last she
could talk to Will Gray; and when mid
night came she knew that now at last
she must, for Frank Garrison, worn
and weary, returning late from the
front, briefly announced that Gen
Drayton purposed visiting the hospital
the following afternoon, and long be-
fore nOOn-long before visiting hours,
in fact, she was there with flowers as
winsome as her smile, and some jelly
as dainty as her own fair hands. She
was there, and the instant the houl
sounded was ushered in, and Billy
Gray, propped on his pillows, was writ
ing to his father, and alone. No time
was to be lost. Any moment the at
tendant might return. She threw her
self on her knees beside the homely
narrow cot, seized his hand in hers, ano
looked him in the face. where art
they WHIP" she pleaded. Quick! mus
have them now!" But we'll she realized