Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1902-04-10
CHAPTER II.

Miss Amy Lawrence.
CHAPTER II.
The little party of visitors in the gen.
erals personal tent made striking
contrast to that assembled under the
official canvas. In the latter, seated
Oh camp stools and candle boxes or
braced against the tent poles. were near
ly dozen officers, all in the somber
dark blue regulation uniform, several
in riding boots and spurs, some even
wearing the heavy, frogged overcoat;
all but two. juniors of the staff, men
who stood on the shady side of 40,
four of the number wearing on their
shoulders the silver stars of generals
of division or brigade, and among their
thinning crops of hair the silver
strands that told of years of service.
One man alone, the commanding gen
eral. was speaking; all the others lis
tened in respectful silence. In the
gloom Of that late. fog -shrouded after
noon lantern or two would have been
welcome, but the conference had be-
gun while it was still light enough for
the chief to read the memoranda on his
desk, and now he was talking without
notes. In the array of grave, thought
full faces, some actually soInber and
severe in expression, smile would have
seemed out of place, yet. all on a sud
den, grim features relaxed, deep-set
eyes twinkled and glanced quickly
about in search of kindred sympathetic
spirits and more than half the bearded
faces brOadened into grin of merri-
ment, and as many heads were sudden
ly upifted, for just as the gray haired
chief ended an impressive period with
the words: 1T will be no laughing
matter if can lay hold of them" there
burst upon the surprised ears of the
group peal of the merriest laughter
imaginable-the ripping, joyous, mu
steal laughter of happy girlhood ming
ling with the hearty, wholesome. if
somewhat boyish, outburst of jollity
of healthful youth.
"Merciful powers!" exclaimed the
chief. 81 had forgotten all about those
people. They must have been here 20
minutes"
"Sixty-fve, sir, by the watch" said a
misunderstanding soldier, tall and stall
wart, and wearing the shield of the adj
jutant generals department on the col
lar of his sack coat.
They ought to go, then" was the
placid suggestion of a third officer,
man with keen eyes thin, almost ascetic
face, but there twitched quaint
humor about the lines of his lips.
THAT visits past the retiring age"
And then another peal of merriment
from the adjoining tent put stop to
conversation.
"They don't lack for entertainers"
hazarded staff officer as soon as he
could make himself heard. 1.-THE SOL
emn-looking Gothamite who came with
them must have slipped out"
1T seems he knows Col. Armstrong"
said the chief, thoughtfully. 81 sent for
him an hour ago, and he may be pilot
ing Mr.. Prime around camp, locking up
theATunaway."
another case?" asked brigade COM
mander, with a shrug of his shoulders.
Another case" answered the gener-
al, with n sigh. ut isn't always home
troubles that drive them to it. This
boy had everything doting father
could give him. What on earth could
make him bolt and enlist for the WARP"
No one answered for a moment. Then
the officer with the humorous twinkle
about the eyes and the twitch at the
lip corners bent forward. placed his
elbows on his knees, his fingers tip to
tip, gazed dreamily at the floor, and
sententiously said:
Girl"
Whereupon his next neighbour,
stocky, thickset man in the uniform of
a brlgadier, never moving eye, head or
hand, managed to bring IA stable foot
in heavy riding boot almost savagely
upon the slim gaiter of the humorist,
who suddenly started and flushed to the
temples, glanced quickly at the chief,
and then as quick., back to the floor,
his blue eyes clouded in genuine dis
tress.
The generals gray face had seemed
to grow grayer in the gloom. Again
there came, like ripping echo, the
chorus of merry laughter from the adj
JoA'ihS 'Sh'' oiiS II seeiied Urine SUD-
dued, possibly as though one or two of
the merry-makers had joined less
heartily. With sudden movement the
general rose. swell, I've kept you long
enough" he said. LET the three regi-
ments be got in readiness at once. but
relax mo effort in-that other matter.
Find the guilty parties if a possible
thing"