Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1902-07-10
copyright, 1899. by F. 1ennyson Neely.l

sent for him went directly to the lodg.
ings of his sick friend, and there they
found him and he laid out two of ou1
best men for forcing a way into the
room. They told me your carriage
nearly ran over him the day Of the re-
view. Then came that dam fool charge
about his being mixed up in this rob-
berry. Then his escape from under
Billy Gray's nose, by Gawge, and that's
the last of him. Canker sent a party in
to look him up at the usual place, and
both birds had flown, both, by Gawge!
The sick man was well enough to be
driven off in carriage, and there's
nothing further to tell as yet"
II wish | had known about him earli-
er-before the Primes came" said Arm
strong thoughtfully, knocking the
ashes off his cigar. "Of course you di-
vine my theory?"
THAT Morton is the missing son and
heir? OF course. Now that I've seen
Miss Prime the family resemblance is
strong. But if he wanted to soldier,
what's to prevent? Those tents yawn-
duh are full of youngsters better edu-
Gated than | am" and Gordon arose,
tangling a long, lean leg in the nearest
camp stool, which he promptly kicked
through the doorway into the sailing
fog outside. 1t was barely II o'clock,
but already the raw, wet wind was
whistling in over the barren, sandy
slopes and dunes, and the moisture
dripped in big drops from the sloped
rifles of the men marching sturIily
in from drill.
"Yawnduh comes the Prime carriage
now, by Gawge,' continued the adju-
tant, as he limped to the entrance
'Ole man seems all broke up, don't
hep Armstrong had promptly risen
and came striding to his comrades
side.
"Naturally," was the answer. Tie
had hoped much from this visit The
boy was just under 21 when he enlist
ed, and, as his fathers consent was
lacking, a discharge could have been
ordered. 1t may have been fear of that
that drove the youngster off. Where
is the carriage-and your glasses"
continued the colonel, looking about
until he found a binocular.
Comm right down the road back OF
the officers tents. Reckon it's another
visit of coincidence to Gray. You know
| shouldn't wonduh if this arrest of
his didn't prove a blessin' in disguise
for that lucky boy"
No reply coming to this observation,
Gordon glanced over his shoulder.
Armstrong was replacing the glasses.
Again the adjutant hazarded:
II was saying this arrest may be,
after all, the biggest kind of blessing
in disguise for that lucky Billy. Yes,
by Jove! They're comm to his tent.
That's a splendid girl, ole man.
"Miss-Prime, you mean?" calmly
queried Armstrong, striking match
after match in the effort to light a
fresh cigar, his face averted.
Miss Prime l don't mean," answered
Gordon, glancing curiously at the
senior officer. Not but that she's a
most charming young lady and all
that" he hurriedly interpolated, south
ern chivalry asserting itself. Then
with a twitch about the lip: by the
way, ole man, those cigars light better
from the other end. Take a fresh one"
Armstrong quickly withdrew the ill
used weed from between his strong,
white teeth, gave it one glance and a
toss into the waste basket.
mo, I've smoked enough. But how
can they see him? How about that
sentry over Gray's tent?"
Huh! Chief made them take it off
directly he heard of it," grinned Cor
don. Moses! But didn't Squeers
blaspheme!" And the adjutant threw
his head back and laughed joyously
over the retrospect. Eyes, there's that
curly-headed pate of Billy's at the tent
door now. Reckon he was eXpectin'
EN-. There they are, ole Prime, too.
Don't be in hurry, colonel"
They had known each other years,
these two, and it had been Arm
strong" and Gordon" when they adj
dressed each other, or sole man. when
Gordon lapsed into the semi-affection-
ate. To the adjutant's southern sense
OF military propriety "ole man" was
still possible. armstrong" would be
soldierly solecism.
am to see the general before noo,.,"
sad Armstrong, gravely, land it's
time l started. If you should hear of
your runaway let me know. If you
shouldn't, keen orr views to VOurSelf
there's no use in rousing false hopes"
With that Armstrong turned up the
collar of his overcoat and lunged out