The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-16
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leigh. He questioned the clerks at the
corral, reoonnoitered the neighborhood,
asked what were their means OF de-
Tense. turned inside out worn yet
shspely boot that had been the captains,
bade man after man To describe that
worthhy and finally walked away from
the depot, having picked up lots OF in
formation and impaired none.
he spent some time at Folsora's that
evening. He drove out 10 the fort in the
afternoon. and what do you think he
wanted?" said old Pecksniff. whose com
mand had been cut down to one com
pany and the band Wanted mo to
post strong guard over the quartermas-
ter's depot lest that dashed marauding
gang OF Birdsalrs should gallop in some
night with Burleigh's safe key and get
away with the funds. asked him II
those were the generals orders. and he
said no. asked him II they were any
body's orders and he said no. / asked
him II II was anybody's idea but his
own. and ne said no. and then I told him.
by Cad. / hadn't men enough to guard
the public property here at the post. The
quartermaster's depot was responsible
for most OF them being away Let them
take care OF their own
Gate City hotel was alive with loungers
that night, waiting for the engineer. At
$3.50 he had come from the quartermas-
ters corral and after a few minutes had
gone away with Mr.. Folsom, who drove
up I'm his carriage. He was up at the Old
mans now, said the impatient ones. fool
ing away the time with the girls when he
ought 10 be there answering their ques-
uons and appeasing their curiosity. The
talk turned on the probable whereabouts
OF Burleigh and his pal" So had the
mighty fallen that the lately fawning
admirers never spoke OF the fugitive as
a criminal. He couldn't follow the Unrvn
Pacific east Everybody knew him. and
by this time officers were on the lookout
for him all along the road. He had reacn-
ed Cheyenne. that WAS known, and had
driven away from there up the valley vI
Crow creek with two companions. tor-
ing himself had ascertained this in Chey-
enne, but II was the sheriff who gave out
the information
He was I'm hiding declared the know
Ing ones, in some of the hsunts OF
Birdsan's fellows. east OF Laramie City,
a growing town OF whose prowess at
poker and keno Gate City was profess
sionally aware and keenly Jealous. He
might hide there a day or two and then
get out OF the country by way Of Sweet
water along the old stage route TO salt
Lake. or skip southwark and make tor
Denver. Northward he dare not GO
There were the army posts along the
Platte. beyond them the armed hosts
OF Indians, far more TO be dreaded than
all the sherifrs' posses on the plains.
Ten-thirty came and still no Loring
and the rounds OF drinks were getting
Judge Pardee a bibulous
and oracular limb OF the law. had been
chosen inquisitor general. with powers
to call for all the news that was sowed
away In that secretive knowledge box"
on the shoulders OF the engineer. Gate
City had resolved and 'lowed" that n
man reputed 10 know so much should
be held up and compelled 10 part with
at least little. Jimmy Peters. the
landlords boy. scouting out TO Folsoms
came back on the run. breathless from
OF mile OF painting
that rare atmosphere, to say
that he had just seen couple Of officers
ride away to the fort and old man Fol
som, with "the engineer feller," was !
coming out the front gate. They'd be !
along in a few minutes
So in their eagerness some OF the |
oungers strolled out In front and gazed |
westward up the long. broad. hard bat- |
IN street on which, in many a spot. the |
bunch grass of the prairie still fingered. |
II was a lovely summer night, warm, |
starlit, but the moon had early sunk TO |
rest, and the darkness was intense, yet /
the first men 10 come forth could have |
sworn they saw two horsemen. dim and |
go Looping across the broad /
from north TO south at the
irst cross streets. There was nothing
In horsemen being aboard at
hat hour. Horses were tetnered now In
'front.' of the hotel. What was strange
was that they passed within a mile OF |
Peters bar and didn't stop for a drink.
Men who are capable OF that neglect of
opportunity and the attendant privilege
If setting 'em up" for all hands could |
re nothing less than objects OF suspicion.
Two minutes later and somebody said.
Shut upi a frontierism for 'Hush!'
md all ears were turned expectant No,
here was no sound OF brisk. springy
on the elastic wooden walk.
Already men had noted that quick. alert.
gait OF the new officer. But
Shut tpv' was repeated when audible
nurmurs were made.
There's more fellers a-horseback up
'onder. Who In ellis out tonight?"
lueried the citizen with the keenest
'ars. Jimmy, boy, run up there and
cout. I'll give you dime
And Jimmy, nothing loath, was on