The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-12-30

however, and was not to be caught. !
He knew Bill Hay, his past and his
popularity among tie feainen. He
knew that if they meant to kill him
at all they would not have taken
the trouble to cart him miles before
hand. He dropped the stern chase
then and there, and on the following
day skirted the foothills away to the
east and, circling round to the breaks
of the Powder as he reached the open
country, struck and hard hit scout
ing band of Sioux, and joined the
general three days later, when most
he was needed, near the log pail
sades of Old Fort Beecher.
Then there had been more or less
of mysterious coming and going
among the half-breed hangers-on
about the traders store, and these
were things the new post commander
knew not how to interpret, even
when informed of them. He saw
Mrs. Hay but once or twice. He
moved into the quarters of Maj.
Webb, possessing himself, until his
own should arrive, Of such of the ma
ior's belongings as the vigilance of
| Mistress Mccain would suffer. He
stationed big guards from his two
started more hard swearing among
his own men, for getting only two
nights in bed" than had been heard
at Frayne in long months of less
pious post commandership. He
strove to make himself agreeable to
the ladies, left lamenting for their
lords, but as luck would have it, fell
foremost into the clutches of the
quartermaster's wife, the dominant
and unterrifed Wilkins.
Just what prompted that energetic
and, in many ways, estimable wo-
; man, to take the new major into
close communion, and tell him not
only what she knew, but what she
, thought, about. all manner of mat
tiers at the post, can never be Justly
, determined. But within the first
few days of his coming, and on the
!. eve of the arrival of Gen. Field, Mai.
Flint was in possession of the story
: of how devoted young Field had
been to Esther Dade, and how cruelty
he had Tilted her for the brilliant
Miss Flower, cher that was gone
with the Sioux" The differences be-
tween her stout, veteran lege and
the smooth-faced STRIPPING had given
her text to start with. The story of
the money lost had filtered from her
lips. and finally that of other pecca-
| fri, fol II 10
post adjutant, whom, as she said,
"The meejor had to rejuice and sind
to the front all along of his doin's
in CARSON" Dade was gone. There
was no man save Wilkins to whom
Maj. Flint felt that he could appeal
for confirmation or denial of these
stories. DIR. Waller was his senior
in the service by ten years at least,
and type of the old-time officer and
gentleman of whom such as Flint
stood ever in awe. He preferred,
therefore, as he thought, to keep the
doctor at distance, to make him
feel the immensely of his, the post
commanders station, and SO, as Will
kins dare not disavow the sayings of
his wife, even had he been SO mind
ed, the stories stood.
Flint was thinking of then. this
very evening when DR.. Waller, hap
pening to meet him on his way from
hospital, briefly said that Gen, Field
should be with them on the morrow
"He leaves Rock Creek tonight, hav-
ing hired transportation there. 1 had
hoped our lad might be in better spir-
it's by this time"
The major answered vaguely How
could lad with all these SINS upon
! bis soul be in anything but low spir-