Evening star., 1903-07-27

beforehand and was coming down again at
once. 80 Downs. the striker. told him.
when some soldier ran in to say the lieu
tenant had been half killed by Capt Wren.
Plume heard him talking and came down
the low steps to meet and confer with
him. while the others. men and women. lis
tened eagerly. expectant OF Developments.
Then Hart became Vsibly embarrassed.
Yes Mr.. Blakely had come up from below
and begged the loan of pony saying he
must get to the post at once to see Major
Plume. Hadn't he seen the major? No.
Then Harts embarrassment increas sed. Yes.
something had happened. Blakely had told
him and in fact, they-he-all OF them
had something very important on hand He
didn't know what to do now, with Mr..
Blakely unable to speak. and. to the mani
fest disappointment OF the swift ga thering
group. Hart finally begged the major to
step aside with him moment and he
would tell him what he knew. All eyes fol-
lowed them, then followed the major as he
came hurrying back with heightened color
and went straight to DR.. Graham at the
sufferers side. Can 1 speak with him
IS ne Weil enough to answer question or
two?' he asked, and the doctor shook his
head. Then, by the Lord. I'll have to
wire to PRESCOTT said Plume. and left the
room at once. What is it?" feebly queried
the patient. now. haf-conscious. But the
doctor answered only Hush! No talking
now. Mr.. Blakely' and bade the others
leave the room and let him get to sleep.
But tattoo had not sounded that still and
In circulation about the post. brought up
from the traders store by pack-train hands
Who said they were there when Mr. Blake
ly came in and asked for Hart-"wanted
him right away. bad" was the way they
put 1t. Then 1t transpired that Mr.. Blakely
had found no sport at bug hunting and had
fallen into doze while waiting for winged
insects. and when he awoke 1t to make
startling discOvery-hiS beautiful Geneva
watch had disappeared from one pocket and
a fiat note case. carried in an inner breas st
pocket of his white duck blouse. and con-
taining about one hundred dollars. was also
gone. Some vagrant soldier. possibly or
some 'hard-luck outfit" of prospectors
probably. had come upon him sleeping and
had made way with his few valuables Two
soldiers had been down stream. fishing for
what they called Tonic trout but they
were looked up instantly and proved to he
men above suspicion. Two prospectors had
been at Harts incoming. and had ridden
on down stream toward o'clock. There
hangers-on about the traders "layin' fer a
job, had casually limited at the prospect
of game down at Snicker's-a ranch five
miles below. Here. too. was something
robbed, as now seemed more than likely
Camp Sandy felt that the perpetrator must
still be close at hand and Of the packer
or prospector class.
the roll-call, then invariably held at half
past 8, Hart came driving back in a buck
board, with a lantern and passenger, the
latter one OF the kesnest trailers among the
sergeapts Of Capt. Sanders troop. and
Sanders was with the major as the man
sprang from the wagon and stood at salute.
Found anything, sergeant" asked
Plume.
Not boot track. sir. but the lieutenants
own"
mo tracks at all-in that soft sand.' ex-
claimed the major, disappointed and unbe-
uev1ng. His wife had come slowly forward
from within doors. and bending slightly
toward them, stood listening.
mo boot tracks. sir. There's others
though-Tonto moccasins!"