The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-10-14

was acting in his place that set them
all to specializing on the cause. One
of their number, promenading with
Lieut.. Hartley, glanced up at Maj.
Webb as they passed him by, with
such word of mingled question and
reproach in her soft blue eyes that
his heart for the moment smote him.
He had never seen Esther Dade look
ing so languid or wan, yet more of
her and for her he had been thinking
during the week gone by than of any
other girl in or out of the army. To-
day, however, there was another he
eagerly sought to see, and, with
something akin to keen disappoint-
ment, noted that she was not among
the strollers along the board walk or
the chatting groups about the steps
and gateways. Nor once during her
brief visit had she as yet missed
guard mounting. Now her absence
was significant. In the very eyes of
the little party Fastening toward him
subalterns-he read question and
cross-question, and was thankful to
see Hay, the trader, trudging up the
walk to join him. So seldom did the
old frontiersman enter the quad
ranglc that people remarked upon his
coming-remarked still more when
Webb hurried down to meet him.
YOU'RE right about the horses,
major said Hay, hopping moist
and troubled face with a big bandana.
My racer and my best single-footer,
Dan, were out last night. Dams sad
die cloth was wet and so was Har-
ney's. Someone outside has got false
lleys-Pll put new padloclls on at once
but for the life of me L can't
think who would play me such
trick. To steal the horses-run
'cm off to Rawlins or up the Sweet
water or off to the Hills-I could I'M
derstand that! but to borrow them
for an hour or two-why, it beats me
hollow And Hay in deep perpleNity
leaned against the low fence and al
most imploringly gazed into the ma
jor's face. They all leaned on Webb.
ANY idea who they were?" asked
viz
Not the skin of shadow, 'cept
that one man rode shorter stirrups'n
| do. They forgot to set 'em back.
They had my California saddle on
Dan and that light Whitman of mine
on Harvey"
'Sure it was two men?" queried
Webb, looking straight into the ira
der's eyes.
''Vfnat else could it be?" demanded
Hay, in no little excitement.
"Well, 1 thought possibly Miss
Flower might have been moved to
take moonlight ride. No reason
why she shouldn't, you know, and
not wishing to disturb you
"Then she would have used her
own sidesaddle. What's she doing
with a mans? Besides, she'd have
told mel"
"Oh! You've seen her then this
morning? thought perhaps she
wasn't up" hazarded Webb.
up? Why, hang it, she was up
at daybreak-up hours ago, my wife
says. Haven't you seen her? She's
over here somewhcrc?"
No, Webb had not seen her, and
together the two started in search,
first to the flagstaff, and there at the
point of bluff beyond the Rays
there she stood, gazing up the Platte
toward The Indian village through
pair of signal glasses that weighed
heavily in her daintily gloved hands.
Capt. Tracy, a bachelor assistant
surgeon. stood faithfully by her side,
listening to her lively chatter, with
ears that absorbed and eyes that
worshiped.
Come away" said Webb. 81 have
an order on you for Fields currency
in your safe. When are yoa going