The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-01-04


 had been hiding ln a dry ditch sudden ly lcaped up before the horscs- His story was the familiar one. An emi- grant camp had been beset by the hos tiles at night. a score of men. women and children wiped out. and the boy had escaped. he knew not how. The soldiers claimed the orphan as their own. and ln a way Company B adopt ed him.
 For the first year or two lt was feared that relatives might turn up or that the colonel would send him away Co be adopted and cared for by civil Inns. but these calamities did not hap pen. The boy gave his name as Stanley Martin. and SO the chaplain wrote h down ln making a record. but the sol diers called him Billy from the arst day Co the last He was a bright cheerful youngstcr by nature. and aft CT time had bluuted his grief no one laughed Oftener than Billy. The pet ting be received trom the men Of the company would have spoiled most klds but It made Billy none the worse. He might have picked up profanity s,lhshncss and braggadocio, but he never did. He was encouraged to smoke and chew. but be did not fall Into those bad habits At the age of twelve he was better educated than some of the cOrpoCals, and at fourteen the colnmlssary took him on as a clerk.
 How lt was arranged does not mat ter. but year later Billy became Company B's buglcr He had been a punn until he could be taught nothing more. Ills bugle calls were music to the whole regiment. and let others wind thc horn as they might theE notes could deceive no one And at fifteen be was as fresh faced and hon est looking lad as any father or mother could have wished Co can son. There wasn't an officer in the regiment who wouldn't have been glad to chip in for purse Co send the boy Co some school In the states and give him a show to make his way In civil life, but Billy had determined on a soldiers career and begged to De permitted to stay with the Seventh.
 Soon after his promotion the Indiana who had somehow held on to them selves for four or Ave years, dug up the h-tea-t and took Co the warpath- News reached Fort McPherson after a hlt that bad or them were raiding down smoky valley. There were but two compau.es at the fort just then, and they held themselves In readiness to be ordered out nt any moment it was six miles from the post over to the valley. and many a time during the days of peace Billy had mounted the Indian pony given him by the quarter master and ridden over Co Wharton's ranch. Wharton himself was Jolly and good nnturcd. his wife was motherly and kind hearted. and their daughter Kate. a year younger than the bugier. was handsome enough to set boys heart nuttcrlng. The soldiers caught on after awhile and had their jokes at BHly's eyrcasc. but they dld not go foo far Even thc toughest of the men always respected the boys feelings He blushed and stammered when they fauched At bis love affair. but he went iust as often Co Whartons.
 One day. and for the first time be was sent there officially. The hostiles were taking In the whole length of the valley. beating back or dodging the forces sent out. and lf the whartons dld not seek the shelter of the fort they were certain Co fall victims with in a dny or two. other settlers had come in. but Wharton argued that the marauders would turn back before his piaee was reached The colonel of the Seventh had written him almost a peremptory crGer to come In without an hours delay. and Billy wus the messenger depCted Co carry it He hnd a fast pony. was good rider and had a cool head. and lt was argued that hc would hc several hours ahead Inf danger. A light Winchester and a belt of cartridges were given him> and it was only when he was on his way that any one noticed the bugle slung to bis hack. He rode at a fust pace and reached Whart0n's without adventure. The message must have convinced the ropchman of the necessity 0f haste. for be brought up his wagon and began loading lt with household effects lt was while thus engngvd thut Che In Ht,r,s enuta uf.lu him
 Rlny had left the fort at 10 o'clock in the forenoon. It could be figured out that IT Wharton refused to come the boy would be back at half past F. st the latest. If Wharton accompanied him back. then lt might be an hour later. It came 1 o'clock. and lt came 2 and 8. and there was no sign of Billy Then the colonel ordered out Company I for a scout There were only seven. tv men. but .t was believed they could fake care of any force likely to be met vi.h that Car down the valley. The orders were Co ride on until they found the boy. and the troop was no sooner eleor cf Che stockade than the horses were put to the gallon. They hoped tc meet Billy before the crcst ot Snake hin was reached. but when a halt was made on the summit to breathe the horses and thr troopers looked down