The National tribune., 1904-09-01


looking cuss.'' declared jeff. Then after
seeming to ponder deeply, Captain, this
whole affair looks mighty suspicious. This
is the road that the rebels waylay trains
on, the falls of the Verdigris is the very
place to do such job. If that young
fellow in the buekskins had been bring
| ing message from Col Phillips, it seems
to me he would have come right along the
road from Gibson; but we all saw him
coming across the prairie from toward
Grand River. And then his telling you
that he had lost I'hillips's letter is an
other suspicious circumstance. l just
glanced at the fellow as l passed him,
and it seemed to me that he had bad.
hangdog looking countenance. The more
| think about it the more suspicious the
whole affair looks. BY George, Captain,
l wouldn't be bit surprised to find that
he's n rebel spy sent out here by old Stand
Waite himself, to steer us right into their
clutches
Since yon mention it, put in the Cap
tain, Everything does look like its n put
up job. And the fellow seemed so con-
fused. too. when he pretended he had lost
that letter"
I'D certainly arrest him, if was you"
added Jeff. land keep a close watch on
him till we find out more about this bust
ness"
III do it, said Conkey, excitedly.
Here, Sergeant. take four men and go
back along the train and arrest that fell
low in the buckskin clothes who said he
had brought me message from Col.
Phillips. Be sure You disarm him. first
thing, and then bring him to me. Watch
him closely, and see that he don't drop
or swallow any papers he may have about
him. Keep sharp lookout for him
he may be slipping away by this time"
| jeff himself afterward gave me the fore
going particulars of his and Conkey's con-
| versatIon. Meantime, all unconscious of
the joke he was getting off on me, l was
casionally shaking hands and chatting
with some old friend among the Wagon
Bosses as the teams rolled by, among 9TH
ers meeting Bill Hickey, Bob Jenkins
George Anderson and Frank Underwood
all intimate friends, and the last named,
Underwood, brother-in-law of mine.
While thus occupied l was rudely in
terrupted by the aforesaid Sergeant and
his four cavalrymen surrounding me sud
denly, and notifying me that he had been
| sent to arrest me. / tried to persuade
him that there was some mistake, but he
would listen to no argument, and de-
manded roughly. holding his carbine in
threatening position,
"Unbuckle your belt and hand over that
pistol"
With which request l promptly COM
piled, and then asked him the cause of my
arrest
The Captain II tell you. Wen go see
him. And we rode up to the head of
the column. Just as We neared the head
of the train Jeff Anthony went gallOping
back along the road, but on the opposite
side of the wagons from me. / thought
of calling to him to vouch for me, but he
| seemed to be in such a hurry that l con-
cluded to wait a while. l didn't yet sus-
pect him of putting up such a joke on me.
On reaching Capt. Conkey's presence
| said to him, little Indignantly,
Captain, I've been arrested by your or
der, it seems. Will you please to inform
me why!"
young man." he replied, rather loftily,
the circumstances surrounding your pro-
fessed errand to me seem very suspicious,
on reflection, and until you can give a
more satisfactory explanation of your
movements shall have to hold you as a
prisoner
why, Captain. my errand is just what
| l told you-to bring you an order from
Col. Phillips to take this road and camp
| near the Nerdigris Falls, i'm order to save
the grass where our men are making
But" he interrupted, "Wby did you
come across the prairie instead of coming
by the direct road from Fort Gibson? and
how came you to lose the letter you claim
to have been bringing me? and why is
Col. Phillips SO particular to want me to
go to the falls! 1t all looks very strange,
Sir: very strange" So 80 -
-, What object do you suppose I could
have in misdirecting your l asked
What do you take me for!'
"A rebel spy, SIR he replied, looking
at me very sternly.
l laughed outright at the ridiculous idea
OF my being mistaken for rebel spy,
when there were number Of men in the
| outfit who had known me for some time
80, that can be easily settled" / said
who know me to be what l say / am
Capt Thomas's Wagon Master from Fort
Gibson"
Whom do you know here in the train ~
he asked.
why, jeff Anthony, Bob Jenkins. Bill
hickey, and several other Wagon Bosses"
l replied with confidence.
You seem to have learned the names
of some of our Wagon Masters but Jeff
Anthony just told me that he don't know
you, and advised me to place you under
arrest as "A suspicious character
| began 10 see .Jeff's hand i'm the whole
affair now. and langhingly tried to con-
vince the captain that it was practical
Joke Anthony was playing on me; but he
could not he made to believe 1.-THE cir
cumstantial evidence was too strong
against me. | then proposed to him to
send back in the train for some of the
Wagon Bosses that was acquainted with.
to get them TO vOuch for me. He agreed
to this and sent man to request the pres
encc OF Anthony, Hickey and jenkins at
my suggestion.
Jeff failed to come The other two.
however. soon put in an appearance, but
they had been posted by Jeff, and gave
me stony stare and shook their heads
when | asked them if they knew me
each lying rascal declaring solemnly that
he never saw me before.
Just then George Anderson and Frank
Underwood came up, and although both
were old acquaintance and good friends
Of mine, they, too, gave me the marble
heart and in reply to my question An
derson answered rather coldly.
Yes. l know YOU" And when asked
by Conkey.
What do you know about him?"
George replied hesitatingly, as though
reluctant to tell all the evil he knew of
me,
well, he used to be scout. or some
thing of the sort for Uncle Sam, but about
year ago he disappeared mysteriously
from Fort Scott, and we heard he had
gone over to the rebels. And that's the
last l know anything about him till