Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-29

Hazlett began to grow palpably nervous
and fitful as the second week in December
came, and a few days more would bring the
stage with its mall bags, and to the coming
of these the convalescing soldier looked for
ward with eager and intense Impotence.
By the 23d or oath of November the de-
tails of the battle royal between his COM
mand and the overwhelming force of
Apaches should have been received at San
Francisco and would have been telegraphed
all over the east.
By the 25th or Doth letters of congratula-
ton would surely be penned by mother
and the girls and the proud old soldier
father, and by the fair, jeweled hand he
loved to picture as he saw 1t last July, ca
ressing the glossy name of the horse she
loved. BY the 9th 2Sth such letters
should be speeding westward along the Mo-
hawk. By the 4th they should have left
Frisco for the fag end of the railway. BY
the 9th the blackboard should have started
across the desert with them from the Colo
RADIO crossing. BY the 9th or 10th they
should be at Prescott and the next heb
domadal trip of the dust-covered, cam
vas-topped, spring-bottomed stage should
bring them with their load of glowing
wOrdS-to him.
1t was cruel awakening Mrs. Hazlett
had not had the heart to tell him the half.
or indeed even a little. of what she feared.
She had begged her husband and Turner
to prepare him, and they had shrunk from
1t. There was still time, she argued. The
stage was due Saturday about SunSet-it
never came earlier, and Friday evening or
Saturday morning she would seek him and
gently break to him the actual nature of
the majors report.
Friday afternoon at four who should
come riding into the post from the old
Tonic trail-the road to Mcdowell, but AL
Sieber-the Scout of the Sierras"-with
Mexican packer and a brace of mules.
''They asked me to fetch along the letters
said he, to HaZlett and Turner who were
first to meet him. Got as many as dozen
for Mr. Fame" he added, as though he were
49,, o1nr,
all right. That young fellow didn't seem
to savvy Indian business, did he?-And,
d'you know, 1 somehow expected him to
do better"
How could he?" asked Turner bluntly.
How could he? Why. they're saying at
Mcdowell and Whipple he ran his nose into
a regular plant, and turned loose his pris-
oners. solalay and all, hopin' that that
tits a id lie" said Turner holly.
Then choked at Hazlett's warning glance
and uplifted hand. Fame, with his eyes
ablaze and red spot burning in each cheek,
stood at the doorway of the little office.
He had heard every syllable, and wrath
and Indignation trembled on his tongue as
he strove to speak.
Let me-tirst," said Hazlett, as impetu-
ously Fame came striding in. whoever
started that story, Sieber. was utterly ig-
norant of the facts-if nothing worse. NO,
Fame" he added gently, don't attempt to
speak now. Your captain and have set
you right-wlll see that you are Set right
everywhere"
well, gentlemen I'm more than sorry"
cried honest Al. all confusion and contri-
ton. But. why, it's that way In ell the
papers, in the majors report and-and 1t
isn't so at all? oh, I'm ID glad Of I'll"
IT'S lie and shame said Turner hot
ly again. And you deny 1t on my author
ity wherever you go. And we've sent the
true report. Piggott shall swallow the lie
before he's week older"
HE can't! He's gone already" said Sie-
Der. Ordered to Frisco and beyond
There's been HI to pay in the Modoc coun-
try"
Come with me, Fame" said Turner, gently
Come, and We'll get the letters a little
later" But Fame would not bulge. While
Sieber went on with the details of the mas
sacre the adjutant was sorting out the mail.
With a thick bunch of letters in his one
available hand the young soldier left the
office and shut himself IN his room. An
hour later when Turner knocked no an
swer came nor was there answer to sue
cessve tapping. He turned the knob, en-
tered and found his lieutenant lying face
downward on the little white-covered camp
bed the floor and coverlet Uttered with
newspaper clippings and dozens of closely
written pages in three or four different
hands. One letter, clutched in the one hand
left, was presently hurled across the room
Turner bent over the bed, and then with
fearful flush in his face and with fury in
his bloodshot eyes the young officer stag
gered to his feet and thrust back the out
stretched arm of DR.. Evans who came hur-
rying in. Clinching his right hand over his
head Fame turned on his friend and cap
tain:
by the God that made me. Captain Tur-
ner, if have to follow that blackguari to
the depths of hell he cried, I'm thrash
the truth out Of him--or kill him"
And this was before the fever could fairly
have taken hold that for long days after
held him helpless in its grasp
CTo be continued tomorrow