Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-10-25
CHAPTER VII.
A WOMAN'S DARING.


With infinite sympathy Benton and
the orderlies aided DR.. Chiffon to har-
ness his horses to the old fashioned,
side-seated, half bus, half ambulance
he had brought with him from Warren.
ton-borrowed from some field hos
pital, as the best available vehicle in
which to go for and convey his
wounded boy. The doctor was tremu-
lous with dread and distress on account
OF his beloved daughter, and utterly
unable to account for her strange dis
appearance
He drove away, with all speed toward
stone bridge, pass and papers in his
outer pocket, so as to be able to
promptly show his credentials to any
sentries or patrols, and Benton was
trying, half an hour later, to satisfac-
torily account for what he had heard
and thought he had seen that day,
when Carver came for him to say his
horse was dead lame. He had been
directed to remain behind and to see
the last detachments across the Run,
then to rejoin the chief as soon as he
had found Benton. This, therefore.
was Benton's chance and he begged.
Let me go back" said he, land you
take your orderly's horse, if you can't
get another, and report to the general
in the morning"
And so, about ten o'clock Fred had
reached the stone bridge, found it
held by a small guard, and with that
guard was young officer who had been
Rnhincnn
hours before and had heard all about
the circumstances connected with Miss
Chilton's disappearance-had indeed
been there for some time and had seen
her. She had come to the rear dool
with Mr.. Henry about five o'clock. and
very sweetly and smilingly had told
the guards her brother was sleeping at
last and that she needed a little fresh
air. Lieut.. Ferguson was in command
of the guard, And you know what an
eye for pretty girl Ferguson has,"
and he begged her to consider the pre-
misses hers, and probably wanted to
walk with her, but for 20 minutes she
tripped about the old, dismantled
garden, going all around it as though
interested in what was left of the
hollyhocks and sunflowers, and, about
six, Lewis came and called her and
said supper was ready, and she seemed
reluctant to go in, but finally yielded
telling Ferguson that if there were no
objections she would finish her walk
later. 1t might be dark and chilly, but
she knew the garden how and would
throw shawl over her head Ferguson
said, by all means" and sure enough,
right after dark, out she came again,
slim and fragile looking. but we'll
wrapped up, and Henry begged her not
to stay out long. We saw her fitting
about in the dim light of the camp
IRE and lanterns a moment or two
then she seemed to take to the outer
edge of the enclosure. and then. by
Jove, she disappeared totally. They
hunted everywhere. and while they
were hunting Capt Carver rode ur
with orders for Ferguson and was told
what had happened. He was COM
PEELED to leave at once, but the search
continued. ut is a perfect mystery y
said the lieutenant. removing his cap
and wiping his brow.
Then while they were talking, the
sentries challenged at the bridge, and,
to the amaze of Benton. who should
appear but old DR.. Chiffon with his
country omnibus and the strange ex-
PLANTATION that he had lost the road
got way south toward the lower fords
and had been turned back by no less a
parsonage than Gen. Anger, whom he
had met at Washington several years
before when the general was a cap
tain of regulars. Benton's guarantee
to the guard was sufficient. and they
let the doctor go on his westward way
and Benton went with him. that he
might give the anxious father these
further particulars as they trotted
along the dim, shadowy vista of the
famous old thoroughfare. Benton had