Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-15

sure of it. Pete could talk Sioux better than he could jabber English. He declared the Indians were in tho hills by thousands, and were going to take Hay and the young lady away off somewhere to be held for safe keeping. He said the two troops that, never even halting at Frayne, had pushed out on the trail, would only get into trouble if they tried to enter the hills from the south, and that they would never get the captives, wherein Pete was right, for away out among the spurs and gorges of the range, 50 miles from Frayne, the pursuers came up- on the wreck of the wagon at the foot of an acclivity, up which force of Sioux had gone in single file. Many warriors it would seem, how ever, must have joined the party on the way, and from here-where with the wagon was found Hays stout box, bereft of its contents-in four different directions the pony tracks of little parties crossed or climbed the spurs, and which way the cap- tives had been taken, Capt. Billings, the commander, could not determine. What the Sioux hoped he might do was divide his force into four de- tachments and send one on each trail. Then they could fall upon them, one by one. and slay them at their leisure. Billings saw the game, however, and was not to be caught. He knew Bill Hay, his past and his popularity among the redmen. He knew that if they meant to kill him at all they would not have taken the trouble to cart him miles before hand. He dropped the stern chase then and there, and on the following day skirted the foothills away to the east and, circling round to the breaks of the Powder as he reached the open country, strueky and hard Init a scOiit- ing band of Sioux, and joined the general three days later, when most he was needed, near the log pali- sades of Old Fort Beecher.
 Then there had been more or less of mysterious coming and going among the half-breed hangers-on about the traders store, and these were things the new post commander knew not how to interpret, even when informed of them. He saw Mrs. Hay but once or twice. He moved into the quarters of Maj. Webb. possessing himself, until his own should arrive, of such of the ma jor's belongings as the vigilance of Mistress McGann would suffer. He stationed big guards from his two small companies about the post and started morerhard swearing among his own men, for getting only two nights in bed" than had been heard at Frayne in long months of less pious post .commandership. He strove to make himself agreeable to the ladies, left lamenting for their lords, but as luck would have it, fell foremost into the clutches of the quartermaster's wife, the dominant and unterrified Wilkins. t.,. s..,
 Just what prompted that energetic and, in many ways, estimable wo- man, to take the new major into close communion. and tell him not only what she knew, but what she thought, about all manner of mat ters at the post, can never be justly determined. But within the first few days of his coming, and on the eve of the arrival of Gen. Field, Maj. Flint was in possession of the story of how devoted young Field had been to Esther Dade, and how cruelty he had tilted her for the brilliant Miss Flower, ''her that was gone with the Sioux" The differences be- tween her stout, veteran liege and the smooth-faced stripling had given her text to start with. The story of the money lost had filtered from her lips, and finally that of other pecca- dilIoes, attributable to the young post adjutant, whom, as she said. ''The 'meejor had to rejuice and sind to the front sll along of his doin's in gar'son.- Dade was gone. There was no man save Wilkins to whom Mai. Flint felt that he could appeal for confirmation or denial of these stories. Dr. Waller was his seuior in the service by ten years at least. and a type of the old-time officer and gentleman of whom such as Flint stood ever in awe. He preferred. therefore. as he thought. to keep the doctor at a distance. to make him feel the imnensity of his. the post commanders station. and so. as Will kins dare not disavow the sayings of his wife. even had he been 60 mind cd. the stories stood
 Flint was thinking of them this very evening when Dr. Waller. hap pening to meet him on his way from hospital. briefly said that Gen Field shoHId be with them on the morrow He leaves Rock Greek tonight. hav- ing hired transportation there l had hoped our lad might be in better sFir- it's by this time
 The major answered vaguely. How could lad with e1 these sins upon Lis soul be ia anything but low sPir- its7 Here uss brand to b> s1stchrd