Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-06
Fields. He's-missing..

"Missing!" cried Ray, in consterna'
 ton, as he hurriedly opened the page
 "In Gods name what do you mean?'
 T mean he isn't in quarters and hasn't been in bed tonight. Now need him-and it's two o'clock"
 Lame Wolf out? That's bad in it. self! He's old Red Clouds nephew and brute at best. Stabber's peo- pie there yet?" he suddenly asked whirling on his heel and gazing west , ward.
 l Cant mako it out even with my glasses. All dark as pitch among the cottonwoods, but Kennedy, who made the ride, says he saw smokes back of Eagle Butte just before sunset" ] Then you can bet they won't be l there at dawn-the warriors at least l Of course the women, the kids and ] old men will stay if only for blind He had 40 fighting men, and Wolf's got at least 200. What started the row?"
 "The arrest of those two young bucks on charge of Killing Finn, the sheep herdcr, on the Piney lastNweek. I don't believe the Sioux began it. There's a bad lot among those . damned rustlers," said Webb, snap ping the glass into its well-worn case. ''But no matter who starts, we have to finish it. Old Fodder is worried and wants help. Reckon I'll have to send you, Ray"
 Ready whenever you say, sir" was the prompt and soldierly reply. Even marriage had not taken the edge from Rays keen zest for cam paigning. Shall have out my ser geant and cooks at once? We'll need to take rations."
 "Yes, but wait with me till I wire the chief at Laramie. Come to the office." So saying the post commander turned and strode away. The cap tain glanced at the upper window where the light now dimly burned, but blind and window were open, and a woman's form appeared.
 Its all right, Maidie," called the captain, softly. May have to start out on scout at daybreak. That's all. Home soon," and with a reas- suring wave of the hand, turned again to his stanch friend and com mander.
 T hate to send you-again," said Webb. You were out in June, and the others have had only short scouts since"
 Don't bother. Whats . cavalry man for? Shall we? -I-can't be- Heve it-some how," and Ray stopped, glanced inquiringly at the major, and then nodded toward the doorway of the third house on the row. The ground floor was occupied by Field as his quarters, the up-stair rooms by Putney and Ross.
 Come in," said the major, briefly, and, pushing through the gate, they softly entered the dark hallway and struck light in the front room. A wood fire was smouldering on the andirons in the wide brick chimney place. An open book, face downward, was on the center table. Two em- broidered slippers lay as though hur- riedly kicked off, one under the sofa beyond the mantlepiece, the other halfway across the worn carpet. Striking another match at the door way, Ray passed on to the little inner room-the bed chamber. On the bed, carelessly thrown, were the young of- ficer's best and newest forage cap, undress uniform coat and trousers. He had used them during the evening when calling at the Hays. On the floor were the enameled leather boots he wore on such occasions. The bed was otherwise untouched. Other boots and shoes in orderly row stood against the wall beside the plain, un- painted wardrobe. The spurred rid ing boots and the knee-tight brooches were gone. Turning back to the front room, Ray found the major, his face gray and disturbed, holding forth to him an open envelope. Ray took it and glanced at the superscription. Lieut.. Beverly Field, Fort Frayne," and returned it without word. Both knew the strange, angular, slashing handwriting at glance, for both had seen and remarked it. be- fore. It was Nanette Flowers.
 Dropping the envelope on the table he had found it on the fioor-Webb led the way to the open air.. There was no time to compare views. There stood the sergeant.
 "sir," said he, with a snap of the gloyed left hand at the brown tube nestling in the hollow of the shoulder, Number Five reports that he has heard galloping hoofbeats up the bench twice in the last half hour, and thought he saw distant horsemen- three-couldn't say whether they were Indians or cowboys.
 Very good, sergeant" was the majors brief answer. "Send for the telegraph operator and my orderly"
 The sergeant turned.
 One moment" called Ray-''your pardon, major-my first sergeant, too. and-sergesnt. have any sentries re- ported horses taken out from the stables to-niphtp-