Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-07

which meant liberal education in plainscraft and frontier duty. Twice 20 times, probably, had he said he would welcome chance to go again with Capt. Ray, and now the chance had come, so had the spoken order, and, so far from receiving it with re- joicing, it was more than apparent that he heard it with something like dismay.
 But Webb was not the man to either explain or defend an order, even to a junior for whom he cher ished such regard. Field felt in stinctively that it was not because of wish expressed in the past he was so suddenly bidden to take the field. Rays senior subaltern, as he has been said, was absent, being on duty at West Point, but his junior was on hand, and Ray really did not need. and probably had not applied for, the services of MT. Field. It was all the majors doing, and all, req soned he, because the major deemed it best that for the time being his young adjutant should be sent away from the post Impulse prompted Field to ask wherein he had offended or failed. Reflection taught him, however, that he would be wise to ask no questions. It might well be that Webb knew more of what had happened during the night than he, Beverly Field, would care to have mentioned.
 "You can be ready, can you not?" asked the major.
 q am ready now, sir" was the brief, firm reply, but the tone told unerringly that the lad resented and in heart rebelled at the detail. "To whom shall I turn over the post fund, sir?"
 1T do not care to have you trans fer funds or-anything, Field. This is but temporary affair, one that will take you away perhaps g fort night"
 "I prefer that it should be perma- nent, sir" was the young officers sudden interruption, and, though his eyes were blazing, he spoke with ef- fort, his face still white with mingled sense of indignity and indignation.
 Gently, MT. Field," said Webb, with unruffied calm, even while uplifting a hand in quiet warning. "We will consider that, if need be, on your re- turn. Meantime, if you desire, will receipt to you for the post fund or any other public money"
 That is the trouble, sir. The best I can do is give you an order for it. Post treasurers, as a rule, have not had to turn over their funds at four o'clock in the morning." which state ment was true enough, however in judicious it might be to. bruit it. Mild-mannered commanding officers sometimes amaze their subordinates by most unlocked for and unwelcome eruptiveness of speech when they feel that an unwarrantable liberty has been taken. Webb did not take fire. He turned icy.
 "The quartermaster's safe can be opened at any moment, MT. Field," said he, the blue gray eyes glitter ing, dangerously. T presume your funds are there."
 Ut was because the quartermaster would not open it at any moment that took them out and placed them elsewhere" hotly answered Field, and not until then did Webb remember that there had been quite fiery talk, followed by hyperborean estrange- ment, between his two staff officers, and now, as the only government safe at the post was in the office of the quartermaster, and the only other one was Bill Hays big Phoenix" at the store, it dawned upon the major that it was there Mir. Field had slowed his packages of currency-a violation of orders pure and simple and that was why he could not pro- duce the money on the spot. Webb reflected. If he let Ray start at dawn and held Field back until the trader was astir, it might be eight o'clock before the youngster could set forth. By that time Ray would be perhaps a dozen miles to the northward, and with keen-eyed Indian scouts noting the march of the troop and keeping vigilant watch for possible strag- glers, it might be sending the lad to certain death, for Fodder had said in so many words the Sioux about him had declared for war, had butchered three ranchmen on the Dry Fork, had fired on and driven in his herd guards and wood choppers, and, what started with Lame Wolf's big band, would spread to Stabber's lit- tie one in less than no time, and what spread to Stabber's would soon reach a host of the Sioux. More over, there was another reason. It would give Field opportunity for fur ther conference with-inmates of the traders household, and the major had his own grave reasons for seeking 10 prevent that.
 Your written order will be sufh- cient, Mir. Field" said he. Send me memorandum of the amounts and l will receipt at once. so that you can go without further thought of them. And now,- with a glance at the clock, you have hardly half an hour in which to get ready"
 Raising his hand in mechanical salute. Field faced about, cast one look at Blake. standing uncomfort- ably at the window. and then strode angerinR away to his quarters. smarting under a sense of unmerited rabuLe wei realizing that as matters