Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-10
A Daughter 2! the Sioux
By GEN. CHARLES KING.
Copyright, 1902, by The Hobart Company,
CHAPTER VII.


 As Webb had predicted, even be- fore nine o'clock, came prompt, spir- tied response from Laramie, where the colonel had ordered the four troops to prepare for instant march, and had bidden the infantry to be ready for any duty the general might order. From Omaha-departmen headquarters-almost on the heels of the Laramie wire came cheery word from their gallant chief: sComing to join you noon train to- day. Cheyenne i:30 tomorrow. Your action in sending Rays troop approved. Hold others in readiness Co move. at moments notice. Wire Further news North 'Platte, Sidney or Cheyenne to meet me-"
 Everybody, of course, was aware SY eight o'clock that Field had gone with Ray, and while no officers pre- enmed to ask if it was because Ray, or Field, had applied for the detail. 10 woman would have been restrained therefrom by any fear of Webb. We'll he realized this fact, and, lodging the First that sought to waylay him on the walk, he had later intrenched himself, as it were, in his office, where Dade, Blake and the old post surgeon had; sat with him in solemn conclaye while Bill Hay brought his clerk, bar keeper, storekeeper, Pete, the general utility man, and even "Crapaud," the halfbreed, to swear in succession they had no idea who could have tempered with either the safe or the stables. Closely had they been cross-ex- smined; and, going away in turn, they told of the nature of the cross Examination; yet to no one of their number had been made known what had occurred to cause such close questioning. Hay had been forbidden 10 speak of it, even to his household. The officers-of-the-day were sworn to secrecy. Neither Wilkins nor the act ing adjutant was closeted with the council, and neither, therefore, could do more than guess at the facts. Yet that somebody knew, in part at least, the trend of suspicion, was at once apparent to Webb and his councillors when, about nine o'clock, he took Blake and Dade to see those sig nificant "bar shoe'' v, hoof prints. Every one of them lad disappeared.
 By jove!" said Webb, q know now I should have set sentry with orders to let no man walk or ride about here. See! He's used his foot to smear this--and this-and here again.
 There in dozen places were signs old Indian trailers read as they would read an open book. Places where, pivoting on the heel, heavy foot had crushed right and leftAinto the yield- ing soil of the roadway, making con- centric. circular grooves and ridges of sandy earth, where. earlier in he morning, Dams and Harney's dainty hoof-prints were the only new i'm pressions. For nearly 50 yards had this obliterating process been carried on, and in dozen spots, until the road dipped over the rounding edge, and, hard and firm now, went winding down to the flats. Here Webb, with Dade and Hay, returned, while Blake meandered on, musing over what he had been told. Its a government heel, not a cowboys" had Hay said, hopefully. of the print of that pivot ing lump of leather.
 ''That gives no clew to the wearer," answered Blake. Our men often sell their new boots. or give their old ones, to these hangers-on about the . post. So far as I'm concerned. the care with which the print has been erased is proof to me that the major saw just what he said. Somebody about Hays place was mighty anx- ious to cover his tracks"
 But a dozen "somebodies" besides the stablemen hung there at all hours of the day. infesting the broad ve- randa, the barroom and stores. striv- ing to barter the skin of coyote. skunk or beaver, or, when they had nothing to sell, pleading for an un- earned drink. Half dozen of these furtive. beetle-browed, swarthy sons of the prairie lounged there now. as the elder officers and the trader re- turned. while Blake went on his way exploring. With downcast eyes he followed the road to and across a sandy watercourse in the low ground. and there. in two or three places found the fresh imprint of that same bar shoe. just as described by Webb. Then with long, swift strides he came stalking mp the hill again. pass ing the watchful eyes about the cor ral without stop. and only check ing speed as he nsared the home stead of the Hays. where. once again, he became engrossed in studying the road and the hard pathways at the side Something that he saw. or fan -ied that he saw. perhaps a dozen yards from the traders gate. induced him to stop. scrutinize. turn. and. with searching eyes. to cross diag- onally the road in the direction of the stables. then again to retrace his steps and return tO the eastward -zde. Just as he concluded his sC.rch. and once more went hriskly on his way. a bIithe voice hailed him from an upper window. and the ra- diant face and gieaming white teeth of Nauette Flower appeared between the opcning blinds. One might have said he expectsd both the sight and ouestion:
 -IyoSt aurthing. Cant. Blakel-