Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-17
By GEN. CHARLES KING.
Copyright, 1902. by The Hobart Company.

dropped it, he turned it over to the corporal of his relief, and so it found its way toward reveille into the hands of old McGann, wheezing about his work of building fires, and Michael laid it on the majors table and thought no more about it until two hours later when the major reused and read. and then row began that
 ended only with the other worries
 of his incumbency at Frayne.
 Secretly Flint was doing his best to discover the bearer when came the bold riders from the north with their thrilling news. Secretly, he had been over at the guard-house interviewing as best he could, by the aid of an unwilling clerk who spoke a little Sioux, a young Indian girl whom Crabb's convalescent squad, four in number, had most unexpectedly run down when sent scouting five miles up the Platte, and brought, scream ing, scratching and protesting, back to Frayne. Her pony had been killed in the dash to escape, and the two In- dians with her seemed to be young lads not yet we'll schooled as war riors, for they rode away pellmell over the prairie, leaving the girl to the mercy of the soldiers. Flint believed her to be connect ed in some way with the coming of the disturbing note, which was why he compelled her detention at the guard-house. Under Webb's regime. she would have been questioned by Hay, or some one of his household. Under Flint, no one of Hays family or retainers could be allowed to see her. He regarded it as most sig nificant that her shrillest screams and fercest resistance should have been reserved until just as her guardians were bearing her past the traders house. She had the light little prison room to herself all that wiptry morn ing, and there, disdainful of bunk or chair, enveloped in her blanket, she squatted disconsolate, greeting all questioners with defiant and fearless shruggings and inarticulate protest. Not a syllable of explanation, not a shred of news could their best en- deavors wiring from her. Yet her glittering eyes were surely in search of some one, for she looked up eager ly every time the door was opened, and Flint was just beginning to think he would have to send for Mrs. Hay when the couriers came with theh stirring news and he had to drop other affairs in order to forward this important matter to headquarters.
 Once again. it seems. Trooper Ken nedy had been entrusted with dis tinguished duty. for it was he who came trotting foremost up the road, waving his dispatch on high. A com rade from Blake's troop. following through the ford. had turned to the left and led his horse up the steep ta the quarters nearest the flagstaff. This time there was no big-hearted post commander to bid the Irishman refresh himself ad libitum. Flint wa. alone at his office. at the moment, and knew not this strange trooper, and looked asknnce at his heterodox garb and wsr-worn guise. Such laxity. said he to himself. was not permitted where he had hitherto served, which was never on Indian campaign. Ken nedy. having delivered his dispatches, stood mutely expectsnt of question, and struggling with an Irishman's enthusiastic eagerness to tell the de- tails of fhe heavy fight. But Flint had but one method of getting at facts the official reports-and Kennedy stood unnoticed until, impatient at last. he gueTied:
 Reg pardon. sir. but may we put up our horSes
 Who's we?- asked the major. bluatly. -And where are the Others7T
 -TriaT. sir-Cspt. Flakes troop. He went to the captains quarters uith a pzckzge--
 He should have reported himself first to the post commander said the major. who deemed it advisable tO make prompt impression on these szvage hunters of savage game
 Thin wasn't his Orihers- surr-- said Kennedy. with bealous- but Eis- guided loyalty to his comrades and his regiment
 No one has a right. sir to give orders that are contrary ia spirit to the regaEssions and customs of ths Service-- z1suer-d the eomzzH1sr- uith prcp.er sHSseTify- -Nr- WIlkias- ke oonfiaued- as rhe barly qusrter- master cane b1<tEnE iu- have the ether trOsPer sszt to rsport ss szes