The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-24


10 man. Very WELL" he said. Those
twelve hours accounted for, Matthews
was shown innocent of planting the
pole Tell me what you did yester-
day from revelly on"
Slept till stables
Il know that's SOL said Fraser.
After thatY Oliver asked.
Il goes into the stockade Little
Thief was carving his bride"
The captain glanced at Fraser. The
latter nodded back.
Il remember" said Oliver slowly.
Them"
Cards till revelly"
The listening officers laughed.
But there was no softening Of the
captains face. WHO played with
you?"
Matthews indicated the sutler and
the sergeant by a sideways move of
the head. Them two" he answered.
"BlakelyT
"True-true. And Blakely gave an
other bounce.
Sergeant
'True's fairs Hi know. sir"
The thirty-six hours were now Gov
cred. Oliver sat down "That'n do
want Squaw Charley and the men who
have been on duty at the stockade since
the command left. Matthews, you
may go"
Matthews bowed, Blakely and the
sergeant saluted and the three with
drew. Outside, beyond hearing, they
exchanged congratulatory shakes of
the hand
My, but the danderr' breathed the
relieved sutler, rolling his apple round
head. 81 was that scairtr'
Make you happreciate the K. Ho.
Wen you got 'im," returned Kippls
sagely.
Matthews shrugged his shoulders
pityingly. But he hao nothing to say.
The three gone, Oliver had turned to
those with him. "a complete alibi."
he said
81 knew It," said Fraser. But l
wanted you to get it first hand"
You knew?"
YES sir. And hope you'll be easy
on Kippis. He and Blakely have been
helping me keep tab on Matthews to
prevent the very thing that's hap
pened."
An hour later a second group of men
gathered in the captains front room
These were the. troopers for whom the
commanding officer had asked. With
them came Squaw Charley, quaking in
his feathers, f1inching at every look
AS Oliver appeared the wretched In
dian was half dragged, half pushed
before him.
The examination was short The SEN
tries who had tramped the high board
walk vOuched for Charley's constant
presence in the stockade throughout
the whole of the required time. The
guards at the sliding panel lent cor
roboration. From sunup till taps of
the&n-evious day Charley had feshed
wHne hide Of an elk, the SCARED fury. |
zfraid-of-a-Fawn. hanging over him
the while Both nights from taps on
he had watched outside the lodge occu-
pied by the bag and an Indian girl.
Captain Oliver crossed to the bend |
to tell Dallas his results. Matthews |
has witnesses who know where he was |
every minute of the time" he said. !
Undoubtedly he had no active part in |
this affairs"
HE knows about it, though" she
answered.
THAT would be hard to prove"
Before he went the captain proposed |
certain defensive improvements for the
shack. She accepted them gratefully. |
Later carpenter nailed thick cleats
across the warped door. and the post
blacksmith put heavy lashes of iron
over the eyes of the SHACK.
At nightfall a detachment landed on
the east bank, divided and went on a
scout In opposite directions 1t was
only part of divers plan of guarding.
for he did one thing mOre-spoke plain
" to Matthews in regard to the bend.
Il advise you to relinquish all claim
to the Lancaster place" he said Il
shall allow no warning on girls"
Matthews gave his promise.
During the first few days that fol-
lowed Marylyn's heart beat pendulum
ike between grief and dread. 1t was
grief when in moment Of forgetful-
ness she found that she ID set the ia
BILE for three or when, missing her IA
Their sorely-for in the past year he
had been much with her-she spoke Of
him to Dallas. At such time, with
sweet impartiality, she mourned him
IS sincerely as she had mourned her
mother. But at night, when the de-
-achment came back from its scouting.
she felt terrible dread-dread lest
he hunt had been successful and the
roopers should ride across the prairie
% the shack door bearing something
'Olemnly home.
Those first days past. however, the
sharp edge of her sorrow. together
With her fears, wore gradually away.
She had the elastic spirit of eighteen.
md she was impatient of this new
leartache. which possessed none Of the
Om2ntic qualities of the old. A doubt