Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-31

fought under the flag" declared Custer.
frankly. Poor devil! The hardest service
l was ever called upon to perform was the
day we broke him. 1 wonder if Calhoun
Will recognize the face; they We're good
friends once
He stopped speaking. and for a time his
field glasses Were fastened upon small
section of Indian village nestled In the
green valley. Its full extent was concealed
by the hills. yet from what the watchers
saw they realized that this would prove no
small encampment~
Il doubt II many warriors are there" he
commented. at last. They may have gone
up the river to intercept Renos advance,
and If so, this should be our time to strike.
But we are not far enough around. and this
ground is too rough for cavalry. There
looks to be considerable level land out yon-
der and that coulee ought to lead us into
1t without peril OF observation from below.
Return TO your commands. gentlemen, and
with the order of march see personally that
your men move quietly. We must strike
quick and hard. driving the wedge homo
with a single blow
His inquiring gaze swept thoughtfully
over the expectant faces Of his troop COM
manders. That will be all at present. gem
tlemen: you will require no further instruc-
lions until we deploy. Capt. Calhoun, just
a word. please"
The officer thus directly addressed. a.
handsome, stalwart man of middle age,
refined in his mettlesome horse and waited.
Captain, the messenger who has just
brought us dispatches from Cheyenne IS
civilian. but has requested permission to
have a share in this coming fight. l have
assigned him to your troop
Calhoun bowed.
Il thought it best to spare you any possi-
BILE embarrassment by saying that the man
is not entirely unknown to you"
May ask his name?"
Robert Nolan
The strong. lion-like face flushed under Its
tan. then quickly lit up with a smile Il
thank you. Capt Nolan will not suffer at
my hands"
He rode straight toward his troop. his eyes
searching the ranks until they rested upon
the averted face of Hampton. He pressed
forward and leaned from the saddle ex-
tending gauntleted hand. Nolan, old
man. welcome back to the 7th!''
For an instant their eyes met. those Of
the officer filled with manly sympathy, the
others moistened and dim, his face like
marble. Then the two hands clasped and
chung, in a grip more eloquent than words.
The lips of the disgraced soldier quivered,
and he uttered not a word. 1t was Calhoun
who spoke.
Il mean it all, Nolan. From that day to
this ! have believed in you-have held you
friend"
For a moment the man reeled; then. as
though inspired by a new born hope. he sat
firmly erect, and lifted his hand in salute.
Those are words l have longed to hear
spoken for fifteen years. They are more to
me than life. May God help me to be
worthy of them. Oh. Calhoun, Calhoun
For brief space the two remained still
feeling. Then the voice of command sound
ed out in front: Calhoun gently withdrew
his hand from the others grasp, and with
bowed head rode slowly to the front Of his
troop.
In column of tours, silent, with not cam
teen rafting, with scabbards thrust under
their stirrup feathers, each man sitting his
saddle like a statue. ready carbine flung
forward across the pommel. those sunburnt
troopers moved steadily down the broad
coulee. There was pomp, no sparkle Of
gay uniforms. No military band rode forth
to play their famous battle tune of Garry
owen;" no flags waved above to inspire
them, yet never before or since to a field OF
strife and death rode nober hearts or truer.
Troop following troop, their faded, patched
unions brown with dust, their campaign
hats pulled low to shade them from the
glare, those dauntless cavalrymen of the
9TH swept across the low intervening ridge
toward the fateful plain below. The troop
ers riding at either side of Hampton, Won
dering still at their captains peculiar words
and action, glanced curiousy at their new
comrade. marveling at his tightly pressed
lips his moistened eyes. Yet in all the
glorious column, no heart lighter than his,
or happier, pressed forward to meet a war
rior's death.
Go be Continued Tomorrow