The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-12-14

YELL, captain" 1t was part
L" ly a greeting full of relief,
sSsSSggsTYsH partly an eager inquiry, as
Ik@z1 Colonel Cummings came hur-
rying out of his library to meet oliver
in the entry.
The latter Strengthened a little. but
hesitated deprecatingly before taking
the colonePs hand. I've nothing to
report but failure, sir" he sid
The singing wind that had blown
the command home into barracks and
scourged the bumped shoulders of the
men and the thin TANKS Of their mounts
high cheek bones until 1t was red and
raw. The lower part of his face was
hidden under a growth that matched
his dropping mustache. On his fore
head and about his eyes the skin was
dark sallow, marked by lattice of
deep lines-lines Of worry and weari-
ness
Nothing to report but failure" he
repeated, and let the orderly pull off his
stiffened overcoat.
The troop?" asked Colonel Cum
mings anxiously.
'All safe" The other hung his cap
on a nail, his belt upon his oyercoat.
Thank heaven! That STORM was
afraid Where did it catch your
ION the Knife. We put up with
some half breeds. 1t was hard on the
horses, but rest for the men"
The colonel led the way into the IL
brary.
On his entrance a figure in the dusk
behind the stove sprang up with a
questioning cry. 1t was young Jamie
son.
Easy, easy. for Gods saker' begged
the captain. He put out one arm as if
to ward off a blow.
4 Jameson brought up. He saw the
look Of defeat in divers bloodshot
eyes, and his voice quaked, his body
shuddered in mortal terror of what he
was to hear.
Its bad news, but not as bad as it
might be-" began the captain. Colonel
Cummings offered him a chair He
dropped into It. 1T is said that your
mother and sister are alive, and will
be delivered up to US in the spring, pro-
vided there are no executions here.
Butt didn't see them, and l don't
know where they are"
Jameson coughed down a heartbro-
ken protest and, as if stunned, tottered
weakly toward the stove
Colonel Cummings knotted his hands
together. where's MatthewsY' he
asked
He was answered by the slamming
of the outside door and by a voice in
the entry. a moment later there was
sharp tattoo on the library door The
colonel opened it and answered the In
| terpreter's salute.
With Matthews seated on the army
cot and the commanding officer pacing
to and fro, Captain Oliver made his re-
port He stood at the window, his
arms folded. his eyes following his su-
perior.
I'VE located the camp easily" be
said The directions given by the
hostages were exact. But that is about
the only thing that did come easily
The rest was all procrastination.
AT noon on the tenth day out we
saw ahead of us on ridge a single IN
dian. I selected four men to make q
swift detour. thinking that perhaps
they would discover q hunting party
lust over the crest. But the slope be
vond was unoccupied, and there were
only the marks of one pair of mecca
sins. I concluded that the solitary
brave was scouting. and I was right
"a few miles farther we sighted s
half dozen Indians. They were watch
ing us from a hill. l called a halt
Then I took two men and Mr.. Mat
thews and made forward. We carried
a truce flag. They let US come within
talking distance TEey knew, l an
sure. why we were there, but they ask
ed no questions-just told Us that The
command was expected TO advance NJ
farther than a grove that lay a little
ahead. to our right. 1 assented to tina
and said I wished conference Will
their head chief. They promised m'
an answer later on and at once with
drew to q rise mile behind. There