Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-06

CHAPTER NV.


S shack. He trailed the mules,
2&$sSJ the squaw, the troopers. He
followed those moccasin prints that
came across the draw and went again.
He found the last behind the lean-to,
along the side nearest the coulee, on
the back fire strip in front, and declar-
ed they had been made by white
man.
Two circumstances pointed strongly
to the truth of this-thc body had been
carried away in the direction of Shan
ty Town: n white man would have
taken so much trouble, not an Indian,
who would have left his handiwork
for all 10 see. And again. when Shan
ty Town was searched one of the huts
was found to contain evidence of late
occupancy scraps Of food that were
not yet stale and in a rusty stove fresh
Goals But though the coulee, the road.
the prairie and the timber edging the
river were oil faithfully scanned one
thing concerning the murderer's doings
remained a mystery. At Shanty Town
the traces of him began and ended.
But how had he reached Shanty
Town?
Old Michael furnished the clew of
time. He related how he had heard
the crack of gun to the eastward the
previous evening, about tn ind av tn
furst dog watch
Captain Oliver stayed until the last
rod had been travelled and the last
stone turned. Then he was ferried TO
Brannon. On landing he went at once
to the wife of his colonel. who had va
Gated her home when the command
left and was now living with Mrs.
Martin Mt Major Appleton's.
Mrs. Cummings" he said, 1.-The old
man on the bend is missing. 1t looks
like murder. His two girls are left,
orphaned and heartbroken. They need
woman's comfort, ma'am. Will you
not go to them, and will you find a wo-
man to stay with them for a few
nights"
"Oh. how very sad.' exclaimed that
lady, then turned away as il suddenly
perplexed. "I-1-really don't care to
go myself" she went On, when she
had given his request moments
thought. ~ know these country peo-
ple-so touchy and taciturn, always
ready to think one is patronizing
them"
zone usually is" retorted the cap
tain sharply, Then must ask some
body else"
"One Of the troopers wives would
probably he glad 10 GO
you are evidently quite mistaken
regarding these young women de-
clared Oliver. with some heat. Mrs.
Oliver will think differently"
"Really. l haven't thought of them"
she answered petulantly. But why,
may l ask, don't they come to the
post?"
They prefer to stay in their own
little home. In their present trouble
and grief it is particularly dear to
them. Would be to any one
Il think it odd, captain, that they
should choose 10 stay over there alone
Can-can they be-eh-quite NICE"
Madam" replied Oliver sternly,
''thcy wish to do what would please
their father. They wish to be indie
pendent
"Ah" Mrs. Cummings threw up her
head
and let me say that heartily com
mend them" Oliver fairly rOared
"They are made of tie stuff of our
forefathers, who pushed their way in
to the wilderness. Their spirit is the
spirit of the frontier" With which
bowling and Tuning the captain stamp
ed out
Mrs. Oliver. a mothcrly chunk OF 8
woman. thought very "diffcrently,'
Work and babies she consigned TO &
thrifty troopers wife and in a jiffy
pinned on bonnet that had stood va
rious seasons "Tll be back in the
morning" she said, with n kiss fo
each of the seven. Then, stuffing {
tidbit or two Into the wide pockets o
buster, she fastened away.
Captain Oliver meanwhile had clear
ed the front room of his progeny ant
summoned the surgeon, Lieutenan
Fraser and Matthews.
Matthews came at last. As he en-
tered the three men We're struck by
curious change in him. He was cree
and somewhat soldierly in his bearing
he had let his hair grow until it reste'
upon the handkerchief knotted abou
his throat, while his dress now ape,