Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-09

many windows of the Big frame struc-
ture. The washcrwomcn and their
hopefuls blocked the doorways Of
"Clothespin row" officers everywhere
at headquarters, at the suffers, in
their homes-and their wives and fam
lilies up and down the cline remarked
the signal But when Lounsbury
brought up beside Fraser and the two
seemed TO be occupying themselves
with nothing in particular, the onlook-
ers laid the shot TO an overventure-
some water rat and so withdrew from
their points of vantage.
What IS it," was the Storekeeper's
first breathless demand
The young officer, hands on hips,
nodded straight ahead. you see those
willows just below the cut?' he asked.
"Well, there's queer black bunch In
'em."
Eyes. Is it q mann
II think So
"Movedi"
mot yet"
"Come on then. Maybe he's aiming
for the coulee mouth, SOS TO sneak up
to the Lancasters' from behind"
They charged away across the milo
Of ice.
''If it's Matthews why didn't he wing
me as l went by" painted Lounsbury.
Look, look cried Fraser. Now,
he's moving"
They stopped to loosen their revoiv-
ers. after which they started again
cautiously.
The tops of the willows were shak-
ing. Presently they spread outward,
and the "black bunch" heightened.
Then 1t emerged and was resolved
into blanketed Indian.
"Charleyr exclaimed the officer. As
he spoke the outcast. shouldering a
bundle of sticks, began to climb the
cut.
The two men looked at each other
and burst into laugh.
Fraser" said Lounsbury. did you
ever hear of the fellow that stalked a
deer all day and then found it was a
speck on his glasses?"
That's one on me-" admitted the
hIcW uODOuv
had come out of that door-but you
see we We're in the stable awhile"
'Charley'-that sQuaw Indian they
told me about, Ell? Pretty good ia
them"
Yes. From what understand
they're pretty good to him"
They followed leisurely and took up
20 nd IN ;3a nj ~
landing to discuss the situation. Al
the very outset Lounsbury determined
not TO speak of the plan that included
Mrs. Martins aid the rebuff he had
suffered from the section boss having
decided him against It.
by George" be said regretfully, Il
wish when I had Matthews covered
that I'd just marched him up the cou.
lee and on to Clark's!"
Good idea. Too bad you didn't"
But I'll tell you this: I'm not going
to stay out here all night just to shoe
him Off. I've a good mind to happen
IN down there, sort him out and do ths
marching act anyhow"
Nov. look here" reminded Fraser,
that wouldn't do You don't want to
kill Matthews, and you don't want to
be killed. 1t d be one or the other if
you poked your nose in there"
What do you adviser
Lie low till you see a good oppor-
tunity. think the chap'll come out"
But suppose he Doesn't"
You'll have to stay here, that's all.
I'll divide the watch with you"
"Oh, I don't like to ask you to do
that, old man. We ought to be able
to think up some kind Of scheme"
The sun was fast declining. Soon II
disappeared behind the river bluffs,
when the boom OF the evening gun
swelled the last note of retreat"
Fraser sighed. The trumpet had
suggested certain dire possibility.
II don't care for the cold" he de-
clared, "but-b ut"-ruefully-"do you
suppose the X. o. II give me more
than a month IN quarters for this
There's that dance at the majors next
week. I'd like awfully to go. II I'm
under arrest I can't. And who'll feed
my horse and my rattlesnnkes?
Some sassy sergeant II shoot your
fend Of nag" said the storekeeper
land the rattlers II be requested to
devour one another When that's
over III break It gently to you land
you must be NUM- that the X. o. Is
discipllning You simply TO keep his
face. He knows-suggested it himself
that I'm to DC helped out by some OF
you fellows"
"Well. that's better" returned Fra.
ser, relieved. And while they walked
back and forth he launched into q
defense Of his pets.
offend Of nag" he quoted
why, Buckskin's tactician. Knows
what the trumpet says better than
do"
Night settled swiftly. Despite Louns
bury's prophecy the temperature was
not unbearable. The wind died with
the glow in the west. leaving the air
so still that, to the watchers among
the trees, sounds from Brannon min.
gled distinctly with the near laughter
and talk Of Shanty Town. No moon
rose. Only few stars burned their
faint way through the quickly hidden
rents OF the sheltc'ing cloud covering
that, knitting here. breaking there,
again overlapping in soft folds before
IN urgent sky breeze. swagged low
above the ground
With darkness the two left the grove
for the ledge upon which was Shanty
Town and SIN tionad thu ,noaiv>, ,,h>..