Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-16

Du'Ny lhJubS, EVh hhoNs - Nuo
willn' TO take the chances"
Colonel Cummings looked down. Aft
er moment and without changing the
position of his body he turned his face
| slowly in divers direction. The eyes
of the two officers met and flashed
| messages of doubt.
When the commanding officer looked
at the Interpreter again it was on his
| lips to say, "But you were afraid to
enter the stockade with me" lie
checked himself, however, and instead
reached for Matthews hand. ut was
Il magnificent bit of courage he
agreed. "Tell rs what happened"
Matthews fingered the blanket on the
cot. II seen the chief" he said, "and
told him what you told me to tell him.
| When | got 1t al out lie says to me:
THE white women amt here. They're
with the Wyomin' band and the Wyo-
min bands up in Canada. Now he
| says, the band II come south in the
spring SO tell Colonel Cummin's If
he do no hangin' I'll send the white
women home them"
| A low groan came from behind the
stove Young Jameson came ont. his
/ features distorted with grief and shin
| ing with tears. Think OF it, Think
Of it, Not till spring. Arc they well3
/ How are they treating them"
ooh 50 So" said Matthews slgni6-
cantly.
Young Jameson understood. He
went back to his seat, sobbing with
the hysterical weakness of sick man
Hes bungcd the business, colonel"
he said bitterly. "Oh, God, if you had
only let me co.
Yes, yes. my dear boy" answered
the other soothingly. but please re-
member that yOu couldn't have talkel
with them The conference would have
been carried on through Mr. Matthews
just the same"
There was n silence broken only by
Jamieson's weeping.
rs that-all" asked Colonel Cum.
inlngs at last, addressing himself to
the interpreter.
Yes, sir"
Shortly afterward, when he wa.
gone, the two officers left the library
for the reception room and discussed
the expedition in low tones.
II have a feeling. colonel. that our
Interpreter wasn't fair in this thing"
was Captain divers first confidence.
They were standing at front window.
watching Matthews cross the parade
ground to the barber shop
The same thought occurred to me-,
and yeti doesn't seem possible
ooh, if Bond had only come soonerr
Bond, He here"
"Yes-,ust half a day too late"
While they We're talking Matthews
was losing his tow beard and mus
tache and a good length Of hair. This
over and his supper eaten, lie reappear
ed at headquarters and went with
Colonel Cummings to the stockade.
Much to his chagrin he found the
evangelist there, ready to be present
at the interview with the hostages but
the Indians understood his predicament
and accepted the speech he made for
; the little it was worth. 1t was a speech
that, repeated by David Bond, set
Colonel Cummings last suspicion at
rest.
Lounsbury arrived at Fort Branuon
the next day, appearing in time for
breakfast. His early advent which he
explained away nonchaantly, was IL,
cause of some good natured teasing.
Say, Lounsbury." observed one Oil
Ger, y thought you were keeping a
store"
Get outl' he retorted I'm down
here to see that you fellows do some.
thing for the good money Uncle Sam
pays you"
"Why, don't you know" said Major
Appleton. Johns here to sell the SUIT
Ter some sandy sugar"
That's right" agreed the storekeep'
er. And I'm going to put up Il plant
to make brown sugar out Of the Mud
dy."
Lounsbury could afford to laugh with
them, not being the only butt of the
jokers. Fraser suffered, too for a
tattlng private who had spent the
night at Shanty Town let it out to 4
corporal who told it to a sergeant,
who told it TO a cub of a second lieu
tenant, who told it to every officer IN
post, with the single exception Of the
TX. o." that Fraser. the good. the dis
Greet, the unimpeachable. had played
poker with Matthews at the Troopers
Delight from taps to 'reyely" and lost
his last dollar
The tale had leaked out by the hour
of Lounsbury's arrival When the