Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-10-27


And the story Snaff1e told Button be-
fore Foster could reach him was to the
effect that Foster ought to be ashamed
OF himself for abusing Fitzroy for tax
ing the sleigh in hopes Of having a
warm nest to fetch the poor girl home In
as soon as he'd found her. Sure. did
Mr.. Ennis expect her to ride back on
his cantle on SO bitter night? Faith,
Fitzroy was worth the whole pack of
'em put together if they'd only let him
alone"
And that. at 9 O'clock. when Ennis
was sent for. was the colonel's way Of
looking at it. Moreover. be had
rasp up his sleeve for our massive
young friend on half a dozen other
counts.
"In point of fact, Mr.. Ennis, that girl
has simply fooled the whole party and
is probably laughing at all of you. A
girl that will run away without word
or line to her father and marry an out
and out adventurer, a mere nobody,
has neither heart nor head anyhow.
And now you've interfered in a matter
of discipline just as Mr.. Lanier did,
and gave you credit for better sense.
You know I had ordered that fellows
arrest
And so all Fort Gushing seemed in
turmoil and trouble as the sun Of the
23d went out and "Black Bilr' came in,
yet that sun must have been potent,
for Mrs. STANDARDS face as homeward
she sped after a long talk with Mrs.
Osborn was radiant with sunshiny
smiles. You're not to know anything
yet, Luce, at least until you get it from
DR.. Mayhem, for you never could keep
it, and for week at least it's got to
be kept"
"Well, one thing you can tell" said
the major-''that is, If you know-and
put stop to an awful amount Of CEN
sure that poor girls getting. Why did
she leave no word for her father"
Because she expected to be home in
two hours" And the reader can judge
just how full and satisfactory must
that answer have been
Now, whatever Mrs. Osborn had told
that SO cheered Mrs. Stannard. it is
certain the latter could not contain
herself long and that even as the ma
jOr was summoned toward 9 Of the
evening to join the solemn conclave at
the colonel's (where by this time But
ton had opened proceedings by giving
"Black Bill" the best dinner frontier
larder and cellar afforded) she hustled
over to the Sumters', was delightedly
welcomed by her friend and neighbor
whose husband, too, had been called
to council, and presently these two
sages were in confidential chat.
To them presently entered the cap
tain, electric, bristling He wanted
the bundle of latest newspapers. They
had not half read them, and Colonel
Button was all eagerness to see some
articles concerning the campaign about
which Riggs had been INVITING him,
asking him whom he had subsidized
at this late hour to rescue his reputa-
we'll written letters in the great New
York Morning Mail, obviously the
work of a correspondent on the spot.
an eyewitness to the scenes he had de-
scribed, and these letters refuted the
calumnies recently heaped on Button
and his comrades-gave him, in fact,
high praise for soldiership, bravery,
energy, even though the writer owned
himself by no means one Of the colo
neps circle. if, indeed, one Of his per-
sonal friends and admirers. Only the
Sumters at Gushing subscribed for the
Morning Mail. Riggs had seen the
paper at Omaha. It took a search Of
some minutes before even the first was
found Then Sumter's eyes danced as
he read, and Mrs. Sumter exclaimed
over another. and for the first time in
a week sounds Of cheer arose in that
little home. Presently Mrs. Stannard
read aloud a spirited, stirring para
graph describing a dash led by Lieu
tenant Lanier, and then Sumter made
a swoop for all three pages and said.
1.-THE quicker Button can see these the
sooner he'll come to his Senses" and,
begging pardon for his rudeness, took
the papers and his leave and almost
collided with Kate.
It must have been nearly an hour
later when Sumter came hurriedly in,
threw his furs off in the hall and,
with troubled face, re-entered the par
lor. His wife rose instantly, laid her
head upon his arm and asked. What
has happened"
"A scene the like Of which never
thought to hear Of in this regiment.
We had adjourned to the Office.
Snaffle had been drinking a bit and
got angered and fustered when Riggs
cross examined him. One thing led
to another. and finally in evaporation
he blurted out: I'm sick OF being call
ed the accuser of Mr.. Lanier. Why,
I've defended him! I've hidden worse
things than ever l told you yet, and
now TIL stand it no longer! You twit
me with spying and slandering. Then
~ oil hn& ba1x ho