The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-12-05

out Win Teu Cu0ehS anu DTlSuL eyes,
and face expressive Of hearty good
nature. His clothing was roughly
serviceable, but he looked clean and
wholesome. The other was an army
lieutenant, but Molly promptly
quelched her first inclination to ad-
dress him, as she noted his red, in
famed face and dissipated appearance.
AS she nibbled, halfheartedly, at the
miserable food brought by slovenly
waiter, the two men exchanged barely
a dozen words. the lieutenant growing
out monosyllabic answers, finally push
ing back his chair, and striding out.
Again the girl glanced across at the
older man, mastering courage to ad-
dress him. At the same moment he
looked up. with eyes full Of good hu-
NOR and kindly interest.
Looks rather tough, reckon,
MISS" waving big hand over the
table. But you'll have ter git used
to it in this kentry"
"Oh, do not believe I ever could"
disconsolately. 81 can scarcely choke
down a mouthful"
$50 was noticin'; from the East,
reckon?"
Yes; IL came last night, and
and really am afraid 1 am actually
homesick already. lit is even
more-more primitive than supposed.
Do-do you live here-at Ripley?"
Good Lord, no." heartily, though
T ;rh: Hiy,1r ho,
wuz much better. I'm the post-trader
down at Fort Marcy, jist out O. Santa
Fee. I'll be blame glad ter git back
thar too, I'm ,ellin' yer"
"That--that is what wished to ask
you about" she stammered. "The
Santa Fe stage; when does it leave
here? and-and where do l arrange
for passage?"
He dropped knife and fork, staring
at her across the table.
Good Lord, MISS" he exclaimed
swiftly. do yer mean to say ye're
"Oh, not to Santa Fe; only as far
as the stage station at the Arkansas
crossing" she exclaimed hastily. II
am going to join my father; he-he
commands post on the Cimarron-
Major Mcdonald"
well, III be damned" said the
man slowly, so surprised that he for
got himself. Babes in the wilderness;
what, in Heavens name, ever induced
yer dad to let yer come on such fool
trip? Isn't thar no one to meet yer
here, or at Dodge?"
IL don't know" she confessed.
Father was going to come. or else
send one Of his officers, but l have
seen no one. am here two days
earlier than was expected, and-and l
haven't heard from my father since
last month. See, this is his last let.
ter; won't you read it. please, and tell
me what ought to do?"
The man took the letter, and read
the three pages carefully. and then
turned back to note the date, before
handing the sheets across the table.
THE Major sure made his instruc-
tions plain enough" he said slowly.
And yer haven't heard from him
since, or seen any one he sent to meet
yer?"
The girl shook her head slowly.
"Well, that amt to be wondered at,
either" he went on. Things has
changed some out yere since that let
ter was wrote. l reckon yer know
we're havin' bit O. Injun trouble, an
yer dad is shore to be pretty busy out
thar on the Cimarron."
I-I do not think do. have seen
no papers since leaving st. Louis. Is
the situation really serious? Is 1t un-
safe for me to go farther?"
The man rubbed his chin, as though
undecided what was best to say. But
the girls face was full Of character
and he answered frankly.
Its serious 'nough, I reckon, an l
certainly wish I wus safe through to
Fort Marcy, but I don't know no rea-
son now why you couldn't finish up
your trip all right. wus out to the
fort last evenin' gettin' the latest
news, an thar hasn't been no trouble
to speak of east of old Bent's Fort. Be-
tween thar and Union, thar's bunch
O. Mescalo Apaches raisin' thunder.
One lot got as far as the Caches. an
burned a wagon train, but were run