The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-12-19

lynn command OF the regiment tNat
N day with rank as major. There was
\ mistake somewhere, and we were
n horribly cut up, and number taken
4 prisoners. 1t was my word against
/. his, and-and he lied"
She took the haversack from him.
/ studying the scarcely legible inscrip-
a ton.
i"sE. L. F. Are those the letters?"
eyes: they stand for Eugene LIE
B Fevre; he was of French descent, his
home in New Orleans"
"You knew him well?"
n thought so; we were at school to-
gether and afterwards in the army
She looked across at him again,
touched by the tender echo of his
!; voice; then leaned forward and placed
one hand upon his.
"You have not spoken about this for
Z long while, have you?"
mo-" his eyes lighting up pleasant
~, "hardly thought Of it, except some
times alone at night. The memory
made me savage, and all my efforts to
ascertain the truth have proven USE
less
"That is why you enlisted?'
Largely; there is no better place
to hide ones past than in the ranks
out here on the plains. IL could not
remain at home with that disgrace
hanging over me-"
t"You must tell me all about it,
Her head lifted suddenly as she
gazed out across the river. shading
her eyes. "Why, what are those?"
she exclaimed eagerly, 'there, moving
on the bluffs opposite?"
His glance swept to the northward,
and he was as instantly the soldier
again. Far away on the upper plateau,
clearly outlined against the blue of
the distant sky, appeared number of
dark figures. For moment he be-
iieyed them buffaloes, but in another
instant decided instead they were
horsemen riding two by two.
''Get down lower, Miss Mcdonald"
he commanded. "Now we can see,
and not be seen. They must be
cavalrymen, the way they ride, but we
can take no chances.
They watched the black specks pass
east to where the bluff circled in to-
ward the river. It was from there
those distant riders first observed the
dim spiral of smoke still curling up
from the burning stage, for they
halted, punching together, and then
disappeared slowly down cash in
the side of the hill. Emerging on the
lower fiat they turned in the direction
Of the fire, squirting their horses into
. swift trot. There was no longer
any doubt of their being troopers, and
Hanlin stood upright on the sand
hummock waving his hat. They were
gathered about the fire, a few dis
mounted beside the dead bodies, be-
fore his signal was observed. Then a
field glass flashed in the sunlight, and
three or four of the party rode down
to the bank of the river. One of
these, the glasses still held in his
hand, his horses, hoofs in the water,
shouted across the stream.
.Who are you over there?'
white people," answered Hamlin.
using his hands for trumpet. I'VE
escaped from the stage last night. 1
ana sergeant, Seventh Cavalry, and
the lady with me is the daughter of
Major Mcdonald at Fort Devere.
~How did you get across"'
@Waded in the dark; there is good
4 bottom. Send man over with
couple of horses"
The officer turned and spoke to the
others grouped beside him; then rails
ed his voice again.
.'Are you sure there is no quick
sand?"
None to hurt; come straight over
the end of that sand spit, and then
.werve about dozen feet to the right
keep out of hole. The water won't
o horses belly. Try it, WATSON.
ught to know me-
re Brick Hamlin, amt you?'
i guess, Sam; come on"
,pers left their saddles, and
n. the one answering the
''ered the reins in one
ed his horse confident
n water. Following
tied directions, the
a ed forward and
low sand bank.
man clad in
and color
N,.N