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

| N7Af ER \lIs
The Parting.
They recrossed the stream care
fully, the horses restless and hard to
control in the current, the men riding
on either side. grasping the bit of the
girls mount. Others had joined the
little squad of troopers on the bank.
and welcomed her with cheer. The
lieutenant dismounted. At sight OF
the girls face he whipped off his hat,
and came forward.
Miss Mcdonald" he said. pleasant
ly greeting her, II am Lieutenant
Gaskins, and I have met your father
of the Sixth Infantry, is he not? So
glad to be of service, you know. You
were in the stage. understand;
most remarkable escape"
II owe it all to Sergeant Hamlin,"
she replied, turning to glance toward
the latter. "He bore me away I'M
conscious in his arms. Indeed,
| scarcely realized what happened. Do
you know anything regarding my
father"
ooh, yes, l can put your mind at
ease so far as he is concerned. l
presume you were endeavoring to
reach his post when this unfortunate
affair occurred"
Eyes"
SHERIDAN has ordered Devere aban-
doned for the present, and the majors
troops are to return to Dodge. NO
doubt we shall be in the field within
week or two. But we can cultivate
acquaintance later; now | must
straighten out this affair" He bowed
again, and turned stiffly toward Ham
lin, who had dismounted, his manner
instantly changing. He was a short.
heavily built man, clearly shaven,
with dark, arrogant eyes, and promi-
nent chin.
"You are a sergeant OF the Seventh,
you said," he began brusquely. What
were you doing here?'
my troop is stationed at Fort
| Union,' was the quiet response. l
carried dispatches to Devere, and
while there was requested by Major
| Mcdonald to intercept his daughter
and turn her back
"Were you subject to Major McDon-
AIDS orders?"
"It was not an order, but re-
quest"
"Oh, indeed; a mere pleasure ex-
cursion."
1T has hardly turned out that way,
sir, and conditions seemed to justify
my action"
'"That is for others to determine.
When was the attack made?"
"Just before shutdown last evening.
The driver and guard escaped on the
lead horses, and the wheelers ran
away, wrecking the COACH
There were four passengers?"
"Yes; we fought them off until
! after dark, although the Mexican was
killed by the first fire. don't know
when the other man got his
"Who were they?"
"Gonzales ran a high-ball game at
Santa Fe; the other. Moylan, was
post-sutIer at Fort Mercy
How many indians? Who were
they?"'
About thirty; we must have killed
| five or six. It was hardly more than
daylight when they left. and I could
not tell just how many bodies they
strapped on the ponies. They were a
mixed bunch of young bucks, princi'
pally Arapahoes, led by Roman Nose. -
Went west, hey?'
Eyes, sir"
The lieutenant turned his gaze up
the river, and then looked at WATSON,
who remained seated in the saddle.
Must be the same lot Maxwell told
US about up on Pawnee Fork, Sam, -
he said at last. "He will be likely to
cut their trail some time today. We
knew a bunch had headed south, but
didn't suppose they had got as far as
this already. Better leave Maxwell to
run them in, suppose? Our orders
are to return to Dodge
"They haven't three hours the
start" ventured Hamlin in surprise,
"and cannot travel fast with so many
of their ponies doubly loaded"
"That is for me to decide" staring
insolently, land I understand my duty
without any advice. Is there any dam
age done west of here?"
"The STATEN at the crossing is burn
d; two dead men there; I don't know
at became of the third"
hen it is just as thought; those
will turn north before they get
and will run straight into
What do you say, Sam?"
: lolled carelessly in the
.es on the river, his lean
0ressionless.
ow it don't make nc
hat I say" he an
ar amt taken nc
'ur as l remem
ant ter know
hem bucks
the bluffs
st Max
TX. i
JUS
st