The Southern herald., 1913-02-21
CHAPTER lII.-contlnued.

CHAPTER lII.-Continued.
Good Lord, MISS" he exclaimed
swiftly. do yer mean to say ye're
goin' to make that trip alone?"
"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"
We'll, I'll 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 a 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
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 l 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.
We'll, that amt to be wondered at,
either" he went on. Things has
changed some out yere since that let
ter was wrote. / reckon yer know
we're hav!n' bit O. Injun trouble, an
yer dad is shore to be pretty busy out
thar on the Cimarron."
II do not think / do. have seen
no papers since leaving st. Louis. Is
the situation really serious? Is it 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.
It's serious 'nough, reckon, an
certainly wish | wus safe through to
Fort Marcy, but don't know no rea-
son now why you couldn't finish up
your trip all right. l 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 a bunch
o. Mescalo Apaches raisin' thunder.
One lot got as far as the Caches, an
burned wagon train, but were run
back into the mount'ns. Troops are
out along both sides the Valley, an
thar amt been no stage held up, nor
station attacked along the Arkansas.
reckon yer pail have an escort waitin'
at the crossin'"
"Of course he will; what ! am most
afraid of is that l might miss him or
his messenger on the route"
mot likely; there's only two stages
a week each way, an they have regu-
lar meeting points"
She sat quiet, eyes lowered to the
table, thinking. She liked the man,
and trusted him; he seemed kindly
deferential. Finally she looked up.
When do you go?"
To-day, was goin' to wait bout
yere a week longer, but am Citing
skeered they might quit runnin' their
coaches. To tell the truth, miss, 1t
looks some to me like thar Wus a big
lnjun war comm, and I'd like ter git
home whar l belong afore it breaks
loose"
"Will-will you take me with you"
He moistened his lips, his hands
clasping and unclasping on the table.
Sure, if yer bound ter go. I'll do
the best kin fer yer, an reckon
ther sooner yer start the better chance
ven have O. gittin' through safe" He
hesitated. 'If we should git bad news
at Dodge, is there anybody thar, at the
fort, you could stop WITH"
Colonel Carver"
He's not thar now: been trans.
ferred to Wallace, but, reckon, any o.
those army people would look after
yer. Ye've really made up yer mind
to try it, then?"
Yes, yes; positively cannot stay
here. shall go as far as Dodge at
least. n-if we are going to travel to-
gether, l ought to know your name"
Sure yer had" with a laugh. 'T
fcrgot all bout that-it's Moylan
Miss; William Moylan; 'Sutler Bill