Eastern Colorado times., 1913-08-28


'Ihe guests were already beginning
to straggle back to the dance hall
from SUPPER and waited in the shad-
ow of the building for an opportunity
to slip into tho hotel unobserved.
While l hid there cavalry soldier
from the fort rode up. swung down
from his saddle, and ran up the steps.
heard him ask for Major Mcdonald.
Almost Immediately he came out again
ard passed him on the porch. Just
inside the door l met my father. He
was leaving the hotel with Dupont.
and the latter swore savagely when
caught my fathers arm, asking what
message the orderly had brought. He.
answered strangely. saying be had
received orders to go at once to Ripley
on the stage; that he might be gone
several days. There was nothing
about all that to startle soldiers
daughter. but Dupont kept his hand
on my fathers arm, urging him to
hurry. The actions of the man aroused
my suspicious. l knew my father was
acting paymaster, and l could perceive
the outlines of leather bag bulg1ng
beneath his overcoat. If this contained
money, then l grasped Dupont's pur-
pose. My plan Of action occurred to
me in fiash-I would accompany
him until-until he was safely in the
stage. and find opportunity to whisper
warning remember asking him to
wait moment for me, and rushing to
the cloak room after my coat. But
when I returned they were gone. l
ran out into the street, but they were
not to be seen; they had not gone
toward the stage office, for the lights
revealed that distance clearly, and
they had had no time in which to
disappear within. With the one
thought that Dupont had lured my
father out of sight for purposes of
robbery, l started to run down the
little alley-way next the hotel. l know
now how foolish l was, but then l
was reckless. 1t was dark and saw
and heard nothing to warn me of dan
ger. 1t was In my mind that my
father had been lured on to the open
prairie behind the hotel. Suddenly
l was seized roughly, and a cloth
whipped over my face before I could
even scream. l heard a voice say:
Damned II it amt the girl! What
will we do with her? and then Du-
points voice answered gruffly: He'll.
there amt anything to do, but take
the little hussy along. Shed queer
the whole game. an we've got an extra
horse They jerked me forward SO
roughly. and I was so frightened that
that l must have tainted. At any
rate l remembered nothing more dis
tinctly until we had crossed the river.
and I was on horseback wrapped In
blanket, and tied to the saddle. Some
one was holding me erect; ! could rot
move my arms. but could see and
hear. IT was dark and we were mov-
ing slowly: there were two Indians
ahead. and a white man riding each
side CT me. They thought me uncon-
scious still. and spoke occasionally;
little by little recognized their voices
and understood their words
Her voice broke into a sob. but the
Serseants eyes were still gazing vigil
lartly out over the snow-clad hills.
1T is hard to tell the rest" she
said finally, but learned that it was
not robbery, but the betrayal of trust
My father was guilty. and yet at the
same time victim l only got the
truth in snatches, which | had to piece
together, although later learned 9TH
cr details. Mrs. Dupont had bled my
father through some knowledge she
had gained Of his sisters family.
cannot even imagine what this could
have been, but 1t was sufficient. for
her purpose. He gave her all he
had, and tken-then she heard Of this
government money being sent to Rip
ley. She had known about that for
several days through the Lieutenant.
and had ample time to arrange the
plot My father must have been crazy
to have entered into the scheme, but
he did, he did. The woman compelled
him to It,"
II understand. Molly" broke in
Hamlin, anxious to spare her the de-
tails. They were to pretend robbery,
but with the Majors connivance An
officer impersonating him was des.
patched to Ripley by stage. This
would prevent any immediate pursuit.
Later the Major was to be released.
to return to Dodge with his story
The projection of yourself into the
affair disarranged the entire plot, and
then a quarrel occurred, and your
father was killed" j
"Yes; it was over what should be
done with me; although believe now
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