Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-05-09

L ioSdA aioSo1 puliS0 dllo WYNN SiN NS
suddenly as begun. Then, when
realization finally came. It was al
ready too late to stop the girl. She
would be already on her long journey.
What could he do? What immediate
steps could he hope to take for her
protection? Ordinarily he would not
have hesitated, but now a decision
was not SO easily made. OF his com
mand scarcely thirty men remained
at Devere. a mere infantry guard. to-
gether with a small squad CT cavalry
men, retained for courier service. His
only remaining commissioned officer
at the post was the partially disabled
cavalry captain, acting temporarily as
adjutant. because incapacitated for
taking the field. He had waited until
the last possible moment, trusting
that a shift in conditions might bring
back some available officer. Now he
had to choose between his duty as
commander and as father. Further
delay was impossible.
Deyere was a fort merely by cour-
tesy. In reality 1t consisted only of
a small stockade hastily built OF cot
tonwood timber, surrounding in partial
protection a half dozen shacks. and
n fairly decent log house. The
situation was upon a slight elevation
overlooking the ford. some low bluffs,
bare of timber but green with June
grass to the northward, while in ev-
cry other direction extended an in
terminable ~sand-desert, ever shifting
beneath wind blasts. presenting as
desolate a scene as eye could witness.
The yellow flood Of the river, still
swollen by melting mountain snow,
was a hundred feet from the stockade
gate, and on its bank stood the log
cavalry stables. Below, a scant half
mile away, were the only trees visible,
a scraggly grove of cottonwoods,
while down the face OF the bluff and
across. the fiat a the slender rib
bon OF trail. Monotonous. unchang-
ing. 1t q a desolate picture to watch
day after day in the hot summer
In the gloom following an early
supper the two officers sat together
in the single room OF the cabin, a
candle suffering on the table behind
them, smoking silently or moodily dis
GUESSING the situation. Mcdonald was
ford and heavily built, his gray mus
tache hanging heavily over a firm
mouth. while the Captain was of an
other type, tall, with dark eyes and
hair. The latter by chance opened
the important topic.
by the way. major" he said care
lessly, II guess it is just as well you
stopped your daughter from coming
~,k - khln al ~.l hr.A -,,1
be an awful place for a woman"
But / didn't" returned the other
moodfly. Il put it off too long"
Put it on! Good heavens. man,
didn't you write when you spoke about
doing SO? Do you actually mean the
girl il coming-here?"
Mcdonald groaned.
That is exactly what mean,
Travers. Damme, l haven't thought
of anything else for q week. Oh, 1
know nov / was an old fool even to
conceive Of such q trip, but when I
wrote her l had no conception Of
what It was going to be like out here.
There was not a, rumor Of Indian
trouble. a month ago. and when the
tribes did break out 1t was too late
for me to get word back east. The
fact is. l am in the devil OF a Hx-
without even an oficer whom ! can
send to meet her, or turn her back.
II ! should go myself it would mean
q court-martial."
Travers stared into the darkness
through the open door. sucking at his
pipe.
by George, you are in a pickle"
he acknowledged slowly. II supposed
she had been headed on long ago.
Haven't heard you mention the mat
ter since we first got here. Where
do you suppose the lass is by now?"
Near as can tell she would leave
Ripley the 18TH"
"Humph! Then starting tonight, q
good rider might intercept her at
Fort Dodge. She would be in no dan
ger travelling alone for that distance.
The regular stages are running yet,
suppose?'
Yes: SO far a. / know
Under guardf"
Only from the Caches to Fort
Union; there has been no trouble
along the lower Arkansas yet. The
troops from Dodge are scouting the
country north. and we are supposed
to keep things clear Of hostiles down
this way"
Supposed to-yes; but we can't
patrol Ave hundred miles of desert
with q hundred men, most Of them
dough-boys. The devils can break
through any time they get ready
you know that. At this minute there
isn't q mile Of safe country between
Dodge and Union. II she was my
daughter"
You'd do WHAT" broke In Melon
aid. jumping to his feet. 'Td give my
life to know what to dol"
why. I'd sent somebody to meet
her-to turn her back II that was pos
sible. Peyton would look after hel
there 1t Ripley until you could n
range"
That's easy enough to say. Travers
but tell me who tis there to sendf *
yUu chance to know an enlisted mar
out yonder who would do-whom yos
would trust to take care Of q young
gtrl alonsf.
The captain bsnt his head on ont
hand, silent for some minutes.
They are Z tough lot. major: thst'a
: fact, whom you stop to call the roll
Those recruits We got 1T Leavenwortl
vsrs mostly roughtnecks-seven o
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