Eastern Colorado times., 1913-03-21


geant who had Just arrived with mes
sages 10 Mcdonald, volunteers for the
Fona Rpes d s'Ts swe dsys aSns Df
i CHAPTER Iti.-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. Il
am going to join my father; he-he
commands post on the Cimarron-
Major Mcdonald"
well, iii 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 / have
seen, no one. l am here two days
earlier than was expected, and-and
haven't heard from my father since
dast month. See, this Is his last let
ter; won't you read it, please, and tell
me what 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-
lions. plain enough" he said slowly.
-And yer haven't heard from him
~s~~a ~ uaon onp <ra ha oopf 70 y,ooot
yer?"s.
i 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. I.reckon yer know
we're, havin' a bit o. Injun trouble, an
yer dad is shore to be pretty busy out
tllf on the Cimarron."
|. I'll do not think do. have seen
no papers since leaving. ST. Louis. Is
the situation really serious? Is 1t 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.
Its serious 'nough, reckon. an
certainly wish / wus safe through to
Fort Marcy. but l don't know no >rea-
son now why you couldn't finish up
your trip all right. ! 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 a 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'?" s
> "Of course he will; what am most
afraid Of is that might miss him or
his messenger on the route" ia.
mot likely; there's only tive, stages
. week each way, an, they have regu-
lar meeting points,"
She sat quiet, eyes lowered to the
table. .thinking,y She liked, the man.
and trusted him; he sesmed kindly.
deferential. Finally she Looked up. !.
when do you go?" ,..s'='i -
'-'.sToday. 1 was goin' to wait bout.
yere a week longer, but ann Citing
skeered they might quit -runnin. their
coaches. To tell the truth, miss, it,
looks some to me like thar ,WAs big
1pjpp war, comm, and j d; like, ter git
home ,whar belong afore 1t breaks
loose"
"Will-will you take me with your"
He moistened his lips. his hands
clasping and unclasping on the table.
"Sure. II yer bound ter go. I'll do
the best + kin fer yer. an reckon
ther sooner yer start the better chance
yen have o'-gittin' through safe" He
hesitated. "H we should git bad news
at Dodge. is there anybody thar. at the
fort, you could stop within"
Colonel Carver"
Hes not thar now; been trans
ferred to Wallace. but. I reckon, any O.
those army people would look after
yer. Ye've really made up yer mind
70 try it, then?" ~
Eyes. yes; positively cannot stay
here. l shall go as faE, as Dodge at
least. If-if; we are going ,to; travel to-
gether, ought to know your name"
"sure yer had" with laugh. II
fergot all bout that-its Moylan.
,uiss: wiiliah Moyian; 'sutler Bill