The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1913-10-02

THE guests were already beginning
ia straggle back to the dance hall
from supper, and waited in the shad
ow of the building for an opportunity
to slip into the 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 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 he 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 I could perceive
the outlines of leather bag bullying
beneath his overcOat If this contained
money. then l grasped Dupont's pur-
pose. Ny plan of action occurred to
me in a FASH would accompany
him until--until he was safely in the
stage, and find opportunity to whisper
warming I remember asking him to
wait moment for me, and rushing to
the cloak room after my coat But
when ! 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, 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
| was seized roughly, and a cloth
whipped over my face before | could
even scream. I heard a voice say:
Damned if it amt the girl! What
will we do with her?' and then Du-
points voice answered gruffly: Hell,
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 l was so frightened that
; that must have tainted. At any
rate remembered nothing more dis
tinctly until we had crossed the river,
, and was on horseback wrapped In a
blanket, and tied to the saddle. Some
, one was holding me erect; | could not
move my arms, but could see and
, hear 1t was dark, and we We're NOV
} ing slowly; there were two Indians
7 ahead and a white man riding each
side of me- They thought me uncon
/ scious STILL and spoke occasionally
l little by little recognized their voices
} and understood their words"
| Her voice broke into sob, but the
: Sergeant's eyes were still gazing vigi
t lartly out over the snow-clad hills.
l 1T is hard to tell the rest" she
) said finally, "but learned that 1T was
. not robbery, but the betrayal of trust
= My father was guilty, and yet at the
( same time victim. only got the
! truth in snatches, which had to piece
/ together, although later learned 9th
$ er details. Mrs Dupont had bled my
Q father through some knowledge sht
had gained of his sisters family.
cannot even imagine what this coult
have been, but it was sufficient TO
her purpose. He gave her all n
had, and tken-then she heard OF thi
government money being sent to Rip
ley. She had known about that TO
several days through the Lieutenant
and had ample time to arrange tn
plot. MY father must have been Graz
to have entered into the scheme, bu
he did, he did The woman compelle
him to it,"
II understand, Molly" broke il
Hamlin, anxious to spare her the DE-
tails. "They were to pretend robbery
but with the Majors connivance. A
officer impersonating him was def
patched to Ripley by stage. Thi
would prevent any immediate pursu1
Later the Major was to be released
to return to Dodge with his stor!
The projection of yourself into tn
affair disarranged the entire plot, an
i, then a quarrel occurred, and you
father was killed"
Eyes; it was over what should b
le done with me; although l believe no
le they intended to kill him, so as to r
to tain all the money. The older India
If fired the shot treacherously.
I'd "And Connors?"
ct Dupont killed him; they were bot
I'd drunk, and the soldier fired first, b
It, missed"
" "And after that?"
o. She covered her face with h
ar hands.
I 1T was all dream of continuo'
ne horror, yet through 1t all, do n
ed recall consciousness of physical te
he ture. seemed to be mentally numbe