The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1913-04-11
CHAPTER Il-Continued.

n.oII be serving a foreign country.
Wen listen: was at Washita then.
ord had the story first hand. Dugan
nos lieutenant in d Troop, out
,,,itb his first independent command
sooutine along the Canadian. He
I,row as much about Indians as COW
docs of music. One morning the
,,oung idiot left camp with only one
trooner along-Hamlin here-and he
r.os rookie to follow up what look
ID like n fresh trail. Two hours later
they rode slap into war party, and
tho fracas was on. Dugan got ball
tbrough the body at the first fire that
naralyzed him. He was conscious, but
couldn't move. The rest was up to
uamlin You ought to have heard
Dngan tell it when he got so he could
sneak Ha1nIin dragged the boy down
into buffalo wallow, shot both
horses. and got behind them. 1t was
all done in the jerk of a lambs tail.
They had two Henry rifles, and the
rookie kept them both hot. He got
some of the bucks, too, but of course,
We never knew how many. There
we're twenty in the party, and they
charged twice, riding their ponies al
most to the edge of the wallow, but
Hamlin had fourteen shots without re-
loading, and they couldn't quite make
il Dugan said there were nine dead
ponies within radium Of thirty feet.
ANYHOW it was five hours before d
troop came up, and that's what they
found when they got there-Dugan
laid out as good as dead, and Hamlin
shot twice, and only ten cartridges
left He'll" he added disgustedly,
and you never even heard of it east
Of the Missouri
There was a flush of color on the
sgleeants cheeks, but he never NOV
ed
There was nothing else to do but
what did" he explained simply. Amy
of the fellows would have done the
same if they had been up against it
the way | was. May | ask" his eyes
first upon one and then the other in
Cuidngly, what it was you wanted
of me?"
Mcdonald drew a long breath.
Certainly, sergeant. sit down-yes,
take that chair
He described the situation in few
words, and the trooper listened quiet
" until he was done. Travers inter
rupted once, his voice emerging from
a cloud of smoke. AS the major con-
cluded. Hamlin asked a question or
two gravely.
How old is your daughter. sir?"
In her twentieth year"
Have you picture of the young
LADY,"
The major crossed over to his ia.
tigue coat hanging on the wall, and
extracted a small photograph from an
inside pocket.
This was taken a year ago." he ex-
planned, and was considered a good
likeness then"
Hamlin took the card in his hands.
studied the face a moment, and then
placed it upon the table.
You figure she ought to leave Rip
ly on the lSth,'' he said slowly. Then
| shall need tc start at once to make
Dodge in time
You mean to go then? OF course,
you realize ] have no authority to or
der you on such private service
That's true. I'm volunteer, but
I'll ask you for a written order just
the same in case my troop command
er should ever object, and I'll need
fresh horse. | rode mine pretty hard
coming up here"
You shall have the pick of the
stables, sergeant" interjected the cav
airy captain, knocking the ashes
from his pipe. Anything else? Have
you had rest enough?"
Four hours" and the sergeant
stood up again. "All | require will be
two days rations, and few more re-
yolyer cartridges. The sooner I'm on
the better"
1t he heard Travers' attempt at
conversation as the two stumbled to-
gether down the dark hill, he paid
small attention At the stables. aided
by smoky lantern, he picked out a
lough-looking buckskin mustang, with
an evil eye; and, using his own saddle
and bride, he finally led the half-brok-
en- animal outside.
That buckskln's the DEVILS own.
protested Travers, careful to keep to
one side.
Ill take /. out of him before morn
ing was the reply. Come on. boy!
easy now-easy! How about the ra-
lions, captain?"
Carter will have them Tor you at
.ne gate of the stockade Do you know
the trall?"
wen enough to follow-yes."
McDonald was waiting with Carter,
ana the dim CLEAN of the lantern re-
'ealed his face.
hemember, sergeant, you are TO
make her turn back if you can. Tell
.er wish her to do so-yes, this let
ef VIII explain everything. but she
"a pretty high-spirited girl, and may
'aAe the bit in her teeth-imagine
"ue rather be here with me, and
al mat. II she does / suppose you II
aa'e TO let her have her own way
ue Lord knows her mother always
IN Anyhow you'll stay with her till
she's safe"
l sure WILL" returned the sergeant,
You"