The Winslow mail., 1913-06-07

If 1 should go myself it would mean
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. 81 supposed
she had been headed off 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 l can tell she would leave
Ripley the 18TH"
"Humph! Then starting tonight, a
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,
1 suppose?"
Yes; so far as 1 know"
Under guard?"
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 five hundred miles of desert
with 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 mile of safe country between
Dodge and Union. If she was my
daughter"
You'd do what?" broke in McDon-
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 if that was pos
sible. Peyton would look after her
there at Ripley until you could ar
range"
That's easy enough to say, Travers,
but tell me who is there to send? Do
you chance to know an enlisted man
out yonder who would do-whom you
would trust to take care of young
girl alone?"
The captain bent his head on one
hand, silent for some minutes.
'They are tough lot, major; that's
fact, when you stop to call the roll.
Those recruits we got at Leavenworth
were mostly rough-necks-seven of
them in the guard-house tonight. Our
best men are all out" with a wave
OF his hand to the south. tits only
the riff-raff we've got left, at De-
vere."
"You can't go?"
The captain rubbed his lame leg
regretfully.
mo; I'd risk it If could only ride,
but couldn't sit a saddle"
"And my duty is here; it would cost
me my commission"
There was long thoughtful silence,
both men moodily staring out
through the door Away in the dark
ness unseen sentinels called the hour.
Then Travers dropped one hand on
the others knee.
"Dan," he said swiftly, "how about
that fellow who came in with dispatch
es from Union just before dark? He
looked like real man."
Il didn't see him. was down river
with the wood-cutters all day"
Travers got up and paced the floor.
Il remember now. What do you
say? Let's have him in, anyhow. They
never would have trusted him for that
ride if he hadn't been the right sort"
He strode over to the door, without
orto -
he called, "do you know where that
cavalryman is who rode in from Fort
Union this afternoon?"
A face appeared in the glow of
light, and a gloved hand rose to sa-
lutte.
He's asleep in 'B's' shack, SIR"
the orderly replied. "Said he'd been
on the trail two nights and day"
Reckon he had, and some riding at
that. Rout him out, will you? Tell him
the major wants to see him here at
once"
The man wheeled as If on a pivot,
and disappeared.
'If Carter could only ride" began
Mcdonald, but Travers interrupted
impatiently.
eff! But we all know he can't.
Worst I ever saw, must have original
ly been a sailor" He slowly ref1lled
his pipe "Now, see here, Dan, it's
your daughter that's to be looked af-
ter, and therefore 1 want you to size
this man up for yourself. don't pre-
tend to know anything about him, only
he looks like soldier, and they must
think well Of him at Union"
Mcdonald nodded, but without en-
thusiasm; then dropped his head into
his hands. In the silence a coyote
howled mournfully not far away: then
shadow appeared on the log step,
the light of the candle flashing on a
row of buttons.
"This is the man, sir" said the or
derly, and stood aside to permit the
other to enter.
CHAPTER II.
HRrIekr AanoIfn