The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-10-31
to recarl more clearly the exact facts.

W recall more clearly the exact facts. G.
The guests we're already beginning Ii
to struggle back to the dance hall n
from supper. and | waited In the shad- n
ow of the building for an opportunity c
TO slip into the hotel unobserved.
While ! hid there a cavalry soldier b
from the fort rode up. swung down Z
from his saddle, and ran up the steps.
l heard him ask for Major Mcdonald. 6
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 wore savagely when
! caught my fathers arm, asking what
message the orderly had brought. He
answered strangely, saying he had
received orders to 60 at once to Ripley
on the stage; that he might be gone
several days. There was nothing
about all that to startle a 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 paymastcr. and l could perceive
the outlines Of a leather bag bulg1ng
beneath his overcoat. II this contained
money. then l .grasped Dupont's pur-
pose. My plan Of action occurred to
me in a FASH would accompany
him untl-until he was safely in the
stage, and find opportunity to whisper
warning. l remember asking him to
wait a moment for me. and rushing to
the cloak room after my coat. But
uhop roturnod fhav wnro Onno I
ran out into the street. but they Saro
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
was reckless. 1t was dark and | saw
and heard nothing to warn me Of dan
ger. 1t was In my mind hat my
father had been lured on to the open
prairie behind the hotel. Suddenly
was seized roughly. and q cloth
whipped over my face before could
even scream. heard a voice say:
Damned il 1t amt the girl! What
will We do with herr and then Du.
points voice answered grufly: Hell.
, there amt anything to do. but take
the little hussy along. She'd queer
the whole game. an we've got an extra
horse They jerked me forward so
| roughly. and l was so frightened that
. that l must have tainted. At any
: rate l remembered nothing more dis
tinctly until we had crossed the river,
. and l was on horseback wrapped In a
blanket. and tied to the saddle. Some
. one was holding me erect; l could not
move my arms. but could see and
hear. II was dark. and we were NOV
ing slowly; there were two Indians
ahead, and a white man riding each
side Of me. They thought me uncon
scious still, and spoke occasionally:
little by little | recognized their voices
E and understood their words"
Her voice broke into a sob, but the
Sergeant's eyes we're still gazing vigi-
I laptly out over the snow-clad hills.
1T Is hard to tell the rest" she
8 said finally, but I learned that It waa
Q not robbery. but the betrayal Of trust
y My father was guilty, and yet at the
K same time a victim. only got the
truth In snatches, which l had to piece
together, although later I learned 9th.
8 er details. Mrs. Dupont had bled my
Q father through some knowledge she
had gained Of his sisters family.
----- -or y-,coJ,a -rLox tLIa ~--tl
have been. but 1t was sufficient fol
hcr purpose. He gave her all he
had, and then-then she heard Of this
government money being sent to Rip
! ley. She had known about that fol
several days through the Lieutenant
and had ample time to arrange the
plot. My father must have been crazy
to have entered into the scheme, bu,
he did, he did. The woman compelled
him to It."
II understand, Molly" broke In
Hamlin, anxious to spare her the de
tails. They were to pretend robbery
but with the Majors connivance. Ar
officer ~impersonating him was des
patched to Ripley by stage. This
would prevent any immediate pursuit
Later the Major was to be released
to return to Dodge with his story
The projection Of yourself into tn,
=, affair disarranged the entire plot, ant
, then a quarrel occurred. and you
father was killed"
Yes; It was over what should b.
.e done with me: although l believe hoy
10 they intended to kill him, 30 as to re
tain all the money. The older India
II fired the shot treacherously."
ID And Connors?"
Dupont killed him; they were bot
ID drunk, and the soldier fred first, bu
It. missed"
y. And after that?"
She covered her face with he
ar hands.
1T was all a dream Of continuou