The Winslow mail., 1913-06-14
CHAPTER ll-contlnued.


CHAPTER ll-Contlnued.
mo! Oh. of course not. Nothing
that goes on out here ever drifts east
of the Missouri. Lord! We might as
well be serving a foreign country.
Well, listen: l was at Washita then,
and had the story first hand. Dugan
was lieutenant In ID Troop, out
with his first Independent command
scouting along the Canadian. He
knew as much about Indians as a cow
does of music One morning the
young idiot left camp with only one
trooper along-Hamlin here-and he
was rookie to follow up what look
ed like fresh trail. Two hours later
they rode slap into a War party, and
the fracas was on. Dugan got a ball
through the body at the first fire that
paralyzed him. He was conscious, but
couldn't move. The rest was up to
Hamlin. You ought to have heard
Dugan tell it when he got so he could
speak. Hamlin dragged the boy down
into a 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
were 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
1t. Dugan said there were nine dead
ponies within radium of thirty feet.
Anyhow 1t 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 flush of color on the
sergeant's cheeks. but he never NOV
ed
There was nothing else to do but
what did," he explained simply. ANY
Of the fellows would have done the
same If they had been up against it
the way 1 was. May I ASK his eyes
first upon one and then the other in
quiringly, what it was you wanted
of me?"
Mcdonald drew long breath.
Certainly, sergeant, sit down-yes,
take that chair"
He described the situation in few
words, and the trooper listened quiet
ly until he was done. Travers inter
rupted once, his voice emerging from
a cloud of smoke. AS the major con-
cluded, Hamlin asked question or
two gravely.
How old is your daughter, sir?"
I'm 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 year ago." he ex-
planned, "and was considered good
likeness them
Hamlin took the card in his hands,
studied the face a moment, and then
placed 1t upon the table.
"You figure she ought to leave Rip
ly on the 18TH" he said slowly. "Then
shall need to start at once to make
Dodge in time"
You mean to go then? OF course,
you realize 1 have no authority to or
der you on such private service"
T. "That's trua Pm a volunteer hut
I'll ask you for a written order just
the same in case my troop command
er should ever object, and I'll need a
fresh horse; I 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-
volver cartridges. The sooner I'm off
the better"
It 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 a smoky lantern, he picked out a
tough-looking buckskin mustang, with
an evil eye; and, using his own saddle
and bride, he finally led the half-brok-
en- animal outside.
THAT buckskin's the devils own"