The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-07-25
CHAPTER discontinued.

q, Fort Ripley two days ahead Of sched-
CHAPTER lll.-contlnued.
Good Lord, MISS" he exclaimed
swiftly. DO yer mean to say ye're
goin' to make that trip alone?"
ooh, not to Santa Fe; only az far
% the stage station at the Arkansas
crossing" she exclaimed hastily. Il
am going to join my father; he-he
commands q post on the Cimarron-
Major Mcdonald"
We'll. I'll be damned" said the
man slowly. SO surprised that he for
got himself. Babes In the wilderness;
what, In Heavens name, ever induced
yer dad to let yer come On such a fool
trip! Isn't thar no one to meet yer
here, or at Dodge?"
II don't know" she confessed.
"Father was going to come, or else
send one Of his officers, but l have
seen nc one. l am here two days
earlier than was expected, and-and l
haven't heard from my father since
last month. See. this Is his last let
ter: won't you read it, please, and tell
me what | ought to do?"
The man took the letter, and read
the three pages carefully, and then
turned back to note the date, before
handing the sheets across the table.
THE Major sure made his instruc-
lions plain enough" he said slowly.
And yer haven't heard from him
since, or 9 any one he sent to meet
ynr?"
The girl shook her head slowly.
well. that amt to be wondered at,
either" he went or Things has
changed some out yere since that let
ter was wrote. I reckon yer know
we're havin' q bit O. Injun trouble, an
yer dad is shore to be pretty busy out
thar on the Cimarron."
Il do not think / do. / have seen
no papers since leaving st. Louis. Is
the situation really serious? Is 1t un-
safe for me to 60 farther"
The man rubbed his chin, as though
undecided what was best to say. But
the girls face was full OF character.
and he answered frankly.
TITS serious 'nough, l reckon, an I
certainly wish ! wus safe through to
Fort Marcy, but l don't know no rea-
con now why you couldn't finish up
your trip all right. l wus out to the
tort last evenin' gettin' the latest
news. an thar hasn't been no trouble
TO speak of east OF old Bent's Fort. Be-
tween thar and Union. thar's a bunch
o. Mescalo Apaches raisin' thunder.
One lot got as far as the Caches. an
burned . wagon train. but were run
back into the mount'ns. Troops are
out along both sides the Valley, an
thar amt been no stage held up, nor
station attacked along the Arkansas.
reckon yer pail have an escort waitin'
q the cr0ssin'?"
"Of course he will; what I am most
afraid Of Ii that l might miss him or
his messenger on the route"
mot likely; there's only two stages
: week each way, an they have regu-
lar meeting points,"
She rat quiet, eyes lowered to the
table, thinking. She liked the man.
and trusted him: he seemed kindly
l~sferential. Finally she looked up.
when do you got"
To-day. / was goin' to walt bout
yero . week longer. but am Citing
ekeered they might quit runnin' their
coaches. To tell the truth, miss. It
looks some to me like thar wus . big
lntun war comm, and I'd like ter git
home whar | belong afore Il breaks
1ooso."
'sWll-will you take me with your"
He moistened his lips. his hands
1lasping and unclasping on the table.
Sure. II yer bound ter 90. I'll do
The best ! kin fer yer. an I reckon
thsr sooner yer start the better chance
yo1l have q gittin' through SAFE" He
heaitated. III we should git bad news
- Dodge. II there anybody thar. ct the
oDrt, You could stop wtth?"
*Colonel Carver"
Hes not thar now; been trans
porredeto Wallace. but, l reckon, any o.
knpeo army people would look after
~. Ye've really made up yer mind
~ ~ II, thenf"
Koe, yes; / positively cannot stay
800 shall 50 - far as Dodge at
~ok Tiff We are going to travel to-
1fkoF.I ought 10 know your name"
yer had" with : laugh. II
III 'bout that-it's Moylan.
William Noylan: 'Sutler Bill