The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-08-14
The "Centlernan
Corporal"
b. M QUAD
Copyright. 1914. BY Associated Lit
erary Press.

They were going to make a ride to
the foothills and back-Captain Cline
and the colonel's daughter. That
meant a gallop Of thirty miles.
Not IN Indian has been seen this
side of the range for four months"
said the captain az he talked over the
proposed ride with the colonel. and
the trip Is perfectly safe. will de-
tail an escort from my own company.
but 1t will be only for appearance
sake"
Yes. it will be safe. and May will
enjoy the gallop." said the colonel. and
nO more was said about it.
At sunrise all were ready to set forth.
AS the girl stood on the veranda wait
ing for her horse six Of the men Of
4 troop came riding up under ON
mand Of Corporal Haynes. They halt
cd thirty feet away. and as she look
ell them over she gave a start Of sur
prise. and a flush overspread her face.
Next moment her cheeks went white.
and she gasped as II choked for breath.
The corporal's hand slowly lifted. and
his head was uncovered for an instant.
and Private Harkins whispered to Pri-
vate O'3rien:
And did you see that, Jim! BY
smoke. II our corporal and the colOnel's
daughter haven't met before then I
don't know a jack rabbit from Il long
drink of whisky"
And the corporal isn't a bit easy in
his mind" added the other.
1t all took place in a minute. and
then Captain Cline rode up. followed
by the girls horse.
The two riders went g%alloping away.
followed at a distance Of 100 yards by
the escort. Now and then the pace
was sIackened down a bit to breathe
the horses, but no halt was made IN
Ill the Devils basin was reached. The
escort halted forty yards from the rid
ers. and the men sat about on the
rocks. Meanwhile Corporal Haynes
climbed to the top of a great bowlder
and surveyed the country about with
his keen eyes. 1t was three-quarters
of an hour before he came down and
said:
Men. see to your arms and lie close.
I'm going up to report to the captain.
Did | call yOu?" he harshly asked
as the corporal came to a halt and ga
Iuted.
NO. sir" was the reply. but |
thought it best to tell you that l have
made out Indians beyond the basin to
the north"
Its all nonsense"
"But there are Indians skulking
about. sir" persisted the corporal.
Go back to your men" was the sui
len reply.
When be had reached the troopers he
quietly said:
Men. l have been up to the captain
to report that there is Il band Of ut
least fifty Indians skulking down this
way from Red Bird pass. They have
seen us. and they are after Is. We've
got good cover. and we can stand EN-
off for the day"
But when night comesY" asked II
Of the men. though without a tremor
In his tones.
Get quietly ready" was the reply.
Meanwhile there was IN argument
between the captain and the c%OlOnel's
daughter. He sought to assure her
that nothing had been e and that
there was not the slightest danger:
but. TO his annoyance. she persisted In
believing that there must be good
grounds for the corporal's report. This
annoyance made him delay matters.
and nearly half an hour had passed.
and it was very much against the
grain when he shouted for the soldier
to approach and sn%eeringly added:
"Well. corporal. isn't it about time
your Indians showed up?"
I'VE shall hear from them in ten
minutes" was the reply. but II We
mounted O and rode fast we would
ind the way OPEN" said the corporal.
with downcast eyes.
Back. you impudent vagabond!"
thundered the captain with Outstretch-
ed arms. I'll break you for this the
minute we get back"
The corporal turned his gaze Oh the
girl for a few heeting seconds: then
his head and shoulders dropped in Il
helpless way. and he salnted his officer
and retired.
Bang. bang. bang. went the carbine>
of the troopers. and the corporal came
running up the hill to seize and drag
the officer under shelter and to 4
to the girl:
You must crouch down here and re-
main quiet. They can't get ut you till
they have killed the last one Of u.s."
BY and by she missed the reports Of
the carbines. and the sound Of foot
steps echoed in her ears
Come" said the corporal as he lift
I'd her mp.