The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-01-09

~ rUcau moro caoarIy the exact ncts.
THE guests were already beginning
to straggle back to the dance hall
from supper, and I waited In the chad
ow Of the building for an opportunity
to slip into the hotel unobserved.
While I hid there . cavalry soldier
from the fort rode up, swung down
from his saddle, and ran up the steps.
| heard him ask for Major Mcdonald.
Almost Immediately he came out again
ard I passed him on the porch. Just
inside the door / met my father. He
was leaving the hotel with Dupont.
and the latter swore savagely when
I caught my fathers arm, asking what
message the orderly had brought. He
answered strangely, saying he had
received orders to 60 at nee 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. knew my father was
acting paymaster, and l could perceive
the outlines Of a leather bag bullying
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 until-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 roo after my coat. But
when l returned they were gone. l
ran out into the street, but they were
not to be seen; they had not gone
toward the stage ofice, for the lights
revealed that distance clearly, and
they had had no time In which to
disappear within. With the one
thought hat 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
now how foolish l was, but then l
was reckless. It was dark and l saw
and heard nothing to warn me of dan
ger. 1t was in my mind that my
father had been lured on to the open
prairie behind the hotel. Suddenly
| was seized roughly, and a cloth
whipped over my face before could
even scream. heard a voice say:
Damned If it amt the girl! What
will we do with herr and then Du-
points voice answered gruffly: 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 SC frightened that
that / 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. 1t 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
and understood their words"
Her voice broke into a sob, but the
Sergeant's eyes we're still gazing vigi-
lartly out over the snow-clad hills.
1T is hard to tell the rest she
said finally, but learned that it was
not robbery, but the betrayal of trust.
My father was guilty, and yet at the
same time a victim. l only got the
truth In snatches. which l had to piece
together, although later l learned 9TH
er details. Mrs. Dupont had bled my
father through some knowledge she
had gained OF his sisters family. I
cannot even imagine what this could
have been. but 1t was sufficient for
her purpose. He gave her all he
had. and tEen-then she heard of this
government money being sent to Rip
ley. She had known about that for
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, but
he did, he did. The woman compelled
him to It,"
Il understand, Molly" broke in
Hamlin. anxious to spare her the de-
toAAC. AIOy "GAN ~ pACLCAO AOOOCA y >
but with the Majors connivance. Al
officer i~mpersonating 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 the
affair disarranged the entire plot, and
then a quarrel occurred, and your
father was killed"
Eyes; it was over what should be
done with me; although believe now
they intended to kill him, SO as to re-
tain all the money. The older Indian
fired the shot treacherously."
And Connors?"
Dupont killed him; they were both
drunk, and the soldier fred first, but
missed"
And after THAR"
She covered her face with her
hands.
1T vas all q dream OF continuous
horror, yet through It al, l do not
recall consciousness Of physical tor
/ turo. | seemed to be mentally numbed.