The daily Alaskan., 1914-08-06
The Gentleman Corporal
 By M. QUAD Copyright, 1914, by Associated Lit erary Press.
By M. QUAD

and the coloners daughter That meant q galIop of thirty miles.
 Not an Indian has been seen this side of the range for four months, " said the captain as he talked over the proposed ride with the colonel, "and the trip Is perfectly safe. I will de- tail an escort from my own company, but it will be only for appearance sake"
 "Ycs, 1t will be safe, and May will enjoy the gaIlop," 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 com mand of Corporal Haynes. They halt ed thirty feet away, and as she look ed them over she gave start of sur prise, and a flush oycrSpread her face Next moment her cheeks went white, and she gaspcd as if choked for breath. The cOrporaTs hand slowly lifted. and his head was uncovered for am instant, and Private HarkiuS whispered to Pri- vate O'Brien:
 And did you see that, Jim? By smoke, if our corporal and the cOlOneIs daughter haven't met before then don't know q jack rabbit from long drink of whis5ym
 And the corporal isn't a bit easy in his mind added the other.
 It all took place in d minute. and then Captain Cline rode up, followed by the girls horse.
 The two riders went @alIoping away, followed at distance of 100 yards by the escort. Now and then the pace was slackcned down a bit to breathe the horses. but no halt was made un- til the Devils basin was reached. The escort halted forty yards from the rid CTS. and the men sat about on the rocks. Meanwhile Corporal Haynes climbed tu the top of H ~rrat huwldcr and surveyed the couutry about with his keen eyes IL WAS thrcc-quarters of an hour hrrorc he came down and Said:
 Men, see to your arms and lie close. I'm going mp to report to the captnin.'
 Did call yuu:" he farshly asked as the corporal came 10 a halt and sa- utcd.
 'No. sir" wos the reply. but l thought it best to tell you that i have made out Indians beyond the basin to the north"
 Its all nonsense.
 But there are Indians skuliing about, sir" persisted the corporal.
 "Go back to your mou.' was the sul' len reply.
 When he had reached the troopers he quietly said:
 Men. have hccn up to the captain to report that there is a band of at least fifty Indians sI,ulling down this way from Red Bird pass. They have seen Us. and they are after us. We've got good cover, and we can stand 'em off for the day"
 But when night comes:" asked one of the men. though without a tremor in his tones.
 Get quietly rcady,' was the reply.
 Meanwhile there was an argument between the captain and the coloneIS daughter. He sought to assure her tbat nothing had been seen and that there was nc. the slightest danger; but to his annoyance, she persisted in believing that there must be good grounds for the cOrporaIS report. This annovance 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 sneeringly added:
 Well, corporal, isn't it about time your Indians showed up?'
 eve shall hear from them in ten minutes" was tine reply, but if we mounted now and rode fast we would | find the way open," said the corporal with downcast eyes. M
 "Rack. you impudcnt yagabond. Shundercd the captain with outstretch' ed arms. I'll break you for this the minute we get back"
 The corporal turned his gaze on the girl for a few tIeeting seconds; then his head and shoulders dropped in a helpless way, and he saluted his officer and retired.
 Bang, bang, bang, went the carbmes of the troopers, and tAe corporal came running up the hill to seize and drag the officer under shelter and to say to the girl:
 You must crouch down here and re |main quiet. They can't get at you ti. they have killed the last one of us!
 By and by she missed the reports oI the carbmes, and the sound of foot steps echoed in her ears.
 "Comem said the corporal as he lift ed her up.
 "Oh, Robert, and have you beatel them oT?" she exclaimed.
 No. My men are all dead, and tho Indians will rush us in a minute
 And we-we"-
 He put his arms around her waiS and assisted her to the rock, on whicl were the remains of her breakfast The steaming. heaving. mysterious lake was thirty feet beneath them.
 Better this than that" he said n!