The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1914-09-04
The Gentleman
Corporal"
Rr NJ. QUAD

Copyright, 1914. by Associated Lit
erary Press.

the foothills and back-Captain Cline
and the colonel's daughter. That
meant gallop 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 strip is perfectly safe. will de-
tail an escort from my own company.
but it 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
NAs the girl stood-on the veranda wait
ing for her horse six of the men Of
A 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 a start of sur
prise, and flush overspread her face.
Next moment her cheeks went white.
and she gasped as IL choked for breath.
The corporals hand slowly lifted, and
his head was uncovered for an instant,
and Private Harklns whispered to Pri-
vate O'Brien:
"And did you see that, Jim? By
smoke, IL our corporal and the colonel's
daughter haven't met before then
don't know jack rabbit from a long
drink Of whiskyr'
"And the corporal isn't bit easy In
his mind" added the other
It all took place In a minute, and
then Captain Cline rode up, followed
by the girls horse.
The two riders went galloping away,
followed at distance Of 100 yards by
the escort Now and then the, pace
was slackened down a bit to breathe
the horses but no halt was made I'M
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 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 l call you" he harshly asked
as the corporal came to a halt and sa-
luted.
mo. sir" was the reply, but 1
thought it best to tell you that 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 menu was the sui
len reply.
When he had reached the troopers he
quietly said:
"Men, 1 have been up to the captain
TO report that there Is a band OF at
least fifty Indians skulking 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
of for the day"
"But when night comes?" asked one
of the men. though without a tremor
in his tones.
Get quietly ready" was the reply.
Meanwhile there was an argument
between the captain and the coloners
daughter He sought to assure her
that nothing had been seen and that
there was not the slightest danger;
but, to his annoyance, she persisted In
believing that there must be good
grounds for the corporals 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 sneeringly added:
swell, corporal, isn't it about time
your Indians showed up?"
"We shall hear from them in ten
minutes" was the reply, but If we
mounted now and rode fast we would
find the way OPEN" said the corporal.
with downcast eyes.
"Back. you impudent vagabondw
Numbered 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 fleeing seconds; then
his head and shoulders dropped in a
helpless way. and he saluted his officer
and retired.
Bang, bang. bang. went the carbines
of the troopers. and the 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 till
they have killed the last one OF us!'
BY and by she missed the reports Of
the carbines. and the sound Of foot
steps echoed in her ears.
Gomez" said the corporal as he lift
ed her up.
"Oh. Robert, and have you beaten
them off? she exclaimed.
mo. My men are all dead, and the
Indians will rush us in minute"
"And we-we'-
He put his arms around her waist
and assisted her to the rock, on which
We're the remains OF her breakfast.
The steaming. heaving, mysterious
IaLa WAS fbfrf., faaf hanaafh than