The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-04-12
CHAPTER vi.
Ammunition.

and again golden-green branches
showed against blue. cloud,
flecked sky.
Jack and Alagwa, the latter
mounted on Cato's horse, were
riding behind the wagon, chatting
together.
For the moment the girl had
laid aside her distrust of Jack
Ills heart might be bad, but his
words were pleasant, and she
would enjoy them while she
could.
We'll be at Fort Wayne soon,
] Bob, | guess" Jack was aging, as
they neared the edge of the for
est. She had told him that the
Indians called her Bobapanawe
tlightningD and he had shortened
ii to Bob.
Rapidly the quadrilaterel we'll
ed out of the plain. A great gate,
midway of its southern side, stood
inyitingly open and toward this
the travellers directed their way.
Just inside the gate Jack rein
ed in, looking for a moment at the
unfamiliar scene. On the parade
ground a company of 40 soldiers
was drilling under command of a
heavy man.
The captain of the company
turned his men over to a sub-of-
ficer and Jack rode up to him and
reined in, sweeping off his hat
with boyish flourish. Good
evening, sir" he cried. Have
the honor of addressing Capt.
Rhea?"
The officer shook his head. His
face was flushed and the veins on
his forehead were swollen. OBJ
yiously he had been drinking
heavily. Capt. Rhea is ill.," he
grunted. Pm Lieut.. Iiibbs, in
command. Who are your"
Jack hesitated. He had not OK
pected to find a drunken man in
charge of 50 important a post as
Fort Wayne. AS Jack hesitated
the officer grew angry. Ills flush
ed face grew redder. Speak up"
he growled. Who are you and
what do you WANT"
Jack could hesitate no longer.
Lightly he leaped from his saddle,
looping the bride over his arm
and came forward. Pm glad to
meet YOU, Mr.. Hibbs," he said. II
] am Mr.. Telfair, of Alabama, up
here on personal business.
turned aside at Girty's Town to
escort wagon-load of ammuni-
ton that Gen. Hull had sent
you"
Ammunition" The officers
manner changed. He drew his
breath with long, sobbing gasp.
Ammunition. We need 1t bad
enough. Gen Hull sent you with
D it,"
Not exactly. He sent it by two
wagoners, but one of them
Jack dropped his voice" murder
! ed an Indian and | had to arrest
! him and take charge of the
! wagon. /"
Murdered an Indian, Arrest
! him. Mr.. Hibbs was staring at
the wagon, which was Just ap-
pearing through the gates. Who's
that?' he demanded. "Damna-
ton! It's Williams, You don't
mean you've arrested Williams!"
! lie thew up his hand. Hey.
1 Williams," he shouted. Come
here"
Williams jumped from the box
! and came forward.
] Hello! Williams" Hibbs hic-
coughed. You back? Where's
1 Wolff"
VOLTS dead" Williams rasp-
ed. Killed by dog of a Shaw
nee. l guess you'd better ask
that young squirt about it." He
jerked his head toward jack.
Mr.. Hibbs' brow darkened He
glanced at Jack obviously. Did
Gen. Hull put him in charge of
the ammunition?" he asked.
Ammunition? What ammuni-
tion?' Williams snarled scornful-
ly.
The ammunition you brought,
OF course
Il amt brought no ammuni-
ton. Those burned Injun agents
are always fussing about honest
traders, and | got by Col. John
sons deputy at Piua by saying
that | had ammunition. But |
amt got nothing but whisky and
trade goods. This young know
it-all, he hears what | says to the
! agent, and he takes it on himself
to escort the ammunition and |
lets him do it,"
A roar of laughter went IN
from the crowd. Jack flushed
holly as he realized how COM
pletely he had been humbugged.
He tried to speak, but his voice
was drowned by jeers.
Mr.. Hibbs, however, neither
laughed nor jeered. The failure to
get ammunition seemed to strike
him hard. Furiously he swung
round to Jack.
Il What does this mean?" he de-
manded.
Jack refused to be stampeded.
I'D rather wait and go into things
privately, lieutenant" he demur-
red.
Privately! HI! You go
ahead, and be quick about it,"
Before Jack could speak, a tall.
thin man who had haap uatobin -