Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-11

, last night that the warrior was 10 uc-
part at daylight"
"That was the plan. However, the
Wanderer went north during the
night" he explained. sand brought
mail from below, SO we are being held
for the return letters. am going up
to the Office now"
Ny eyes returned to the scene be-
low.
"You have some passengers aboard"
"A few; picked up several at the
lead mines, besides those aboard from
Prairie du Chen"
Evidently all Of your passengers
are not miners. captain" I ventured.
'.Those two standing there at the
stern. for instance"
He turned and looked. no" he
said; ''that big man is Judge Beau
caire. from Missouri. He has . plnn-
tation Just above st. Louis. an old
French grant. OF course you know the
younger one"
"Never saw him before"
Then you have never travelled
much on the lower river. That's Joe
Kirby" ays
Joe Kirbyw
Certainly; you must have heard Of
Rim. First time ever knew Of his
drifting so far north. as there are not
many plckings up here. Have rather
suspected he might be laying for Beau
caire, but the two haven't touched q
card coming down."
HE Is a gambler. thenT'
"A thoroughbred; works between
St. Louis and New OrleanA I can't
Just figure out yet what he Is doing up
here. asked him nat out. but he only
laughed. and he isn't the sort Of man
you get very friendly with. some say
he has Indian blood In him. SO drop
ped It. He and tie Judge seem pretty
thick, and they may be playing in their
rooms. See you again before we
leave: am going up now to have talk
with the major"
Ny eyes followed rs he disappeared
within the open gates, squatty,
strongly built figure. the blue smoke
from his pipe circling in cloud above
his head. Then I turned Idly to gaze
once again down the river and observe
the groups lettering below.
Assuredly II was none Of my affair.
and yet q certain curiosity caused me
to observe the movements Of the two
20 long a. they remained on deck.
However, It was but short while be-
fore both retired to the cabin. and
then my gaze returned once more to
The sullen sweep Of wnter. while my
thoughts drifted far away.
A soldier was within q few feet Of
me and had spoken before I was even
aware of his approach. .A"'s
Lieutenant Knox"
looked about quickly, recognizing
the majors orderly.
eyes, Sanders, what ia TT"
"Major Bliss requests. sir, that you
report at his office ST once"
Wondering whit might be desired Of
LIE. yet with no conception OF the
reality, ! followed after the orderly
through the stockade gate. and across
the small parade ground-toward the
more pretentious structtlre occupied
by the officers Of the garrison.
4 number Of soldiers of duty were
lettering in front Of the barracks
while small group OF officers ccc,,-
pied chairs ON the lcg porch OF their
quarters, enjoying the warmth OF the
sun. / greeted these as ]. psssed. con-
scious that their eyes followed nae Gu
riousiy as I approached the comnlan.
dant's Office. Major Bliss glanced up
ut my entrance, with deep-set eyes
hidden beneath bushy gray eyebrows,
his s,nooth-shaven face appearing al.
most youthful in contrast with a
wealth Of gray hair.
How long have you been here at
Armstrong, lieutenant" he ques.
toned, toying with IN ofiicial-looking
paper In his hands.
"Only about three weeks, sir.
cnme north on the Enterprise, with
dispatches from General Gaines"
II remember; you belong to the
Fifth, and without orders, promptly
dragooned you into garrison service.
His eyes laughed. "Only sorry can.
not hold you any longer. 1t seems you
have an application pending for I fur.
loHgh." Ia.
Eyes, Sir"
ut is my pleasure 10 inform you
| that II has been eranted-sixty DAYS,
with permission to proceed east. There
has been considerable delay evidently
In locating you"
A sudden vision arose before me Of
my mothers face and Of the old home
among the hills as took the paper
from his extended hands and glanced
at the printed and written lines.
"1'he date Is month ago"