The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-10-30

tain ThrOckmOrtOn crossed n gang
plank and began ascending the steep
bluff. The path to be followed led d.
rectly past where I was sitting and,
recognizing me, he stopped to ex-
change greetings.
"What! have you finished your days
work already, lieutenant?" he ex-
claimed pleasantly. mine has only
just begun"
$50 l observe. 1t was garrison talk
last night that the Warrior was to de-
part at daylight"
THAT "a the plan. However, the
Wanderer went north during the
night" he explained, "and brought
mail from below, so we are being held
for the return letters. I am going up
to the office now"
My 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. mo-" he
said; "that big man is Judge Beau.
caire, from Missouri. He has a plan.
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"
Joe Kirby?"
certainly; you must have heard OF
drifting so far north, as there are not
man pickings up here. Have rather
suspected he might be laying for Beau
caire, but the two haven't touched 9
card coming down."
"He is a gambler, them"
"A thoroughbred; works between
st. Louis and New Orleans. I can't
just figure out yet what he is doing uE
here. I asked him fiat out, but he only
laughed, and he isn't the sort of mar
you get very friendly with, some say
he has Indian blood in him, so I drop
ped it. He and the judge seem pretty
thick, and they may be playing in their
rooms. See you again before we
leave; am going up now to have a talk
with the major"
Ny eyes followed as he disappeared
within the open gates, a squatty
strongly built figure, the blue smoke
from his pipe circling in a cloud above
his head. Then l turned idly to gaze
once again down the river and observe
the groups lettering below.
Assuredly it was none of my affair
and yet a certain curiosity caused me
to observe the movements of the two
so long as they remained on deck
However, it was but a short while be
fore both retired to the cabin, and
then my gaze returned once more tC
the sullen sweep of water, while my
thoughts drifted far away.
A soldier was within a few feet OF
me and had spoken before I was even
aware of his approach.
"Lieutenant Knox"
I looked about quickly, recognizing
the majors orderly.
"Yes, Sanders, what is it,"
"Major Bliss requests, sir, that you
report at his office at once"
Wondering what might be desired OF
me, yet with no conception Of the
reality, I followed after the orderly
through the stockade gate, and across
the small parade ground toward the
more pretentious structure occupied
by the officers of the garrison.
A number of soldiers off duty were
lettering in front Of the barracks
while a small group of officers occu
pied chairs on the log porch Of thell
quarters, enjoying the warmth of the
sum-. 1 greeted these as I passed, con.
scious that their eyes followed me GU
riously as I approached the comman'
dant's office. Major Bliss glanced uI
at my entrance, with deep-set eyes
hidden beneath bushy gray eyebrows
his smooth-shaven face appearing al
most youthful in contrast with 3
wealth of gray hair.
"How long have you been here at
Armstrong, lieutenant" he ques'
toned, toying with ar ofticial-looking
paper in his hands.
"Only about three weeks, sir.
came north on the Enterprise, with
dispatches from General Gaines"
II remember; you belong to the
Fifth, and without orders, I promptly
dragooned you into garrison service
His eyes laughed. "Only sorry I can
not hold you any longer. It seems you
have an application pending for a fur
lough."
Eyes, sir"
1T is my pleasure to inform you
that it has been granted-sixty days
with permission to proceed east. There
has been considerable delay evidently
in locating YOU"
A sudden vision before me Of
my mothers face and of the old home
among the hills as I took the paper
from his extended hands ard glanced