The Dolores star., 1920-01-02

D.
while small group of officers occu-
pied chairs on the log porch of their
quarters, enjoying the warmth Of the
sun. l greeted these as passed, con-
scious that their eyes followed me Gu
riously as 1 approached the comman-
dant's office. Major Bliss glanced up
at my entrance. with deep-set eyes
hidden beneath bushy gray eyebrows,
MS smooth-shaven face appearing al
most youthful in contrast with
wealth of gray hair.
How long have you been here at
Armstrong, lieutenant?" he ques-
toned, toying with an ofiicial-looking
paper In his hands.
"Only about three weeks, sir L
came north on the Enterprise, with
dispatches from General Gaines"
Il 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."
"Yes, sir"
ut is my pleasure to inform you
that 1t has been granted-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
Mt the printed and written lines.
1.-THE date is a month ago."
THAT need not trouble you, Knox.
The furlough begins with this deliv-
cry. However, as shall require your
services as far as st. Louis, I shall
date this acceptance from the time Of
your arrival there"
(which is very kind, sir"
mot at all. You have proven Of
considerable assistance here, and I
shall part from you with regret. I
have letters for Governor Clark Of
Missouri and Governor Reynolds of
Illinois; also one to General Atkinson
at Jefferson barracks. detailing my
views on the present Indian situation.
These are confidential. and I hesitate
to intrust them to the regular mail
service. I had intended sending them
down river in charge of noncommis
stoned officer, but shall now utilize
your services instead-that is If you
are willing to assume their care7"
VERY gladly. Of course"
II thought as much. Each of these
Is to be delivered in person. Captain
Throckmorton informs me that he will
be prepared to depart within an hour.
You can be ready In that timer"
smiled.
"In much less. I have little with
me but field kit, sir. It will not re-
quire long to pack that"
"Then return here at the first whistle
and the letters will be ready for you.
That will be all now. Travel as
civilian If you please. lieutenant, but
l suggest 1t will be well to wear the
the letters"
Fifteen minutes suf1iced to gather
together all my belongings and
change from blue into gray, and. as
emerged from quarters, the officers
of the garrison flocked about me with
words of congratulatiOn and innu-
merable questions. Universal envy of
my good fortune was evident, but this
assumed no unpleasant form, although
much was said to express their be-
lief In my early return.
I shook hands all around, and left
them. Fastening across the parade TO
the office Ten minutes later crossed
the gangplank and put foot for the
first time on the deck of the Warrior.
Evidently the crew had been await
ing my arrival to push off, for instant
ly the whistle shrieked again. and i'm
mediately after the boat began to
churn Its way out into the river cur
rent, with bow pointing down stream.
Throckmorton leaned out from the
open window of the pilot house and
hailed me.
"Put your dunnage In the third
cabin, Knox-here. you, Sam, lay hold
and help"
It was nothing to boast of, that
third cabin, being mere hole, meas
urlng possibly about four feet by
seven, but sufficient for sleeping quar-
ters, and was reasonably clean. 1t
failed, however, in attractiveness suf-
ficient to keep me below, and as soon
as had deposited my bag and in
dulged in a somewhat captious scru-
tiny of the bedding vary willingly re-
turned to the outside and clambered
up steep ladder to the upper deck.
Judge Beaucalre was standing at the
low rail. Our eyes met inquirngly,
and he bowed with all the ceremony
of the old school.
"a new passenger on board, think,
sir" and his deep, resonant voice left
pleasant impression. "You must
have Joined our company at Fort
| Armstrong;" ,..
"Your supposition is correct" I an
swered, some peculiar constraint pre-
venting me from referring to my mill
L. n