Pittston Gazette

              Established 1850. I. " OL. XLVUI No. 11 4 *  Oldest Newspaper in the Wyoming Valley. PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, NOVEHBER 5, 1897. A Weekly Local and Family Journal. * *1 .OO per Y. mr 1 In Ad vane#. ARMY COPrniCHT, 1897. BIT r. TENNYSON NtUJ. boy'8 left foot and swung him lightly iuto his seat. we were paid hud left most of their money with me, aud that is gone. I had it with my own in the flat wallet I always carried iu tbe inside pocket of my hunting shirt You can see. sir, how it was done." And the sergeant displayed a long, clean cut through the Indian tanned buckskin. "It took a sharp knife and a light hand to do that, for I'm not a heavy sleeper. Farrou, Watts and I were sleeping sido by side jast over there on the bank, and they beard nothing all the night. But will the lieutenant look at this handkerchief, sir? Is it chloroformed? I feel dull and heavy, as though I had been drugged. He couldn't have got it from me any other way." by sunrise of this day. Now that daylight bad come, Blunt well knew that every stretch of prairie from the Platte to the White river would be thoroughly searched by keen and eager eyes, and death would be the very least that auy small party of whites could expect Ho knew perfectly well that already he and his little troop were being closely scrutinized from tbe distant ridges. Had he not seen in the tepees of the Uheyennes, but the week before, as many as tbree pairs of binocular fieldglasses, and had not Colonel Randall told him they knew their use and value as well as any one? If thore was only some way of getting word to Captain Charlton at Laramie I There ran the single wire of the military telegraph, but there was neither office nor station nearer than Red Cloud Agency. No man in the troop would thank him for being ordered to go either way with dispatches, though be knew the order would be obeyed. Waller!" echoed a half dozen voices as the loungers on barrack porches took up the cry, "Lieutennt Nelson wants you!" And thn soldier instiuet prevailed. The old man turned and hastened toward tho officers' quarters. "What is it, Mrs. Charlton?" asked Nelson. "Has there been another fight? Is Fred killed? It will break the old man's heart." ■what he had to say was of startling interest. Hitherto the Indian war parties had kept well to the north of the Platte, "But," said he, "ever since Friday the Sidney road has been swarmug with them, both sides of the river, and they are killing everything white they can lay their hands on. " CHAPTER IV. dians being south of the Platte. What wns it?" "Whatever happens, sir, mind you keep close to the captain," was his parting injunction to his boy. Then bis heels came together with the old cavalry click, and his twitching Augers were stiffened as they went suddenly up in salute to Mr. Kay burn, who bent down from his saddle to say that they would try to take good care of Fred. But Waller answered: SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. Lieutenant Blunt's pcsitiou on this bright July morning \v:is most embarrassing. Personally bo had known the pet trumpeter of B-troop less than a ! year, for, as was said in the previous ! chapter, in point of actual experience on the frontier the boy was the superior ;af the young West Pointer, who had joined only the preceding autumn. Finding young Fred so great a favorite among the officers and men, Mr Bluut -vas quite ready to accept the general verdict, although his first impression of the youngster was that he was a trifle spoiled. On the other hand, no other man iu the troop had so tavorably impressed the new officer as the "left principal guide," Sergeant Dawson, whose dashing horsemanship, tine figure and carriage and sharp, soldierly ways ha*! attracted his attention at the | first outset. Then Dawson's manner to l him was so scrupulously deferential | and soldierly on all occasions—sometimes the old war worn sergeants would I be a trifle sup* rcilious v. ith green Kubalterns—that Blnnt's moderate amount | of vanity was touched He was always | glad when his turn came round as ofil! oer of the guard to find Sergeant Daw | son on the detail, and he recalled, w lieu he came to think over the events of his ! first half year with the regiment that very summer, that it was when on 1 guard ha began to imagine Fred Waller was "somewhat spoiled." Twice the boy "marched on" as orderly trumpeter when he and Dawson were on the guard detail for the day, and both times the sergeant had fonnd fault with the musician and had most respectfully mid diplomatically, butiu thatsemiroutirtentiai uiauuer which shrewd old soldiers so well know how to assume to very young subalterns, given Mr. Bluut to understand that the boy ''need ad looking after." Months later, when Blunt I and Rayburn were discussing the probabilities of promotion, when the sergeant major of the rygimeut took bis discharge and there was lively com;Detition among the soldiers for tbis the finest noncommissioned post iu the regiment, Blunt warmly advocated Dawson's claim. "He is the nattiest sergeant in the whole command," he said, "aud the smartest one I know." "Oh, yes," answered Ray burn with a 13ertain superiority of manner and a }uiet sarcasm that provoked the juuior officer, "there's no question about Dawi ion's sraartness. One after another every 'plebe' in the regiment starts in with 1 the same enthusiasm about Dawson. I had it myself about eight years ago. lint the trouble with him is he isn't a Itayer. He can't stand prosperity." But Blunt preferred to hold to his own views and his faitli in the second sergeant of the troop. And so it happened that on this eventful morning he sent Sergeant Graham at once to investigate as to the amounts stolen during the night and directed that Sergeant Dawson, who was in command of the herd and picket guard, should come to him immediately. The sun was just rising above the low, treeless ridges on the horizon as the lieutenant stood erect and looked about bim. Close at hand the Niobrara—"tho Running Water"—was brawling over its stony shallows, and the smoke of tiny cook fires was floating upward into the keen, crisp morning air. Northward the slopes were bare and treeless, too, but closely carpeted with the dense growth of buffalo grass. Only a few yards out from the bivouac, hoppled and ! side lined, the troop horses were cropping the still juicy herbage, and three or four soldiers, carbines in hand and garbed in their light blue overcoats, were posted well out beyond the herd on svery side, watching the valley far aud near for any signs of Indian coming. Below the bivouao and farther from the Laramie road was an old log but, once used as a ranch and "bar" for thirsty ! souls traversing the well worn way to the reservation, but the tide of travel bad first shifted to the Sidney route and then been stemmed entirely, so far as the line to or near the agencies was concerned, and the proprietor had taken himself and hia fiery poison to better paying fields. "A man who boarded our train at th» Bluffs, sir. He claimed to have had to ride hard for bis life yesterday afternoon, and that there were scores of the Sioux this side of the river. I took hiot to Colonel Gaines and Captain Cross, sir, but the man bad been drinking bo much that they distrusted bim entirely. They left the station before I started for the barracks, sir." "My God!" thought Waller. "And Fred must he in the very midst of them 1 Better so," he added, "if indeed he can be guilty. " The herder had evidently been sorely frightened by all he beard, and he was hurrying to Sidney to join a party of cattlemen who were camping there. He had been drinking, too, and took more and more as the night wore on and became maudlin in his talk. It was 9 o'clock on Sunday morning whfin they reached Sidney station, and the first thing that old Waller saw was a strong concord wagon, with a four mule team and an army driver. Two infantry soldiers, with their rifles and girt with cartridge belts, were standing close at hand. Two officers were stowingtheir rifles inside the wagoni and an orderly was strapping the tarpaulin over the light luggage in the "boot" One of the officers the sergeant knew instantly, an aid-de-camp of the commanding general. The other was older in years and bore on his cap the insignia of the staff. The younger officer saw him before be conld step into the office, and Sergeant Waller knew it—knew, too, with the quickness of thought, that he had heard of Fred's disappearance and presumable crime. He could have shrunk from meeting his superiors in tlio shadow of this bitter sorrow and disgrace. Even while he could not accept the belief that his boy was actually a deserter and a thief, he knew full well what other men must think. But Captain Cross was a cavalryman himself and bad known old Waller for years. He dropped his rifle, came straight forward and took him by the hand. "Oh, Mr. Nelson, I can't tell you about it yetl" she almost wailed. "I thank the lieutenant. The boy is a soldier now, sir. He must take his ohances with the rest." Then with one lingering clasp of the trumpeter's baud, "Join your captain," he ordered and turned away into the darkness. The major sat thoughtfully gazing out across the parade a moment, then answered: "We have had do rumors of anything of the kind, and tbey would be almost sure to come this way to us if any onf heard of such stories. There are no settlers along the road after leaving the springs out here until you reach the Platte. I can hardly believe fc, but we'll see what can be got from the maa when he sobers up. Now the sergeant majiy will go with you to the quarters, and I will see you later in the day." But later in the day that promise was forgotten in an excitement of faf greater magnitude. eyen young moiner witn two cnuaren, Blunt took tbe bandanna and sniffed it cautiously and then turned it over and curiously inspected it. There was certainly an odor of chloroform about it —a strong odor. 9 ' CHAPTER L ▲ DANGEROUS MISSION. a boy and a girl, the eldest being three ' years younger than Fred—and then began another aud strong interest. That very winter scarlet fever devastated the fort. Few children escaped the scourge. Thore were a down little graves iu the ccmetery out on the prairie when the long winter came to an end. There were two or three larger graves, and one of these held all that was mortal of Fred's loving mother. He and But the sentry on No. 6 bore witness to the fact that the ordnance sergeant never went to bed again all that night, and the men sent to unload and store the ammunition that came next day from Rock Island arsenal declared that old Waller was gruffer than ever. All the next night, too, he was awake, waiting, watching for tidings from the north. Nothing came until sunset of the second day, just as the whole command was turning out for retreat parade, and then Corporal Rock rode in with dispatches and trotted straight to where the commanding officer was standing in front of the adjutant's office. All eyes were upon him as he threw himself from the saddle and handed the packet to the coloneL Half a dozen officers hastened to join their commander as he tore it open. The piazzas of the officers' quarters were quickly alive with ladies and ohildren, breathlessly eager to hear the news. The colonel's orderly was seen hastening to the surgeon's house—that looked ominons— then Rock remounted, trotted to Cap tain Charlton's gate, where Mrs. Charlton was tremblingly awaiting him. "It's all right, ma'am," be hastened to say. "Leastwise the captain's safe, but Mulligan is shot—and Ryan and Sergeant Frazer." She hurried in the bouse with the precious letter be placed in her hands, and while several ladies hastened to join her the messenger returned to the office. There were only 30 in all that night when the troop reached the Niobrara and unsaddled along the grassy banks, rather slim numbers for the duty to be performed and with the captain away too Not that the men bad lack of confidents in Lieutenant Blunt, but it was practically his first summer at Indian oampaigning, and, however well a young soldier may have studied strategy and grand tactics at West Point, it is something very different that is needed in fighting these wild warriors of our prairies and mountains. Blunt was brave and spirited—they all knew that—but in point of experience even Trumpeter Fred was bis superior. All along the dusty trail, for an hour before they reached the ford, the tracks of the Indian ponies had been thickly scattered. A war party of at least 60 had evidently gone trotting down stream not six hours before the soldiers rode in to water their tired and thirsty steeds. No comrades were known to be nearer at hand than the garrison at Fort Laramie, 60 long miles away, or those guarding the post of Fort Robinson, right in the heart of tbe Indian country and in the very midst of tbe treacherous tribes along White river. And yet, under its second lieutenant and with only 99 "rank and file," here was B troop ordered to bivouac at tbe Niobrara crossing, aud despite the fact that all the country was alive with war parties of the Sioux to wait there for further orders. "Whose in this?" he nsked. "Ido not remember seeing any of the men wearing ono like this." "None of them owns it, sir. I've asked the whole piirty but Sergeant Dawson and the men on guard. They have these cheap red things for 9ale at the store thereat the Red Cloud Agency, but none of the troop have I ever seen wearing them. They are too small for neck handkerchiefs. Dawson is out yet, tryvig to locate the trail. I've sent Roblius for him." And the sergeant looked mxiously away southward, searching the prairie with a world of pain and trouble in his eyes. Silently and gloomily, instead of with their usual cheery alacrity, the men oad got to work with their currycomb and bnshes and were touching up their horses while waiting for their own breakfast, and presently Blunt's orderly ?ame forward, holding a tin cup of steaming coffee. his stern, sad faced father were now alone in tbe world. (To be continoed.) And Captain Charlton's little household had not been spared. It was among the officers' quarters that the pestilenoe bad first appeared. Frank and Florence Charlton were among tbe children earliest stricken. Tbe servants fled tbe honse, as frontier servants will, and their place was promptly supplied by Mrs. Waller. She and her husband would listen to no remonstrance, and Mrs. Charlton, overwhelmed with care and dread, was only too glad to have the strong, obeery army woman's help Over tbe little brown cottage tbe shadow of death hovered for days before it was lifted and borne away, aud when at last all dauger was over and all was again hope and peace the sergeant's wife went back to her own bumble roof across the parade and there suddenly sickened and died. When the scourge was finally swept from the garrison and tbe soft winds began to blow from the 9outh, the stricken old soldier was glad of the chance to go with his troop into the field service and was almost happy in one thing—Mrs. Charlton had taken his boy as one of her own, and each day she was teaching him faithfully and well. When the troop rode away from Sanders, Fred was left behind to occupy a little room under the captain's roof. "Remember, sir, you are sergeant of tbe guard, and that bouse and that household are your special charge for all summer long," were Waller's parting words to his boy. CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. "Won't the lieutenant drink a little of this, sir, and try a bite of bacon? There isn't much appetite in the troop this morning, sir, but it ain't so much because the money's gone. I've known the old sergeant and the hoy nigh unto ten years now, sir, and I never thought it would come to this." Topic For the Week Beginning Hot. T. Comment by Rev. S. H. Doyle. Topic.—"Influence—why to get it, how to ct it, how to use it.Deut. :■*, 1-8. "ith ▼ 18-16. "What could possibly have induced the boy to turn scoundrel all at once?" asked the lieutenant. "It will break his old father's heart." NtD man lives to himself in world. Onr lives are constantly coming iii contact with the lives of those about qs and leaving an impress upon them rither for good or evil. Even the weak, faint hearted and cowardly have an inrl nonce in life as well as the brave strong. In the laws given to goVem God's people in battle three rlnonon are exempted from service and one claw is forbidden to enter (Dent xx, 8). Thia is the class of faint hearted and Mmiri They were forbidden for fear at their influence upon others. The law said: "What man is there that is fearful and faint hearted? Let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart." The coward was not to enter battle lest he should infect others with his cowardice. "Stop Sergeant Waller at once," she "There'8 bad news, and I'm afraid the old man has heard it. Stay here near me a moment, can you? Oh, look at his face, look at his face! He has heard." cnllcd. Blunt thanked the soldier and sat down at the edge of the rushing stream, sipping his coffee and trying to think what to da The drink warmed his blood and cheered him up a trifle. Ordering bis horse to be saddled, he mounted and, taking his rifle, rode through the Niobrara and out upon the open prairie on the other side. It was not long before he found the hoof tracks made the night before, and without knowing why he slowly followed them out toward the low ridge at the southwest. For ten minutes be went at a quiet walk and with downward searching eyes as be reached the road, striving to decide which hoof prints were made by Waller's horse. "I Ciin't account for it, sir. He has been as honest and square as a boy 30uld bo ever since his enlistment, but the men tell mo that he has been spending a g(Dcd deal of time over in tbe post whenever we camped thero, and I am afraid, from what Donovan says, that be has been gambling with tbe young fellows at the band quarters. There's a hard lot in there, I'm told, and the old bauds encourage the boys to get all they can out of strangers, and then they turn to and fleece the boys. It is about $400 he has taken. A man knows that will last but a little while on the frontier, but to a boy it seems a big pile." White, livid, trembling from head to foot, the old soldier hurried toward the young oflicer and dumbly raised his hand in the mechanical salute. "It is Mrs. Charlton who wants you, sergeant," said Mr. Nelson kindly. "Go to her." And without a word the veteran passed in at the gate. "Sergeant, I don't believe it of your boy. I've known his father too long," was all be said as he pressed the veteran's hand. Poor old Waller, worn with anguish, long vigil and utter lack of food of any kind, was now so weak that he could only, with the utmost difficulty, choke back the sobs that shook his frame. Speak he dare net. He would have broken down. Cross led him to the lunchroom at the station and made him swallow a cup of coffee, then gently questioned him as to what he knew. She held forth her band, her eyes brimming with tears. Instinctively he halted, the old respect and reverence for "captain's lady" checking the wild torrent of grief and anxiety, but she caught him by tbe arm and led him, wondering and submiasive, yet overwhelmed with cruel dread, into ber cool and darkened parlor. There, with wild, imploring eyes, the old man half stretched forth two palsied hands, his forage cap falling unheeded to the floor, his whole frame Hhaking. All this while Sergeant Waller bad stood like a statue under the tall white flagstaff where the noncommissioned staff assembled at retreat, watching every move with dry, aching eyes and a face gray as his mustache. boy," said Sergeant Dawson, who was forever trying to plague that little trumpeter. It was by no means fair to Fred Waller, either, for while he was somewhat undersized for his 16 years his oarbine and his Colt's revolver were just as big and jnst as effective as those of any man in the troop, and he knew how to use them, no matter how hard the Springfield kicked. He rode one of the tallest horses, too, and sat bim well and firmly, notwithstanding all his furions plonging and "backings" the day that Dawson slipped the tbonly ■prig of m wild rosebush under the saddle blanket. From the first sergeant down to the newest recruit all the men had grown fond of little Fred in that year of rough •eonting and campaigning around old Bed Cloud's reservation—all of them, that is to say, with the possible exception of Dawson, who annoyed him in many ways when the officers or first sergeant did not happen to be near and who sometimes spoke sneeringly of him to such of the troopers as would listen, bat these were very few in number. Fred was the only son of brave old Sergeant Waller, who had served with the regiment all over the plains before the great war of the rebellion, and who had been its standard bearer in many a sharp fight and stirring charge in Virginia. Now he carried two bullet wounds and on his bronzed cheek a long white seam, a saber scar, as mementos of Beverly Ford, Winchester and Five Forks, and through the efforts of his war commanders a comfortable berth as ordnanoe sergeant bad been secured for him at one of the big frontier posts along the railway. Fred was the pride of the old soldier's heart, and nothing would do but that he, too, must be a trooper. The boy was born far out aaross the plains in sight of the Chihuahua mountains, had followed the regiment in his mother's arms up the valley of the Bio Qrande to the Albuquerque, then eastward along the Indian haunted Smoky Hill route to Leavenworth. When the great war burst upon the nation, little Fred was just beginning to toddle about the whitewashed walla of the laundresses' quarters—his father was Corporal Waller then—and his baby eyes were big as sancers when he was carried aboard of a big steamship and paddled down the muddy Missouri and around by Cairo and up the winding Ohio to Cincinnati He "Only 29 men all told and a small Then, rapidly approaching, the bounding hoofs of a troop horse were heard. Blunt eagerly turned and saw Sergeant Dawson galloping toward them down tbe north bank. Reining in so suddenly as almost, to throw his panting bay upon his haunches, bo vaulted lightly to the ground und stood before the lieuten Lint, his face beaded with sweat and bis eyes glaring. Suddenly back at camp he heard the ringing report of a cavalry carbine borne on the rising breeze and, whirling about, saw that they were signaling to him. Putting spurs to his steed, he galloped full tilt for tbto ford and then for the first time saw the cause of the excitement. Far up on tbe opposite slope «id jogging easily down toward the troop came an Indian pony and an Indian rider, but not in war paint and feathers. As Mr. Blunt plunged through the itrr&m he recognized the young half breed scout known to all of the soldiers »s Little Bat, and Bat, without a word, rode up and handed him a letter. It was from the commanding officer at Fort Robinson and very much to the point. It read somewhat as follows: It is God's desire that His people should have influence in the world This is one reason why we should seek influence. It is God's desire and intention to influence the world for good thrbugh the lives of His people. "Ye are the salt of the earth," He says. "Ye are the light of the world." Since this is God's desire, we should seek to do it. God never sanctioned putting the light of Christianity under a busheL Hl« command is, "Let your light shine before men, "and why? That men may be thereby influenced for good; "that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaves. CHAPTER III A ROBBKK IN CAMP. "We go at once to Red Cloud—Colonel Gaines and 1—and maybe on the road I shall hear something of him. Sergeant, rest assured your son shall have fair play," said the aid-de-camp as he was about to turn away. The trumpet played the retreat, tbe sunset gun thundered its good uigbt to the god of day, tbe adjutant hurried over and received tbe reports of the companies, the staff and band, and then a messenger came running to tbem: "Mrs. Charlton wants you. Sergeant Waller. Fred's all safe, but they had a sharp fight" "Don't give way, sergeant, don't believe it!" she cried, and at her first words a lc.ok as of horror came into the stricken old face, and the handB clasped together in piteous appeal. "Listen to what the captain says. His letter has just come, and I was sure when I saw you that some "ne had told you the rumor. Captain Charlton will not believe a word of it. Ho was at Laramie on court martial or it would not have happened. He has hurried back to Red Cloud to investigate, and he declares that Fred shall have justice done him. I'll never believe it—never! Why, we would trust him with anything we owned." Regularly as the mail reached the troop during its summer scouting Captain Charlton's home missives had their "Which way has he gone? Could you tell?" "But, captain—I beg pardon, sir," broke in Waller hurriedly in almost the first words he had spoken. "Where is your escort? Surely you won't take this route without one?" " Yes, sir. I trailed him out across tbe prairio yonder for 300 yards or so. Then he took the Laramie road, and there tbe hoof tracks are all confused, but I knew be would never keep that line very long, and I'm almost certain I found the place where be turned off, a mile beyond the ford and well over tbo bluffs." The old man could not trust himself to speak. "Listen to this, sergeant," exclaimed Mrs. Charlton as Bhe hurried through tbe little group of ladies at her doorway and looked up in bia face with tear dimmed eyes: "There isn't a trooper at Sidney, sergeant. We have a couple of infantrymen in the wagon and another on a mule. The best way to get the right kind of influence is to live a noble, Christian life. Men today are guided more than ever by what they are and what they da The lives of all are closely scrutinized. False professions are easily discerned. The eye of the world is keen and readily perceives the ahum coatings of hypocrisy. It is life that influences life. Let us, therefore, so live before men that they shall see that we hawer been with Jesus and be influenced by our lives to consecrate themselves to Him. "Captain Charlton telegraphs that he will be detained several days. Meantime you are needed here, as tbe Indians ire again quitting the reservations in large numbers. More immediately upon receipt of this." "Tell Waller that in a running fight of four miles Fred rode close at my heels and no man oould have shown more spirit or less fear. I am sure it was a shot from his carbine tbat tumbled one war pony into the Laramie, and every call he had to sound rang out clear as a belL I'm proud of the boy." "Turned south toward tbe Sidney route?" "Yes, sir, as though he was going to skirt the road awhile, then make for Scott's Bluffs, keeping well west of the Sidney stage route. If he got on that, he'd be likely to meet Captain Forrest's troop, sir." "I—I thank the captain. I thank Mrs. Cbailton," be brokenly replied. "It's stunned like lam." He raised his hands and pressed them against his eyes, and one of them was lowered suddenly, feebly groping for support. She seized his anu and strove to lead bim to a sofa. "You must sit down, sergeant," she said. That evening, therefore, tbe little troop once more rode down the valley of the White river, the "Smoking Earth," as the Indians called it, and by sunset were camped at Red Cloud. In iD\uch distress of mind Mr. Blunt called upon the commanding officer to tell him of the disappearance of the money and his trumpeter and to ask the oolonel's advice as to tbe proper course for him to pursue. It was agreed that telegrams should be sent at once to the oaptain at Fort Laramie and to the commanding officer at Sidney barracks on tbe railway, notifying them of the crime and the desertion. Blunt begged for a moment's delay until be oould bear from Sergeant Graham, whom he had sent to make certain investigations, and long before tattoo the sergeant came, and with him the hospital steward. Wallei'e faoe was twitching and working. He cleared his throat and tried to speak. He dashed bis hand "But you were in charge of the guard, sergeant. How came it tbat your sentries and you could let a man slip out with his horse and everything? Tbo night was still, and tbey ought to have beard, even if tbey couldn't see." Our influence should be used for good. We should let our light shine to lead men to praise God and to believe in Him. The Judge of all has pronounced judgment against those who use their influence for eviL "It must needs be," He says, "that offenses come, but woe," He adds, "upon that man through whom the offense cometh 1" across bia eyes and ground bis beels into the gravel of tbe walk. He beard the kind and gentle voices of tbe ladies Joining in tbe cborus of congratulation, but be oonld not see their faces. A mist bad risen before his eyes. Even tbe old formula, "I tbank the captain's lady," had deserted bim. He mumbled some inarticulate words and then, in dread of disastrous break down, turned suddenly away and strode across tbe drive. More than one woman was in tears. There was not a ripple of faintest laughter when it was seen that in his blindness the old sergeant had oollided with tbe tree box at the edge of tbe acequia. Straight to bis humble quarters be went, but tbey were beautiful to bim, radiant with tbe light of joy, pride, gratitnde and love that beamed and burned in his honest heart. "No, ma'am, no," he protested, straightening himself with a violent effort. "Now, may I bear what it is they say against my boy, ma'am? I want every word. Don't be afraid, ma'am; I can bear it." "It was dark as pitch, lieutenant. The new moon was down before 11 o'clock, and, as for hearing, the horses were uneasy and stamping or snorting, all the while from midnight until 2 o'clock. Either they sniffed Indians or the coyotes startled them. Then tbe stream makos such a noise over tbe rocks, sir, and the lieutenant will remember we had no sentries out across the stream. The Indians couldn't stampede the litfd from that direction." Fred and his stern, sad faced father wen now alone in the world. messages for Sergeant Waller, and soon, to bis unspeakable joy, letters all bis own, addressed in a round, boyish baud that grew firmer every week, began to come as his share of tbe welcome package. Mover would be presume to ask for news, yet tbe captain was not slow to notioe bow old Waller was sure to be busy close at hand when the home letters came, and prompt to answer, and with soldierly salute to stand erect before his young commander and strive uot to show the pride and delight that tiogled in every vein at the glowing words in which Mrs. Charlton told of bis boy's rapid progress and his devotion to ber and the children. His lips would quiver uncontrollably and bis eyes fill, bis hand might tremble as it touched the brim of his scouting bat, but the salute was precise as ever. It is a solemn thought that eaoh day we are making an eternal impress for good or evil upon the lives of others. By oar words and lives we are directing immortal souls to heaven or tofaelL What is our influence? Then, with infinite sympathy and pity, she told him, softening every detail, suggesting an explanation for every circumstance that pointed to his guilt, and all the time the old man stood there, his eyes, filled with dnmb anguish, fixed upon her face, his hands clasped together as though in entreaty, his fingers twitching nervously. At every new and damaging detail, condone or explain it thoagh she would, he shuddered as though smitten with a sharp, painful spasm, but when it came to Fred's midnight disappearancehorse, arms and all—in the heart of the Indian country, stealing away from his comrades in the shadow of disgraoe and crime, the old man groaned aloud and buried his face in his hands. Some time he stood thero, reeling, yet resisting her efforts to draw him to a seat. She pleaded with him hurriedly, impulsively, yet he seemed not to hear. At last, with one long, shivering sigh, be suddenly straightened up and faced ber. His hands fell by his side. He cleared his throat and strove to speak. "1 don't believe a word of it," he said to Cavtnin Cross. Bible Readings.—Judges xvi, 1-21; Ruth i, 16, 17; Esther i, 17, 18; Chrcn. *, 1-15; Bom. xiv, 20, 21; "I Cor. iv, 9-16; x, 81-88; xi, 1; PhiL iii, 17-21; iv, 8, 9; I Thess. i, 2-7; Heb. vi, 11, 12; xi, 1, 8; Jaa ▼, 10, 11; I Pet ii, 11, 12. "Lieutenant, the storekeeper says he sold just such a handkerchief as that to Trumpeter Waller last week, and the steward can tell about the chloroform." "But how could he get his horse out from the herd without"— That's the best we can do, and we've got no time to spare. We must be at Red Cloud tomorrow, and this is the shortest line." "It wasn't there, sir," broke in the trooper, eager to defend himself against the imputation of carelessness or neg- Both officers looked inquiringly at the steward. "But, sir, haven't you heard? The Sioux are out in force and all along the road, both above and below the Platte. There's a herder on the train who told as. He got aboard at Pine Bluffs this morning." Far away to the southwest the blue jone of Laramie peak stood boldly against the sky. Nearer at hand, though a day's ride away, old Rawhide Butte rose sturdily from the midst of surrounding prairie slopes. Up stream, among some sparse cottonwood, a bit of ruddy color among the branches caught the lieutenant's quick eye. Some Indian brave, wrappod in his blanket, had been laid to rest there out of reach of the snarling coyotes, one of whom could be dimly discerned slinking away under the bank, just out of easy rifle range. "Yes, sir, it was pay day that young Waller handed me a penciled note from Sergeant Graham, saying that he had a bad toothache and asking for a little chloroform, and I gave it to him." It is said that when Julius Cesar came to Britain with his great war carriages, he brought with him seeds without knowing it—seeds from Asia—and that some of these seeds fell into English ground, and that there are flowers and grasses growing in England today which have come from these seeds that were blown about from the war wagons of Julius Ccesar. Good Seed. And now, a year later, all the cavalry was in the field. Gold had tempted explorers and miners innumerable to the Black Hills of Dakota—Indian land by solemn treaty. The government warned tbe invaders back, but to no purpose. Tbe Indians swarmed f»om tbe agencies and massacred all whom tbey could overpower. Charlton's troop bad early been hurried up to Bed Cloud, and now with others was engaged in tbe perilous work of patrolling tbe trails around the Indian haunts. "I never wrote such a note, sir, and never sent him on such a message," said Graham. "lean hardly believe that," answered Hross. "Captain Forrest with the Grays is scouting south of Red Cloud. Captain Wallace was ordered to watch the fords along the Platte on this line. Captain Charlton is out, or at least the whole troop has been, an& there are three more. Surely Major Edwards would know over at the barracks if the Indians were anywhere between us and the river—we'll get an escort from Captain Wallace the other side—but he has not heard a word." "I thank the captain and beg to thank the captain's kind lady," was his invariable formula on such occasions. "I hope tbe boy will always do his duty." CHAPTER VIL TELEGRAPHIC DI8PATCHE& was even more astonished at the rail- Bad news travols fast. Captain Charlton at Fort Liaramie was stunned by the tidings flashed to him by telegraph from Bed Cloud. Despite the array of damaging evidence, be could not bring himself to believe that Fred Waller was a thief, but be was sore at heart when he thought of the misery and sorro\7 the news must bring to the dear onea at his army home, above all to the proud old sergeant, whose life seemed almost bound up in the boy. way oars that bore the soldiers and a few women and children eastward and finally landed them at Carlisle. Tbere at the old cavalry barracks the little fellow grew to lusty boyhood while his father was bearing the blue and gold standard through battle after battle on tbe Virginia soiL And when the war And then he would face about and *ride away with his bead very high in tbe air and bis eyes blinking bard, and almost immediately bis voice would be beard sternly berating some trooper whose horse had tangled himself in his lariat, or whose "kit" was not stowed in proper shape about the saddle. It was bis way of striving to bide the joy those messages brought him, and tbe men were quick to see through it all, and little Beddy Mulligan, reprimanded for the third time within a fortnight, started a laugh all through the bivouac by his whimsical protest: "It's more good news been getting from Fred, sergeant, dear, isn't it, now? Faith, I wish he'd play ye a thrick wanst in awhile, like other byes. Maybe thin I'd be mentioned to the captain for a corporalship." And for once the veteran turned his back on tbe laughing troop conscious of defeat Everything carries seed about—birds and bees, roaring storms and whispering breezes. And so is it with a good lifa It is very fruitful, and from it are scattered seeds that carry blessings far and wida If we sow good seed, some of it, like that of the sower in oar Lord's parable, is sure to fall into good ground and yield a glorious_ harvest At any rate, let us take care that the weeds and briers of selfishness and unkindness in others oome not from oar sowing. Rather let us try to live good, pure lives, so that the seeds we scatter as we go through the world may spring up and bring forth fruit to God's glory. —Church Standard. Off to the south lay the same bold, barren, desolate looking expanse of rolling prairie. Blunt couid not suppress a shudder as he thought of the terrible risk the boy had run in bis mud break for the settlements beyond the Platte. Of course be could go nowhere else. North, east and weBt, all was Indian land, and no lone white man could live tbere. Of course he was making (or the cattle ranges and settlements in Nebraska. Such, at least, was tbe lieutenant's theory. He had spent only one year on the frontier, but had been tbere long enough to know that among the cowboys, ranchmen and especially among the riffraff ever hanging about the small towns and settlements a deserter from tbe army was apt to be welcomed and protected if he had money, arms or a good horse. Once plundered of all be possessed, the luckless fellow might then be turned over to the nearest post and the authorized 1 reward of |30 claimed for his appre| bensiou, but if well armed and sober jtbe deserter had little trouble in making his way through tho toughest mining camps and settlements. "You've been good tome, ma'am— so good"—and here he choked, and for a moment could not go on—"and to my boy"—at last he finished, with impulsive rush of words. "I know how they're sometimes tempted. I know how, more than once, the little fellow would be led away by the roughs in the troop, just to worry me, but he never hid a thing from me, ma'am, never, and if he's in trouble now he would tell me the whole truth, even if it broke us both down. I'll not believe it till I see him, ma'am. But I must go—I must go until I find my boy." Two months of hard and most exciting work bad tbey bad, and still the troubles were not over, and then, just after the paymaster with his iron safe and bristling escort had paid the outlying posts a visit, and Captain Charlton bad been ordered in with bim to attend a court martial at Fort Laramie, tbere came a week that no man in B troop ever forgot "Which way hat he gcrncT Could you tcllt" "But I beg the captain to hear what the man says, sir," urged Sergeant Waller "He's been drinking, but he tells the same story practically that he told us when he got aboard. Let me find him, sir." waa over and the regiment was hurried lect. "Sergeant Graham will bear me out, sir, that Trumpeter Waller has been allowed to lariat his horse close by where he slept, and sometimes he'd loop the lariat by a light cord to his wrist The captain allowed it, sir, and I supposed that the lieutenant would not care to change tbe captain's orders. Last I night he slept, or rather made down his blanket and drove his picket pin at tbe lower edge of the bivouac, sir, down there by that point, and Private Donovan tells me he moved still farther down after dark. We could hear his horse whinnying awhile—be didn't like being so far from the others. It's my belief, sir, ho waited until all was quiet and took some time when I was out on I the prairio visiting the sentries to slip up the bank to where Sergeant Graham was sleeping, make his haul of the money and then ride for all that he was worth as soon as he had got beyond earshot. It was easy enough to slip away through the stream without being heard." oat to the plains, and again to protect the settlers, tbe emigrants and tbe railway builders from tbe oeaseless assaults of the painted Indians, little Fred went along, and bis soldier education was fairly begun. Old Waller was now first sergeant of B troop. Tbe regimental commander and most of the officers were greatly interested in the laughing, sun tanned, blue eved boy, who rode day after day Well knowing that it oould only be a Jay or two before the story would make its way to the posts along the railroad and would reach Sanders, doubtless in a more exaggerated form, the captain decided to warn his wife at once, and by the stage leaving that very night a letter went in to Cheyenne, and thence by train over the great "divide" of tbe Bockies to Fort Sanders, giving to Mrs. Charlton all particulars thus far received, but charging her to say nothing until further tidings. And find him he did, eveD more maudlin and thick tongued by this time, and evidently determined to make the most of his dramatic story for the benefit of the two officers and swarm of interested lookers on. He only succeeded in inspiring the colonel with mingled incredulity and disgust Mr. Rayburn bad been wounded and was in the hospital at Fort Robinson. Blinded with tears, Mrs. Charlton could hardly see the swaying, grief bowed old soldier as he left the house, but Nelson was waiting close at hand and stepped forward and took his place by the sergeant's side. An Unfortunate. The man who has nothing to do is nnfortunata We were made to work. For that reason there is a joy in achieving. Our reward is not measured by the pay we reoeiva Our satisfaction is in the success we have in beholding the results of our endeavora In the church the same rule holds. Some good people are spoiling for want of good works. The spirit languishes unless it renews its strength in the service of the Lord. Spiritual achievement and spiritual vigor go hand in hand.—Reformed Church Messenger. on bis wiry Indian pony along the "I don't believe a word of it," he said to Captain Cross. "And we are losing valuable time. We must start at once." flanks of the column, scorning, though barely 7 years old, to stay in tbe wagons with the women and children. Everybody had a jolly word of greeting for Fred, and kind hearted Captain Blaine set bis company tailor to work, and presently tbere were made for tbe boy a In 1874 old Waller changed the yellow stripes and diamond of the first ser- for the crimson and the star of the ordnance, and the troopers, one and all, said goodby to him with infinite regret. Perhaps Dawson, who was next in rank, may be excepted. He confidently expected to be promoted to Waller's place; but, though a dashing soldier and a smart noncommissioned officer, be was not the stanch, reliable man the captain needed and proved it by celebrating Waller's promotion in a yery boisterous and unseemly manner. It was plain that he had been drinking heavily, and though Captain Charlton saved him from arrest and court martial he would not promote him and plainly, though privately, told him why. The troop knew it was for this reason, but Dawson swore it was all on acoount of Waller's influence against him when Sergeant Graham was named in regimental orders as the old veteran's successor."I don't know what the trouble is," be said, "but I'm going as far as the headquarters with you, and if there is anything on earth I can do to help you do not fail to tell me." "I cannot believe it," wrote he, "and am going at once to join the troop and make full investigation. Meantime I have written by the same mail to Major Edward*, who commands at Sidney barracks, to make every effort to trace the boy should he have come sonth of the Platte, and yon xnnst be snre to see, when the news reaches Sanders, that the sergeant is assured of my disbelief in the whole story, and of my determination that Fred shall have justice done him. It will be several days before you can hear from me again." All hour later this peaceful Sabbath morning the sergeant, stood, cap in hand, before Major Edwards on the veranda of his pleasant quarters. Two pretty children were playing with a big, shaggy, lazy staghound, pulling his ears and tormenting him in varions ways. A pleasant lady came forth, sunshade and prayer book in hand, and at sight of her the little ones reluctantly rose and bade goodby to their four footed friend, and the party started slowly away across the green parade to the post chapel, nodding and smiling to the spruce orderly, who stood respectfully aside to let them pass. Mis. Edwards glanced quickly and sympathetically into the sergeant's sad face as he stood there before her husband's easy chair. She knew well what it all meant, but there was nothing for her to say. Small parties of infantry officers and of ladies and children joined them on the way to the humble wooden sanctuary; the soft notes of the bugle were sounding church call; a warm, gentle breeze from the southern plains stirred the folds of the big flag; the snnsliine w&s joyous and brilliant, and all spoke erf peace, order and contentment Yet there stood Waller with almost bursting heart, and yonder, only a few miles across (he grassy ridge to the north, rode that little party of officers and men to almost certain death pair of yellow chevrons. Corporal Fred they oalled him then, and, though he strove bard not to show it, grim old natty little cavalry jacket and a tiny That night, with a week's furlough and a letter from his post commander to Miijor Edwards at Sidney, old Sergeant Waller was jolting eastward in the caboose of u freight train. Sergeant Waller was evidently as proud and pleased as the child. He taught the little man to "stand attention" and bring up his cbubby brown hand in salute whenever an officer passed by, and most scrupulously was that salute returned. He early placed the boy nnder the Instruction of the veteran chief CHAPTER V. TRA1IJNU THE TUAITOR. "He has left his saddlebags, blanket and everything that was heavy, except his arms, behind him," said Graham moodily. Life la Conscience. Fred Waller knew all the valley of the North Platte as well as he did the trails around Sanders and Red Bnttes, and if he could succeed iu eluding the Indian war parties be would have no difficulty in fording the river, or swimming if necessary, and, with the start be must have had, his light weight and powerful horse, it would be next to impossible to catoh him, even if they could follow his trail. Besides were they not ordered to remain at Niobrara until Charlton's return? To live is to have justice, truth, reason, devotion, probity, sincerity, common sense, right and duty welded into the heart To live is to know what one is worth, what one can do and should do. Life is conscience.—Victor Hugo. CHAPTER VIII. I.OYAI1 FRIENDa It was on Friday morning at daybreak that the desertion of Trumpeter Waller was reported to Lieutenant Blunt. It was Friday night that the telegrams were sent to Laramie and that Charlton's letter left by stage It "Trumpeter WaUer'tgone, Hr—deterted." "And you really think that he has stolen the monev and is trying to escape?" questioned the lieutenant. "Indeed, sir," answered Dawson almost tearfully, "I don't know what to think. I hate to believe it of the boy i we were all so fond of, though I used to plague him sometimes, just in fun. But I don't know what else to think. I The men say that he has been a little wild at times since he got from under the old man's care. But I don't know, sir. I wouldn't be apt to know what 1 was going on in the barrack there at Robinson." And the news reached Sanders, as he feared, all too soon. Telegraph offices "leaked" on the frontier in those days. The operators at the military stations were all enlisted men, who were not bound by the regulations of the Western Union, and who could not keep to themselves every item of personal interest The Sidney offloe wired mysteri ous inquiries to Sanders; Sanders insisted on knowing what it meant, and presently Laramie, Sanders, Sidney, Russell, Red Cloud and even Chug Water were clicking away in confidential discussion over the extraordinary theft and flight And Mrs. Charlton's letter came none too early to save old Waller from despair. It was a woman, a gabbling laundress, who first told him of the rumor, and Mrs. Charlton saw him hastening to the telegraph office just as she had finished reading the letter. trumpeter and made him practice with the musicians as soon as he was "big pnougfa to blow," as he expressed it. And then, too, for there were no army sobools or schoolmasters in those days, regularly as the day came round and the sergeant's morning duties were done he bad bis boy at bis knee, book or slate in band, patiently teaching him the little that be knew himself and wistfully looking for some better instructor. Twenty or tbe men were away on esoort duty, and so it happened that only young Lieutenant Blunt and about 80 troopers were left at the camp, just west of tbe agency. Fearful that the money, j "burning" as it always does in the soldiers' pockets, would tempt his men to gamble or drink and get into mischief around tbe crowded post, Charlton had ordered that tbe troop should march at nnoe to the Niobrara and wait there for his return. It was known, of course, that many Indian bands were out, and , it promised to be adventurous. It was Mr. Blunt's first independent command, too, and he felt a trifle nervous. All went Well, however, until the morning of the second day, when Sergeant Uraham excitedly called his young commander, his face clouded with dismay. Leu toe oetter. If a man hasn't got grace enough to keep his temper and live right, the leas he has to say for Jesus Christ the better.—D. L. Moody. was Saturday afternoon just before parade that the mail was distributed at Fort Sanders, and that very evening, before Major Edwards had received and had time to read his letter from the west, the sergeant had started on his long and fatiguing journey All night long in sleepless misery he sat in a corner of the caboose, occasionally rising and tramping unsteadily to and fro. At Cheyenne a delay of half an hour occurred. and he left the train and paced restlessly np and down the platform ; under the freight sheds. He dared not , go down to the lighted offices and the I crowded passenger stntion just below : him. It seemed as though every one knew of Fred's story by this time. He could see the gleam of forage c-up ornaments and the glint of army buttons amoug the people at the depot and knew | there were several officers and soldiers there. Never before had he known what it was to shrink from facing any man on earth, but tonight, though he almost i starved for further news from his boy, tie could not bring himself to meet them and ask. Along toward morning, at Pine Bluffs, a herdsmen «*ot atjoanL ami. oiwr ieumAtism! TtALQIA and similar Complaints, I ad prepared under/the stringent RMANMEJHCALLAWS^ rescribed bv/rfrninent pbydfiiuui^pS DR. RICHTER'S " ANCHOR "  fPAIN EXPELLEBl I World renowned! Remarkably aucceaful? 1 ■Onlv gennlne wlih Trade Mark" Anchor,*'! ■F. Ad. Birhter 'Co., 815 Pearl St., New York. ■ 3f HIGHEST AWARDS. ■ 13 Branch House*. Own Olaisworkt. , * •W;. Endorsed St recommended Farrer & Peck. 80 Luzerne Avenue. U. C. Glick.60 North MainSt. H Houck, 4 North Main St Pitttston, Pa. • RICH Ttn'U I ££CJI01L "• W farj The more Mr. Blunt thought of the matter the more worried and perplexed be became. Anywhere else be might have sent a sergeant with a couple of men in pursuit, but here it would be exposing them to almost certain death. It was some minutes before Sergeant Dawion came in answer to the summons. Blunt could see the troopors gathered about the first sergeant, excitedly discussing the affair and bemoaning their individual losses. Graham was noting the amounts on a slip of paper, and his One face was pale with distress. "Is that all now, men?" he asked as he completed the list. Then he sharply turned away and once more approached his young commander. That same summer, with firm hand and glistening eyes, Waller signed bis consent to the enlistment of his son as trumpeter in tbe old troop. How be watched the boy's glowing face as tbe oath of enlistment, so often lightly spoken, was solemnly repeated, and Fred was bound to the service of his oountry! How he trembled from head to foot when, but a few weeks afterward and in tbe dead of night, Charlton and bis men hurried forth to intercept a band of Indians who had swooped down upon the herders south of Laramie peak) Waller could hardly buckle the cantle straps of Fred's saddle as the little fellow, all eagerness, was bustling about his horse in the dim light of the stable lanterns. Yet when the captain and Lieutenant Kayburn came trotting briskly down tbe roadway, and the men were silently "leading into line," it was the old sergeant's band that grasped tha CHAPTER II. THE OATH OF ENLISTMENT. It was while stationed at old Fort Sanders that Waller's enthusiastic devotion to bis new captain's family began. The former troop commander was ordered to the retired list, broken down by wonnds, and the senior lieutenant stepped into his place. Waller bade farewell to his old captain with tear dimmed eyes—they had served together for over 15 years—and with much inward misgiving, but not tbe faintest outward show thereof, saluted tbe new arrival, a young officer, but a soldier through and through. It was not a week before tbe sergeant had fully satisfied himself as to that Presently the new ■VWa'i family reached tbe fart and CHAPTER VI. CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE, Blunt turned sorrowfully away and began to pace slowly up and down the bank. Near at hand over a little campfire his coffeepot was bubbling and hissing enticingly, but even the  of his accustomed morning beverage failed to attract him. What was he to 1 do? What could he do? Ordered to remain there to escort the captain safely I to Bed Cloud on his return from the "Lieutenant," he cried, "Sergeant Dawson and several men were robbed last night. Tbe money's clean gone." The major looked up as he finished reading the letter placed in his hands. "I have no words to tell you of my sympathy aud sorrow, sergeant. Of course you know my plain duty in the matter. The sheriff has been notified, and two of his deputies already have gone out to search. He would hardly be mad enough to come anywhere near us if guilty But if he is taken he will be held here under my charge, and I will see that you have every proper opportunity of visiting him. The adjutant tells me vn had hecnl Tiretfcirz rf the In- "Mr. Nelson, quickI" she called to a young officer just passing the gate. "Stop Sergeant Waller at once. Dou't let him go to the office. Make him come here to me. He will hear and obey you." Blunt was out b™ blanket in an instant "How muob is missing?" he asked. "I can't tell yet, sir—-a good deal. But that is not tbe worst of it." "What on earth could be worse?" "Trumpeter Waller's gone, sir—deserte—taken his horse, arms and ev- "Lieutenant," he said, halting and raising his hand in salute, "it isn't quite 90 bad as I feared, but bad enough. Sergeant Farron, Corporal Watts aud I are the principal losers, besides Sergeant Dawson. Three of the men who went into the asency on pass just after court, it was impossible to pursue, j Equally unwise would it bo to send a small squad. Waller had taken his life iu his hands when he rode away through the night, but he could cross tbe Raw- I ide and be iu comparative safety, so far as the Indian attack was concerned. And Mr. Nelson touched his cap, leaped lightly across the aoequia, and his powerful young voice was heard thundering "Sergeant Waller!" in peremptorv tones across the parade. "Sergeant