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Oldest Newspaper In the Wvomine Vallev P1TTSTON LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, MARCH 17, "iS^ htobUJwJ 1850. I VOL. XlIXNo.W.» A Weekly Local and Family Journal. ««i oo • W 1 in idTim; By F7ZNNX5Q/V JVEELt ing saw through the flimsy device and returned the letter unanswered and later letters unopened, and tben the woman seemed to take fire and in torn she threatened him. lent and strong, a light brown mustache that shaded bis mouth, and, though be wore no uniform, the rumor went round tbat this wax Lieutenant Loring of tbe engineers. Infantry and cavalry, commisaariea and quartermasters, doctors and sutlers, the denizens of Gate Oity well knew as attachments of the army. But what tbe miBcbief was an engineer? Loring put up at Gate Oity's new hotel, simply registering as from Omaba, but tbat he bore credentials and was a man of mark Gate Oity learned from tbe fact tbat Oolonel Stevens himself bad met bim on arrival and wished to take him out to tbe fort, and was ill pleased when Mr. Loring explained bis business would be best performed in town. Gate City followed the young man with eager eyes, confident tbat engineer must be the army name for detective. He studied the hotel register. He onrioualy examined all relics of tbe late lamented Newhall, who disappeared before Burleigb. He questioned tbe olerks at tbe oorral, reoonnoitered the neighborhood, asked wbat were tbeir means of defense, turned inside oat a worn yet shapely boot tbat bad been tbe captain's, bade man after man to describe tbat worthy and finally walked away from the depot, having picked up lots of information and imparted none. oig wnite gateway ana oeyona it tne main office of the quartermaster's oorral. Staff and gateway were invisible uuw, but beyond tbe latter gleamed two lights, each in a separate window of that office. Why should tbe ourtains be up now? Why, indeed I It waa a question tbat interested other prowlers besides himself, for, as he paused for breath, close at band he beard tbe stamp of a horse's hoof, followed by a muttered ourse, an evident jerk of tbe bit and jab with tbe spars, for tbe tortured creature plunged and stamped in pain. "Keep tbat dashed bronobo quiet I" growled a voice. "You'll give the whole thing as be wrote. Nor was there attempt at rescue. Mounting hia four captives on tbeir horses, their feet lashed to the stirrups, their hands bound, all tbe abandoned arms, ammunition and provisiona destroyed and tbe camp burned, Loring led promptly away up tbe range toward the north until clear of the timber, tben down tbe westward slope toward tbe Laramie valley once more, searching for a secure plaoe to bivouao. Far to the north tbe grand old peak loomed against tbe blue gray of the Wyoming skies. Off to tbeir left front, uplifting a shaggy crest • from its surrounding bills, a bold butte towered fully 20 miles away, and toward that jagged landmark Loring saw bis sergeant peering time and again with hand shaded eyes. Had be not promised to produoe the mysterious Newhall himself? Admirable service, indeed, had the young engineer rendered. The testimony of Folsom, Loring, Jimmy Peters and one or two wakeful citizens all proved that tbere must have been a dozen of Birdaall's gang in town tbat night. fallen brother, and the chance shot, for a marvel, finds its mark, and with a bowl the warrior dropa npon the bank. "Well done, finrleigb!" shoots Lor"Fire again!". rooting spirit. It waa bis band tbat extracted from deep down under the packed clothing in the trunk a small-tto. box, wrapped in a ailk handkerchief. Within the box, when opened, were oertain letter* in a woman's hand, Qeraldine Allyn's—letters written to Loring in.the days of their brief engagement, letters long ainoe returned to her under hia band and seal, and with them, to closely folded wraps of tissne paper, toolosed in stoat envelope, a valuable solitaire and as valuable a ring. The regimental adjutant it was who opened the box and who made these discoveries. Half an hour later tbey were identified by Nevins, in the presence of old Pecksniff, aa the diamonds intrusted to Loring's oare in Arizona, and Nevins professed to be disappointed because the watob, too, was not found with them. Not until late Jaly did Loring learn of the aotion taken in bis enforoed absence and of the resulting developments. Not a word would be vouchsafe to explanation when old Pecksniff, wilting under tbe criticisms of bis superiors, sent bia adjutant to "Invito remarks." "The ooo* has been ordered," said Loring, with ooolness described aa oontemptnoua. "1*11 make my remarks there." Bat long before tbatooartoould meet tbe colonel, as baa been said, went book to bis post. Tbe new oommander arrived and ordered Nevins to an Iowa prison to serve oat tbe year awarded Mm, sent Captain Patty summarily to Laramie, and bade Mrs. Barton go ■boot her business when that lachrymose pernoo came toarge that beabould do something "to make Lieutenant Loring settle." She had lost her lovely boarder, too, for no aooner had "Mrs. Fletcher" beard of tbe new aoooaatiana against loring tnan sne appeared at Omaha and whisked ber sister away, no one at Omaba knew where, bat indignant old John Folsom oould perhaps have told. He out Peoksniff dead when tbat offloer retained to Emory and refoaed to go near tbe fort. He threw open bia doors and bia heart to Loring when tbe convaleeoing engineer waa brought to from the ranch. Tbe new general actually came, ostanaibly to toapeot tbe poet, bat spent IS boars at Folaom'a by Loring's aide to the one devoted to Stevens, and everybody felt that there waa a atorm brewing that would break when Anally tbe witneasea tor tbe defenae arrived and tbe Loring And now she bad brought Mrs. Barton to witness bis cruelty to ber, tbe meek, suffering girl to whom be was pledged and plighted, who bad followed bim to Omaba in bopea of softening his heart and winning back bis wayward love, as was the barden of ber sorrowing song to that moat sympathetic of women, already barning with prejudioe and fanoied wrong of ber own. One "woman scorned" is more than enough for many a reputation. Two, in doable harness, would wreck that of\St. Anthony.ing. Hope or whisky or lingering spark of manhood baa fired the major's eye and nerved hia band. With something like a sob one of Birdaall'a captured crew rolls over to where tbe yoong commander is ooolly loading and firing, and, despite tbeir heavy loss, tbe stout defense has bad its effect and tbe yelling braves an keeping at wider range. "I'm done for, lieatenant," he Tbere could be only one explanation, for a or Ice waa on tbe bead of every mDn. They bad come wun "Newhall" and the key straight from some distant lair in the Black Hills of Wyoming, tbe big shouldered range tbat stretches from the Laramie near its junction witb the Platte southward to Oolorado. They were bent on a sudden rush upon tbe oorral in the dead of night, the foroing of the gate and the office door, tben witb "Newhall" to aniook the safe tbey would be up and away like the wind, with money enough to keep them all in oiover—and whisky—until the last dollar was gambled or guzzled. away!" fore, and Ood only knows what h amiss. Two young lieutenants came In and thrashed him right before tbe whole of us, called htm • liar and all that. His friend Newhall, that pulled him through the yellow fever, he says, was there at the time, drunk, and actually congratulated them, and, though Burleigh raved and swore and wrote no end of dispatches to be aent to Omaha demanding court martial for Lieutenant Dean, devil a one of them waa ever really aent. Not only that, but Burleigh waa threatened and abused by Newhall and had to buy him off with a roll of greenbacks— and I caw It. Who's Newhall, anyhow, and what hold has be on Burleigh f Nursing him through yellow fever doesn't go. Newhall'* gone, however, cither over to Cheyenne or o»ft on tbe Cache la Poudre. There's something rotten tn Denmark, and I want to get oat of this. "It's given away now," was the surly half whisper in reply, "elae those * ' BpMf CHAPTER XXI. The day of per tar bat km had been All this and more had sped through Loring's mind tbat night and was uppermost in bia thoughts as be stood tbere facing his patient oommander. Tbe general's fine, clear out features clouded with anxiety as be noted tbe long silence and hesitation. Again be spoke, with grave yet gentle reproof in his tone. auooeeded by a night of worry at depart• mant headquarters. Dispatches full of grave import were ooming in from Gate Oity and Obeyenne. Old Jobn Folsom, long time a trader among tbe Sioux and known and trusted by the whole tribe, bad given warning weeks before tbat aeriooa consequences would attend tbe effort to build another po#t along the Big Horn. Bed Gload a*d "bis fc. sta of wairlors bad sworn to sweep itfrom tbe face of the earth and every man of ita garriaon with it All tbia bad been reported by the general to hia superiors at Washington, and all tbia bad been derided by tbe Indian bureau. Against tbe judgment, against tbe counsel of tbe department oommander, tbe work went on. A large force of laborers hired by Major Burleigh at Gate Oity early in tbe spring had been aent to Warrior Gap, under strong eaoort. and tbe unaeaaoned timber and fresh out loga were being rapidly dovetailed "What do you see?" be presently asked. "Smoke, sir, I think. Will the lieutenant look with his glass?" Silently Loring unslnng his binocular and gazed. His eyes were keen, bat untrained. "Take it yourself, sergeant," he said. And the veteran trooper reined oat to one side and peered long and steadily, tben came trotting np to the head of oolumn, doubt and suppressed excitement mingling on his weather beaten faoe. Loring's suspicions bad proved exactly correct. Loring'a precautions in having the offloe brightly lighted mod ■ ■bow of armed men a boat had held the would be robbers at bay dt:ring the early hours of the night, %od then his prompt action in hnrling himself on the mysterious stranger who came stealthily in at Folaom'B back gate had finally and totally blocked the game. fiat, just in proportion as Loring turned out to be right, old Pecksniff tnrned out to be wrong, for be bad refused a guard for the depot, and therefore was it now Pecksniff's bounden duty to himaelf to poobpooh the precautions of the engineer and bolittie the danger. Not for a moment would he admit that armed desperadoes had come at Nevins' back. As for the key in hia possession, with all respect to the statements of Mr. Loring, the story of the unfortunate oaptain was just as plausible, and that key should have been delivered to him, the commander at Fort Emory, instead of being taken possession of by tbe engineer. "Surely, Loring, if you know of tbe iellow, it is our right to know)" ''I realize it, sir, but I can do better than tell k.«nere suspicion. Give me authority to act, and I'll land that man in jail and lay hia whole story on your deek." He spent some time at Folsom's that evening. He drove out to the fort in tbe afternoon, "and what do yon think be wanted?" said old Pecksniff, whose command bad been cut down to one company and tbe band. "Wanted me to post a strong guard over tbe quartermaster's depot lest tbatdasbed marauding gang of Birdsall'8 should gallop in some night with Burleigh'* safe key and get away with tbe funds, i asked him if thoae were tbe general's orders, and be said no. I asked him if they were anybody's orders, and be said no. J asked bim if it wad anybody's idea but bis own, and he said no, and then I t told bim, by gad, 1 hadn't men enough : to guard tbe public property here at tbe post. Tbe quartermaster's depot was responsible for most of tbein being away. Let tbem take care of their own." "I have determined to go to Gate City myself, even though time can ill be spared, Loring," said he. "There is urgent need of my preeenoe at Laramie. "I couldn't be sure, sir, but—it looked for a minute like smoke." "Then go and do it," said the chief. "And that means"— "Indian signals, sir. That's Eagle butte, only a conple of miles from Hal Folsom's ranch." CHAPTER XXII. Another week, and all Wyoming was awake and thrilling. There bad been dreadful doings on the Big Horn, and John Folsom's prophecy had come true. Enticing one detachment after another from the stockade at Warrior Gap by ■how of scattered bands of braves, that head devil of the Ogallalas, Red Cloud, had gradually surrounded three companies with ten times their fords of lighting men and slaughtered every soldier of the lot. Loring pondered. It was long since, in any foroe, tbe Sionz bad ventnred ■oath of tbe Platte, but now, after tbeir victory at Warrior Gap and tbe tremendous re-enforcement they bad received from all the turbulent tribes, what was to prevent? John Folsom himself bad told him it might be expected any mosent John Folsom himself bad gone to tbat very spot consumed with anxiety about tbe safety of bis son, bat confident of tbe safety of himself and thoae be loved when once be could reach tbe ranch. "No Sioux," aaid he, "would raise band to barm me." Kneeling and taking deliberate aim, open flre on the foremost foe. moam. "For God's sake lie flat behind me I" And be feebly points to the slope behind their left rear, where half a dozen Sioux, dismounted, are skipping to the shelter of the rooks. Another minnte and their bullets are hissing at the backs of the besieged. Another minnte and JBnrleigh topples over on tbe sward, the lifeblood pouring from bis side, and sees half his fighting force is'gone, even as everything begins to swim before his eyes, and the band that strives te sweep sway the blnr before bis sight leaves his pallid face smeared with blood. and mortised, and long wagon tnins laden with stores and snpplies, purchased by Major Burleigh's agents, were pushing ont across the Platte. "Indians, indeed!" said tbat experi enoed officer disdainfully. "They do not presume to interfere!" Mr. Lorlnij, v 1th Ms grip on the collar and his pistol at his captive's ear. fellows would never be up at this hoar jf tbe night. They've mounted guard. Wbere'd tbe man go with tbe key?" There bad been exoitement at Gate City daring a brief visit of the general and his aid inspecting tbe affairs of Major Burleigh, who, confined to bis bed by nervous prostration and forbidden by the doctor to see anybody, bad nevertheless sent bis keys and books and bank account, and, to tbe mystification of the obief, more money was found in the big office safe at tbe depot quartermaster's than was necessary to cover bis accountability. And long since tbe whisper had been going tbe rounds that Major Burleigh's interest in the oonstruotion of that new post, involving an expense of some hundreds of thousands of dollars, was something more tban official. In vain John Folsom and veteran officers of the fighting force had pointed ont that Indians never do interfere when they see huge trains of provisions and supplies ooining just where they want them. Orders were orders, and the building went on. John Folsom said that any day the news might oome that Red Cloud and his braves bad massacred every man and carried off everv woman in tbe new True, Nevins bad been diamiased iu disgrace, and in a question ot veracity between tbe two men there waa little doubt that Loring'a would prevail. But a very peppery, fidgety, unhappy old man waa Colonel Stevens for many daya, prating about tbia independence of aotion of atripling officers right under bia qoee. | Gate Oity hotel waa alive with ! loungers that night, waiting for tbe en! gineer. At 9:30 be had come from the quartermaater'a corral and after a few minutes bad gone away with Mr. Folaom, who drove np in bia carriage. He waa up at the old man'a now, said tbe impatient ones, fooling away tbe time with the girla when be oogbt to be there answering their queationa and appeaaing their cnrioaity. Tbe talk turned on tbe probable whereabouts of Burleigh and hia"pal." So bad tbe mighty fallen that tbe lately fawning admirers now spoke of tbe fugitive aa a criminal. He oouldq't follow tbe Union Pacifio east. Everybody knew bim, and by tbia time offioera were on tbe lookout for bim all along tbe road. He bad reached Cbeyeune, tbat waa known, and bad I driven away from there up the valley of Orow creek with two companiona. Loriug bimaelf had asoertained tbia in , Obeyenne, bat it waa tbe aberiff who gave ont tbe information. "Up to Folsom'a back gate. Three of our fellows are shadowing bim, tbongh. He can't get away with it. He aaid be bad to see bia wife or abe'd betray the whole business." Bat Loring'a men and horses both were sorely wearied now, and at sundown tbe little command reached a sheltered nook where grass, -wood and water were abundant. Here restfully yet anzioualy they bivouacked until 8 in tbe morning, and then once more, refreshed, but alert and oautioua, watchful of their prisonera and watchful of the aigin ahead, on they aped for Folsom'a ranch. The dawn broke beautifully clear. The trail led down into tbe romantic valley of the Laramie at the bend where it begina ita rush through the range. Then, turning westward aa they reached the foot of a steep and commanding height, Lorlng signaled to his sergeant, and the troopers spurred up alongside. There is a sound of ooraing thunder in his ears, tbe blare of distant trumpet, tbe warning yell of wary Indians, tbe rousing cheer of charging horses, and tbe earth seems turning round and rolling up to meet him as be droops; faint* ing at bis post, tbe battle won. Walter Lorina had come face to face with his old love—Qeraldlne. Possibly I may have to go to Frayne and shall need you with me, but meantime this thing must be explained. Everything indicates tbat this Captain Newhall, who was one of bis cbuins in New Orleans, has some heavy hold on him— a gambling debt, perhaps, or knowledge of cotton transactions during tbe war. I cannot but feel tbat yon know some ■ thing of the man. Tell me, did yon meet that fellow when be was here?" "All tbe samel don't like it. Tbe old man always baa a raft of fort people there. Hello, listen I" All on a sudden there came from afar up the broad avenue tbe aound of scurrying hoofs. Down through the darkness, louder and louder, aparring and thundering, came three horsemen whom tbe shadows at the corner reined out eagerly to meet. There was no suspense. But the worst oame on tbe day when tbe little troop of cavalry at Fort Emory waa atill further depleted by tbe detachment of a sergeant, two corporals and eight trooper*, ordered to report with pack mule and ten daya' rationa to Lieutenant Loring of tbe engineera, and Colonel Stevena had not been oonsulted again. Well and gallantly done, was the universal verdict of the Walter Loring's maiden sool and resolute i» ' peril be bad _ patfaizing soldier hospital tent where lay in the deliriuv lowed hie wonndc. lieved that whan at oame and the dooto: raise the blockade, to bim that so soon olared strong enooi other ordeal ahead be bad served sc ordered elsewhere. at Omaha. "An knew not • oeeph.' was assigned tc the department, The general and bis inspector were fsirly puzzled. They personally questioned the bank cashier and tbe quartermaster's clerks. They ransacked that safe and poured over tbe books, both there and at the bank. Tbe only queer thing discovered was that • large sum of money—$6,000 or so—bad been withdrawn from tbe bank In cash one day and within tbe week replaced. frontier on ooart could meet - fight Brave, who would have dreamed then tm of deepente Mold be nek a dramatic acsneCMore a proved, and many a «ym- mMitary tribunal? hovered a boat the I' oame with the third day of the day after' day he trial. The ooart had been carefully sejf fever that fol- looted by old Pecksniff, whose adjutant fet will it be be- had obediently aigned the charges drawn last convaleaoenoe BP under the ehieTa directions. Them were compelled to war* nine offloara in the array— e news waa broken others being available without s he should be de- manifest injury to the servioe,'' read there waa still an- formula of the day. Five were offi- Tbe gallant general °en Stevens' regiment, one a cavalry well had indeed been the others of the pay, oommia* as was prophesied mr7 and quartermaster's department, v king oame who None had known Loring. Everybody The senior oolonel «*pected him to object to some at leaat, temporary oommand of he objeotsd to none. and he (old Peoksniff) The judge advocate waa a vigilant _ irom JUatened to . a taiee of Kevins and of official who made the most of his oppor, th« northward tbat new arrival from California, Petty, tunity, but his witneasee for the proeez bank of the lapping re-«aforced by heaven alone knowa what notion were, with one exception, weak, eouth of The RHtom the the lambs of Lambert's The exception was Kevins. He swore • | atoutly tbat ha had given the valuables ' in Arizona to Loring and from that day * never aeen them until they wen " " Loring's trunk, cantonment. Wives and children were there, secure, as they believed, behind tbe stout hearts and far and fast shooting new breechloaders, trustful, too, of tbe Indians whom they bad often fed and welcomed at their doors in tbe larger and less exposed garrison. "Come on!" savagely growled a boarsevoioe. "Tbe game'a up. New* ball's wife led bim square into a trap. They've got him. key and all." The senior oolonel in tbe department, he had seen bia oommand cut down company by oompany until only a bare squad, aaid be, remained to guard the most important post in Wyoming. (Which it wasn't by any mean a, but he bad been led tc think so.) And now young just out of West Point were running away with his men right under his noee. Loring stood looking gravely, straight into the face of bis superior. Swiftly bis thoughts sped hack to that soft, warm evening when be and tbe rector slowly fcsoended tbe gentle grade toward Mrs. Burton's homestead, and there was unfolded before his eyes that picture be was destined uever to forget—tbe lovely tints of tbe clear northern sky, tbe broad valley of tbe river, with its bluffs and hillocks, the dark forms, slender and sraoeful both, coming nearer and nearer until in startled recognition of one at least be baited in dumb amaze and therefore oaught but a flitting glimpae of the otber as it whisked jauntily away. Then tbe general had to turn baok to Cheyenne and hasten thenoe to tbe forts aloD;g tbe Platte to expedite tbe sending of his soldiers to tbe relief of tb# beleaguered posts along tbe Big Horn, tbe tidings of tbe massacre reaching Gate Uity and plunging Fort Emory in mourning only a few boors after bis departure.Then away tbey rode, athirst and blasphemous, and away aped Jimmy with bia wondrous new a, and out tumbled the loungers at Peter'a bar, the judge and tbe aberiff laat, and those who bad boraea mounted and galloped up to Folsom'a and those who bad not trudged enviously after, and a few minutes later there waa gathered at tbe corral a panting and eager band of men, for thither bad Mr. Loring, with his grip on the collar and hia pistol at his captive's ear, marched an aahen faoed, aoowling, scurrilous man, a dashing looking fellow at times, a raging raiaoal now, cursing bia wife for a foul traitress, ouraing bia captor for an aooompliee, aaying filthy words about women in general, until cboked by a twiat at tbe oollar. Into tbe lighted offioe and tbe presence of two armed olerka tbe engineer marched hia man, tbe first arrivals following eagerly until tbe door waa shot and barred. Int6 the bands of a aberiff did Loring personally oommit hia prisoner. Then calling to hia aid tbe chief clerk be tried tbe key in the look of tbe aafe. It worked exaotly. Tben he turned to the civil offioer of the law. There before tbem lay the broad and beautiful valley Just lighting up witn tbe rosy hues of tbe glad young day. There to the northward, black bearded with its growth of pine, the rays of tbe rising sun juat glinting on tbe topmost crag a, towered Eagle butte, a plume of smoke puffs even at the moment beginning to soar slowly aloft. There, not a mile away, straight ahead, wae the steep "Two of our companies can stand off • thousand Sionx," said one gallant effioer, who based bis confident report on tbe fact tbat with 60 of the new He waa in hiding, deolared tbe knowing ones, in some of tbe haunts of Birdsall's fellows, east of Laramie City, a growing town of wboae prowess at poker and keno Gate Oity was professionally aware and keenly jealous. He might hide there a day or two and than get out of tbe country by way of Sweetwater along tbe old stage route to Salt Lake, or skip southward and make for Denver. Northward he dare not go. There were tbe army posts along tbe Platte, beyond tbem tbe armed hosts of Indians, far more to be dreaded than all tbe sheriffs' posses on the plains. breechloaders, behind a log breastwork, be bad whipped a horde of mountain braves, armed only with lance end bow and old "smoothbores" or squirrel rifles. But Loring's orders oame to him direct from Omaha. He bad need of every precaution. He was now going on a mission tbat demanded the utmost secrecy, and tbe oolonel could no more oonoeal a movement than a sieve oould water. xnen came snil another excitement at Gate City. Major Burleigh had suddenly beoome endowed with new youth and energy. He who was deolared by bis pbysioians to be in a aritioal condition, one demanding tbe utmost quiet, be who oould not even see the department oommander and of whom tbe doctor bad said it might be weeks before be was again fit for duty, bad sprung from his bed, dictated oertajn letters, wired important news to tbe obief quartermaster at Omaha, demanded of tbe railway authorities an engine and caboose to bear him over the newly completed mountain division to Cheyenne, bad taken every cent from bis private safe, bad entered bis offloe at an early bonr, satchel and safe key in band, wai oonfounded by tbe sight of two olerks there smoking forbidden pipes and, turning, without a word bad fled. One of these was'tbe yonng man who so recently bad written to a confidant in' Omaha telling of Burleigh's queer doings and his own deaire to get from under.ridge that, bid: "We came down through tbe whole tribe," said Burleigh, with swelling breast. "I bad only a small troop of cavalry, and Red Cloud never so much as raised a yelp. He knew who was running that outfit and didn't care to try conclusions." gradual slope of tbe black range, studded here and there with bowlders that seemed to have rolled down from the precipitous cliffa under which they were now moving, two aeaeoned old dragoons 800 yards out to tbe front, oovering the oautioua advance. Quitting (he quartermaster's depot oim rammer night at 12, the little detachment rode silently oat aoross the southward prairie, swung round to the east when the dim lights of town were Ik mile behind, took the trot over the hard, bounding turf, and at dawn were heading straight for the breaks of the Laramie. Halting for rest and ooffee when the ran was an hoar high, they again poshed on until noon, when they unsaddled in a grove of leafy cottonwoods in a little fork of the Medicine Bow, watered the weary horses and gave them a hearty feed and themselves as hearty a dinner, and then picketing and hoppling their steeds, who were glad enough to roll and sprawl in the pand, all hands managed to get some hoars of sound sleep before the son was sinking to the edge of the Sweetwater "They fonnd soma dashed trumpery jewelry in a tin case in a trunk you left with your trapa at Omaha," waa the indignant outburat of Lieutenant Dean, who had led the rush of the oaralry to tbe rescue of Folsom's ran oh and Lortag's exhausted party, "and aome idiothas preferred ohargea on theatrength ot them I" He had bis suspicions, strong and acute, yet with nothing tangible as yet on which to base them, and if he breathed tbem what would be the result? hat. found secreted in „ , and to the hmw of the court, Loring declined to cross examine. Petty was a failure. He wanted to swear to a thouaand things that other people had told him, for of himself he knew nothing, ind, though the defense never interpos- It all sounded very fine among tbe barrooms and over tbe poker table at Gate City, where Burleigh was a patron and an oracle, but in tbe distant oamps aloug tbe Platte and Powder rivers and among troopers and linesmen nearer home there were odd glanoes and nudging elbows whenever Burleigh's boastings were repeated. Even as far as department headquarters tbe story was being told tbat the mere report of "Big band of Sioux ahead" sent in by tbe advance guard, a report that brought Loring and Stone leaping nimbly out of the ambolanoe, rifle in hand and nsu; tot ounueaa, scut mineigu uuuar tbe seat and left bim there quaking. The girl wbose identity be bad promised not to betray, "until Sister Naomi could be beard from" would beyond all question be called to aocountl To bis very door bad abe come within 48 hours of tbat strange evening wbioh tbe rector's prattle bad made public property, begged a minute's interview without giving any name, and. stepping down into tbe plainly furnished little western parlor, there in the dim light of a single kerosene burner, Walter Loring had come face to faoe with his old love—Geraldine. Ten-thirty came and still no Loring, and the rounds of drinks were getting monotonous. Judge Pardee, a bibulous and oracular limb of the law, bad been chosen inquisitor general, with powers to oall for all the news that was stowed away in that secretive "knowledge box" •on the shoulders of the engineer. Gate Oity bad resolved and "lowed" that a man reputed to know so much should be held up and compelled to part with at least a little. Jimmy Peters, the landlord's boy, scouting out to Folsom'i, came back on the run, breathless from three-quarters of a mile of panting through that rare atmosphere, to say that he had Just seen a couple of officers ride away to the fort, and old man Folsom, with "the engineer feller," was coming oat the front gate. They'd be along in a few minutes. All the broad sweep of rolling landscape far to the west just lighting up in the slant of the summer sunshine, not a living thing in sight save their own little band, yet beyond that ridge only two miles away lay the ranch, all seemingly peaoeful and secure, yet over that jagged watchtower to tha north the war signals of the Sioux were flaunting, and every hand seemed to seek the small of the gunstook, even two of the prisoners pleading for "a show in the fight" if there was to be one, and, not five minutes later, it oame. Borne on id, tbe oeort did. It vu all beamy tod be wu Anally excused. Mm. Barton appeared, bat, like Mm Olnppioa, of bleseed memory, bad mort to aay of ber domeatio and peraonal affaire than the allegatlmf against tbC aoonaed. Mite Allyn, aaid tbe judge ad ▼ooate In emtaarraanent, was to have appeared on tbe afternoon of tbe eecond day, bnt did not, nor ooold be find her. She waa a moat important witness, m he bad been assured by Tartans persona CHAPTER XXIV. That Loring court was the talk of the west for many a month. Long before ita meeting the wrathful division commander bad Bent CoJooel Stevena back to the obscurity of Fort Emory, welcomed the new brigadier and bade him, if a possible thing, to quash the proceedings, but now it waa Loring who was obdurate. \ "This matter has been • acandal far months," aaid he. "It must be settled now, once and for all." "Guard this man well," said he. "He has escaped twice before. It is not Oaptain Newhall. He is a thief—whose name is Nevins." "Get jour men down from the Big Horn," was John FoIsoiu'h urgent advice to the department commander. "Get yoor men op there," wax the order from Washington, and no wonder the general was troubled. Then, in the midst of it all, began to come these rumors affecting Burleigh's integrity; then the determination to aend Loring to look after this new boon companion with whom Bnrleigh was consorting; then a dispatch from old Oolonel Stevens, "old Pecksniff," as the irreverent youngsters called him, the commander at Fort Emory, on the outskirts of Gate City, telling of a tremendous storm that bad awept the Laramie plains and the range of the Medicine Bow and fiattlesnake hills, just after Lieutenant Dean bad been sent forth with a small party at troopers to push tbrongb to Warrior Gap with a big sum of money, $10,000 in oasb, for the payment of contractors and tbeir mrn at the new post, and, wbat waa of thrilling import, there had bean a deep laid soheme to head him off, ambusoade him and get that money. Mindfnl of all the barm she bad done him in San Francisco, rather than of wbat bad pasaed before, be met her in Etern silenoe. On his generosity, bis magnanimity, sbe threw herself. Sbe bad deoeived and wronged bim in aver engaging berself to bim, abe said, and wonld have gone on to aay more. "And you hear me, young oook of the walk," was the furious outbreak of the captive runagate, "you stole that key from me, to whom it was given to deliver to Colonel Stevens. It isn't the first time you stole, either. You'll sweat for this night's work so sure as there's a God in heaven!" It transpired later tbat Burleigb went back to the bank, presented a check for the balance to bis credit and demanded currency, bnt the cashier bad beoome alarmed by the investigations made by tbe general andhad temporized, said be must consult tbe president and asked tbe major to call two bonra later, whereat Bnrleigh bad taken alarm. He was looking ghastly, said tbe cashier. It was apparent to everyone that, mentally, bodily or both, tbe lately debonair and successful man of tbe world bad lost bis grip. the still, breathless air there rose throbbing from the west the spiteful craok, crack of rifles, the distant clamor of taunting jeer and yell. Back from the front oame one of the troopers at mad gallop, his eyes popping almost from his head. Ml at the Jut moment she bad apparently deaerted the oause of the prosecution. A civil ooort would bave bad power to drag an unwilling witness before it and compel bla or ber testimony; a military ooort baa neither, so long aa tbe desired person la not in the military •errlee. wbiob Miss Allyn and some 66,000,000 others at that timeoonldnot be said to be. Then came the careful grooming of their mounta, then a dip in the cool waters, the smoking tins of soldier coffee and staling slips of baoon. Then again the saddle and the silent trail, with the moon looking down from the zenith on their warlike array. Heavily armed waa every man, each, even the lieutenant, with carbine and braoe of Colts, and on they rode through the still, soft night air, chatting in low tones, no man knowing but every one believing that the taciiarn, blue eyed young officer in the lead was heading them for a lair of the Birdsall gang. It was too far south just then for Sion«. But, ob, what complications bad not been brongbt about by Pecksniff's spell of brief authority I Never before intrusted with a bigber command tfaan that of a regiment, to tbe bead of wbiob be bad risen by reason of long years of unimpaired bodily bealtb and skillful avoidance of all danger, tbe old colonel bad loat no time in moving, bag and baggage, to Omaha, in having Nevina transported thither, in opening wide bis ears to bis story of tbe beinoua wrongs inflioted on him by that Arizona oourt through the malignity of its judge advooate, of that judge advocate's heartless treachery to two helpless women, one of whom was Kevins' Vtife, the other tbe officer's own deserted and broken hearted betrothed. "Tbat ia all past and done with," be coldly interposed. "Wbat is it now?" So in their eagerness some of the loungers strolled out in front and gazed westward up the long, broad, bard beaten street on which, in many a spot, the bunoh grass of the prairie still lingered. It waa & lovely summer night, warm, starlit, but the moon had early sunk to rest, and the darkness was inteuse, yet the first men to oome forth could have sworn they saw two horsemen, dim and shadowy, go loping across the broad thoroughfare from north to sooth at the first cross streets. There waa nothing remarkable in horsemen being abroad at that hour. Horses were tethered now iu front of the hotel. What was strange was that they passed within a mile of Peter's bar and didn't stop for a drink. Men who are capable of that neglect of opportunity and the attendant privilege of "setting 'em ap" for all bands could be nothing Jess than objeots of suspicion. CHAPTER XXIII. "My God, lieutenant, Folsom's ranoh is afire, and the valley'a thick with Sioux!" And then it transpired that good Mr. Lambert bad been tbe means of securing for Naomi an excellent position; tbat Naomi bad gone to enter on ber dntiea and bad sent for her sister to some and live at Mrs. Burleigh's until sbe oould better provide for ber; tbat Naomi waa living under an assumed name, and tbat sbe prayed tbat no one might know tbeir nnhappy past Tbe interview was cut short by the curiosity of some member of tbe household who came in ostensibly to trim tbe lamp. Gate City had found a hero and wished to worship him, but its hero proved as intractable aa be was retioent For three days after the capture of Nevins the community was agog with rumor aud pj'.itement. To begin with, the oaptive "bad the cheek of a brass monkey," said the sheriff, and swore stoutly that be was a wronged and Injured man. So far from being a prisoner be should be on a pinnacle, rewarded by a generous and grateful government for important servioes rendered. Who bat be had followed and found the renegade major and wrested from him fall confession and the key of the safe? The latter in turn had been forcibly wrested from him through the malevolent jealousy of that upstart engineer, but never, said Kevins, would he now betray Burleigh's hiding place or impart his confession until full reparation waa made for the wrougs and indignities heaped upon bim. The sheriff waa fairly dazed. Even then, when every oarbine seemed to leap from its socket, men remembered the groan of despair that rose from Burleigh's lips. A sensation was "sprung" on tbe oourt at tbia juncture by tbedefense. It magnanimously informed tbe oourt that John Folsom of Gate Oity knew where that witness was in biding and that she ooaJd be reached through him, whereupon tbe judge advocate seemed to lose his eagerness. Something waa wrong with tbe prosecution anyway. It bad begun with truculent confidence. It waa unnerved by tbe serene oompoaure of tbe aooused and bis refusal to object to anything, to cross examine, to avail himself of any one of tbe privilegea acoorded tbe defense. This oould have only one interpretation, and Nevina, twitching with nervous dread, waa worrying the judge advooate with perpetual questions as to tbe witnesses for tbe defense. And before even the swift running engine could have landed tbe fugitive in Obeyenne tbe truth was known. The paokage purporting to oontain $10,000 in currency for tbe payment of tbe workmen at Warrior Gap, sealed in Burleigh's office and sent at incredible risk by the bands of a young oavalry officer with only ten troopers through tbe Indian lines, borne intact to tbe commanding officer of tbe new post, though its gallant guardians had run tbe gantlet at tbe cost of tbe blood of more than half tbeir number, was found when opened to bold nothing but waste paper. "Look after the prisoners, oorporal. Sergeant Carey, you and tbe first six come with me!" cried Loring. A gallop of less than a minute brought them almost abreast of tbe tidge. Black and billowing a cloud of amoke waa rising, lasbed from beneath by angry tongues of red flame. "It isn't the house, thank God!" cried the sergeant. "It's the haystacks. Bnt look at the Indians!" Another moon and tbey had crossed during tbe dark boara tbe broad plaina of tbe Laramie and were winding up among the bills. Another rest and spurring from tbe rear there overtook them a bronzed, weather beaten fron« tiersman whom Mr. Loring greeted without show of surprise, and when again tbey moved on it waa he who rode at the lieutenant's Ipft, up, up a winding trail among the frowning heights until just as every man was wondering when on earth tbey could hope for a bite tbe noiseless signal to halt was given, while tbe leaders dismounted and peered over a shoulder of bluff ahead, held brief consultation, then down the ravine to tbe left rode tbe stranger, and baok to hia men oame Loring, bia eyea kindling. . "It shall be aa you wish until you bear from your sister," said Loring, bowing ber out with punctilious civility and praying in aecret tbat there it might end, but end it did not. Within another 48 boura sbe waa there with another quest. Tbe servant who announced ber preaenoe in tbe parlor below did ao witb a confidential and impertinent grin. Then came Petty, ordered to join bis company in the field and eager aa ever to seek some loophole of esoape. Reporting to pay bis homage to the temporary commander at headquarter a, be aoon got an inkling of what waa going on, and all at onoe there flaabed upon him tbe magnificence of bis opportunity. Look I Well tbey might! All about the corrals they were darting. All on a sudden there blazed from the ridge line across the stream the fire of a dozen rifles. All around them the spiteful bollets bit the turf. One horse madly reared and plunged, bis rider cursing heartily. Wildly tbe more exoitable troopers returned an aimless shot from saddle, while others gazed eagerly to tbe offloer for orders. It was bia first meeting wrtb 'he Sioux. It bad been his bone to sraiu that threatened ranoh by dawn and join ita Harrison, but where waa that hope now? Hank Birdsall and bis gang, 40 of tbe worst toughs on tbe western frontier, bad "got the tip" from some one in tbe aecret in Gate Oity, and no one outside of the post oommander himself and one of Burleigh's confidential clerks bad tbe faintest inkling of tbe tiaosaction. Nothing but that storm oould have defeated their purpose. Several of tbe outlaws and many of tbeir boraes were drowned, and one of tbe gang, recoued at tbe last minute by tbe mail carrier to Frayne, rescued just in time to aave bis life, bad gasped bis confession of tbe plot. Birdsall and bia people were now scattering over tbe territory, but old Pecksniff felt tbat matters ao serious demanded foil report to the department commander, and this foil report bad reached Omaha tbe vary nigbt that Loring got bis orders to fcave. Two minutes later and somebody said, "Shut up!" a frontierism for "Husb!" and all ears were turned expectant. No, there waa no sound of brisk, springy footsteps on tbe elastic wooden walk. Already men had noted that quick, alert, soldierly gait of tbe new officer. But "Sbnt up!" was repeated when audible murmurs were made. Then indeed was explained Burleigb'a insistence. Then indeed was apparent why he bad not pressed bis charges against tbe officer who bad publicly horsewhipped him. Then indeed was explained wby good old John Folsom bad withdrawn so large a sum in cash from tbe bank and bow Burleigb was enabled to replace what be himself had taken. Then did it begin to dawn on people where Hank Birdsall, "tbe Pirate of tbe Plains," as he bad beeq alliteratively described, bad got tbe "straight tip" which enabled him to instantly enlist tbe services of so many outlawed men in a desperate game. Here be could at one and tbe same time feed fat bia ancient grudge againat Loring and make himself indispensable to tbe aging commander at tbe department, per naps even secure another atatt billet, certainly at leaat succeed in being kept there on duty and away from the perils of the field until after tbe oourt, and meantime wbat would frienda be worth if they oould not move the powers at Washington? When wen they to be produced? Who were they? And tbe judge advooate did not know. Very unfairly bad be been treated, aaid be, for the list of witnesses for tbe defense not only bad not been furnished bim, but he had never been "oonsulted." "Tbe aame lady wants to see Lieutenant Loring," and tbia time be waa oolder and aterner than before. "Who were all tbe fellowa you had with you," be demanded, "if tbey weren't aomeof Hank Birdsali's crowd, come there to raid the quartermaster's depot?" Her evident purpose was to revert to tbe relatione that onoe existed, though her plea was only for news from California. Had nothing ever been beard of tbe miaaing jewels? ahe asked*. Tbeir need waa ao great I She had moat excellent prospects of an engagement in Boaton if ahe conld only have six months' instruction under Sign or Oalabteai, but his terma were ao high, and ahe would have to live In Mew York, and people kept writing ber thai abe and Naomi really ongbt to make soma effort to recover tbe value of that property, and abe bad come, friendless aa abe waa, to aDk if ha (bought a suit against tbe steamship company would result in tbeir getting anything. Oaptain Pet—a gentleman, that is, who bad been most kind in Ban Francisco, bad promiaed to do something, but now that tbe general waa dead what cop Id be do? There waa no doubting tbe identity or intentiona of that gentleman, thought Loring, aa be gravely replied that they would only be defeated in any auob attempt. « \rDv •' if 1 Two or three "•took op" engineers had oome oot from St Louis and Detroit, and Loring and they bad been actually hobnobbing with the depart- "There's more fellers a horseback up yonder. Who in 'ell's oat tonight?" queried the oitizen with the keenest ears. "Jimmy, boy, ran np there and •coat. I'll give yoa a dime." Nevlns' indignation was fine to ae«. He denied all knowledge of thepresenoe of any such. He demanded an interview with Folsom. He ntterly refused at first to acoord one to bis wife, aa Naomi Fletcher, Folsom'a bonsekeeper, was now auderstood to be. That woman was in leugne with his enemies, he swore. That woman wrote and bade him come and then had Folsom and Loring and other armed men there to pounoe npon him. Folaom o»me and bad a few words with him, bnt told him bluntly that be wouldn't believe bis preposterous story and would have nothing to do with him until he withdrew the outrageous aoouaationa against both bis wife and Loring. Down along the banks of the Laramie, lashing their bounding ponies, brandishing their weapons and yelling like mad, a band of Sioux, full 40 strong, oame obarging at them, splashing through the shallows and scattering out across their front in the well known battle taotica. Not an instant was there to be loatl Day after day ba vu closeted with old Stevens, adding fnel to the *— tbat ingenious veteran' Bat it ia doubtful if evet of the depth of Nevina' Burleigh, whom the ei "bled" and blaokmailed beyond tbe bar of hnmar "dying like a gentleman captive in tbe bands of Um. and so did Kevins impress tradicted tale of loyal state on tbe old weakling tbat Stevens bad declared was no evidence on wbicb bad ordered bis release from parole, noless tbe civil aired to prosecute bim far &u officer," and bad wr«. vision commander, praia. conduct and urging (bat imprisonment be set aside. And tben be never wbo brought tbis about, Mis. Burton or Misa A1 tears and tribulations; w Nevina, with bis bold Petty, with his insidiotu tween them all the old oC duoed to send bis adjutr aid to examine certain bi ing's atored at tbe hotel. given up his room when to Gate City, ezpectlnf within a week and mei( rent when abeent, as was the arrangement of tbe day, Loring bad left bis trunks and desk securely locked. '* suspicions. Continued on page four. Petty dreamed ■ woandreiism. PPMPpDTiii«rC7^M^W captain bad Kr **«*• had passed of ths Globe for D■■ f RHEUMATISM1 authorities, ■ HSUEAI6IA and eiaflar OcwlatotZ 1 his ODOOn- B h4 prepared ■»C«» the stringent B -SS 3S5S pain expeller! ♦ten to the dlC ■ — -• i rii naaiftT niiitilil) I 1 .as Nerina' Mar*" AMftar.«| he sestenoe of r "•«««* «•C*,titPeariSk, Hew M. ■ I 31 UMEST AWARDS. °°.uif. *®;j £* ft J whether it was »...M 4 paCKi m - lm A rn, with their hmuiimii nether it was *"B,e222:1lJe^luleet' jA I a fitwiw, n. accusations, or "■ oneHras in?gage of Lor- " ' Merer bavins —1— — harrying off ACTCV* SOUCITORS WANTED KVEHT(O be beck where tor "The Story of the Philippine#," IV tn nmv rnnm by Mnrat Halstead, commissioned by the Gotiy to pay room mmatuOOeU Historian to the WwDe partment The book was written in army cam peat San Francisco, on the Pacific with Gen. Merritt, in the hospitals at Bonoiuia, in Hong Kong, in the American trenches at Manila, in tne Insurant campa with Aguinaldo, on the deck of the Olympia with Dewey, and in the roar of battle at the fall of Manila. Bonanza for agents Bria ful of original pictures .teal by governn eat photographers on the t ot. kMjre book. Ixjw prices. &* profits. Freight paid- Oedhtub. Drop all traahy unofficial natLS** •» ■MrjFi iv UMRmnoi vahmmv Bat tbe mere fact Gradually aa tbe whole aobeme became evident and the truth leaked out Gate Oity woke up to a pitch of pious fury against its late popular and prominent "boomer" and citizen. Gradually it dawned upon tbem that, in jealoua hatred of the young soldier whom Folsoin's lovely daughter seemed to favor, be had first sought to undermine him, then to ruin and finally to make way with, ven while at tbe aame time oovering tbe tracka of bia own oriminality.'"Jump for those rocks, meal" rang taring's order. "Oat loose your prisoners, corporal! They mast fight for their Uveal" Hastening to tbe office in compliance with the imperative summons, his heart beating heavily despite bia calm of fiat, oh, what chance bad so few against so many? Springing from aaddle, turning loose their startled, snorting horses that go teariug away dowa the valley, the old bands have jumped for the rocks and, kaeeliug and takiug deliberate aim, opeu fire on the foremost of the foe. A gaudy warrior goes dowa ia the flood, and a yell goes up to heaven. Another sond abot slavs a feather decked pony and sends bis rider sprawling, and wisely the others veer away to right and left and scarry to more distant range, bnt up the alopea to the sooth «till othera dart. jaanner, bis tbougbta reverting to that Well known face and tbe appealing I voice at his window despite bis utmost effort to forget tbem, Loring found the ganfrai, with his chief of staff and Oap- tain Stone, busy over telegrams and dis- "That woman's a million time* too good for you," said Folsom. patcbea. One of tbeae the general handad to the engineer. Then, as the latter read, the veteran of three wars arose from bia cbair, took tbe young soldier by tbe arm and led bim aside, a proceeding that oaused Captain Stone to glance pp from the telegram be waa awiftly copying and to follow with angering eyea until suddenly aware that tbe adjutant general waa observing bim. Then bia pen renewed its scratching. If Was not gooCJ that a newcomer, a young lieutenant, abould be preferred to bim, and it was too evident that between tbe general and tbe engineer was a bond of aome kind tbe aid oould not explain. "Do you understand this?" asked tbe general, aa be pointed to tbe letter in Loring's band. It was brief enough. It waa written by a elerk in Burleigh's office to a fellow clerk in that of tbe chief quartermaster at Omaha, and tbe latter had felt it bis duty, hi said, tq inform bia immediate superior, wbo iq tea had laid it before the chief of It was Elinor Folsom'a lover, Lieutenant Dean, wbo boraewhipped bim for good and sufficient reasons. It waa Elinor'a father who bribed bim with a big and sorely needed loan to prefer no obargea against the boy. It waa Burleigh wbo almoat immediately after this tremendous episode had secured tbe sending of Lieutenant Dean on a mission so fraught with peril that tbe obancea were ten to one againat bia ever getting through alive. Tbeu Kevins oonolnded be moat hive * talk with Loring, and on bis meaaage being conveyed that offloer, the bearer, wai bidden to say that Mr. Loring refuted to have anything whatever to do with him, whereat the oaptive ex-captain ground hit teeth with rage and made the jailyard ring with malediction.Then, with awimming eyea, abe had bemoaned ber past, ber fatal errors, ber greed for wealth and position that bad led her to stifle ber own heart throbs and deceive tbe one troe friend she bad ever known, and Loring broke short tbe conversation by leaving tbe room. Then she came again, alone, and he refused to eee ber. Then she came with Mrs. Burton, and the bouse was in a titter, and be broke up bis establishment and moved back to tbe botal, to the aoandal of bia landlord, as has been aaid, w!io made loud complaint to tbe powera at beadquartera. "You are my prisoner, Rurleigh." "There is a camp half a mile ahead where I have to make an arrest," said he quietly. "Keep close at my heels. We'll have to gallop when we get in view. Draw pistol. Don't fire unless they da They probably won't." From three sides now the Indian ballets are hissing ip. Jn less than four ruinates of stinging figbt gallant Sergeant Carey is stretched on the turf with a shattered elbow, Corporal Burke and two troopers are shot dead, and Loring, with white, set faoe and a scorching seam along the left cheek, seizes a dropped carbine and thrnata it into Burleigb'a shaking hands. Colonel Steven* himself had met him on Events succeeded enoh other with marvelous rapidity. Folsom'a visit waa early the morning after the capture, and by uoou he was bowling along on a 70 mile ride to the ranch in the Laramie valley, hurried thither by {henews that Birdsall's gang bad rnn off many of bia eon'a best horses and that Hal Folsom himself was missing. ' And they didn't. Half a dozen startled men. gambling about a blanket; two or three sleeping off a drunk and pne hunted, haunted wretoh nervously pacing up and down among the pines were no match for the dash of a dozen bluejackets coming thundering into view! There was no thought of fight. Thoae who could oatoh their horsee threw themselves astride bareback and abot for the heart of the bills; two or three scrambled off afoot and were quickly run down; one, a heavily built, haggard, hollow eyed man, shook from bead to foot as the lieutenant reined up hia panting and excited horae and coolly ■aid: arrival. And Jimmy, nottiing loath, waa off, swift and noiaeleaa as an arrow. It was time for Loring and "old man Folaom" to be getting there if they were oomlng, and the boy was athrill with excitement and interest. Wbo oould have "posted" Birdsall but Burleigh? Wbo could say what the amount of his shortage really was? The key of the big safe was gone with bim, and in that safe at the time of tbe general'a visit waa at least |16, - 000. Old Pecksniff, commanding officer at iron ternary, naa wirea to department headquarters- Then abe wrote that ahe was being followed and peraeouted by a man abe never knew before, tbe man wbo waa with ber the night Mr. Lambert aaid they met tbem in front pf Mrs. Burton's, a dreadful man who said that he believed that abe loved Lieutenant Lor- Bending low, as be knew the Indians went on aoout, springing along the plank walk, he sbot like a flitting specter up the street, stooping lower and glaring to left and right at the first crossing, but seeing nobody. A noiseless run of a third of a mile brought him to a suner where, looking southward by day, am oould aaa tbe flagstaff and tha "Dp with you, man I" he cries. "It's your scalp you're fighting for. Here, take a drink of this." And hia filled canteen is glued to Burleigh's ashen lips. iioring galloped by the aide of the ambulance several mllea, conferring with the old frontiersman all the way, then turned back to resume his work at the depot. Eagerly he wired to the general, which were forwarded from Cheyenne to tbe Platte, tailing of bia inuwrtant oaptor*. —»«"ng ouietti Two offioers and tbe protesting hotel clerk were present at tbe opening. Tbe locksmith even seemed to bate bla job; tbe adjutant bad never a meaner one, bat Petty waa eager. Freeh txom an iftterrlew witfc fc* VM Ik* An expert aafe opener waa ordered out from Obicago, and right in tbe midst of all tbe turmoil there suddenly appeared apon the acene a bine eyed A long pull, a gasp, and hardly knowing what be doea tbe recreant offloer kneels at the nearmost rock, aims at a Bain tad savage leaning to the aid at a. "V«are mi urisoner. BnrUUdbu" O
Object Description
Title | Pittston Gazette |
Masthead | Pittston Gazette, Volume 49 Number 28, March 17, 1899 |
Volume | 49 |
Issue | 28 |
Subject | Pittston Gazette newspaper |
Description | The collection contains the archive of the Pittston Gazette, a northeastern Pennsylvania newspaper published from 1850 through 1965. This archive spans 1850-1907 and is significant to genealogists and historians focused on northeastern Pennsylvania. |
Publisher | Pittston Gazette |
Physical Description | microfilm |
Date | 1899-03-17 |
Location Covered | United States; Pennsylvania; Luzerne County; Pittston |
Type | Text |
Original Format | newspaper |
Digital Format | image/tiff |
Language | English |
Rights | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/ |
Contact | For information on source and images, contact the West Pittston Public Library, 200 Exeter Ave, West Pittston, PA 18643. Phone: (570) 654-9847. Email: wplibrary@luzernelibraries.org |
Contributing Institution | West Pittston Public Library |
Sponsorship | This Digital Object is provided in a collection that is included in POWER Library: Pennsylvania Photos and Documents, which is funded by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries of Pennsylvania/Pennsylvania Department of Education. |
Description
Title | Pittston Gazette |
Masthead | Pittston Gazette, Volume 49 Number 28, March 17, 1899 |
Volume | 49 |
Issue | 28 |
Subject | Pittston Gazette newspaper |
Description | The collection contains the archive of the Pittston Gazette, a northeastern Pennsylvania newspaper published from 1850 through 1965. This archive spans 1850-1907 and is significant to genealogists and historians focused on northeastern Pennsylvania. |
Publisher | Pittston Gazette |
Physical Description | microfilm |
Date | 1899-03-17 |
Location Covered | United States; Pennsylvania; Luzerne County; Pittston |
Type | Text |
Original Format | newspaper |
Digital Format | image/tiff |
Identifier | PGZ_18990317_001.tif |
Language | English |
Rights | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/ |
Contact | For information on source and images, contact the West Pittston Public Library, 200 Exeter Ave, West Pittston, PA 18643. Phone: (570) 654-9847. Email: wplibrary@luzernelibraries.org |
Contributing Institution | West Pittston Public Library |
Sponsorship | This Digital Object is provided in a collection that is included in POWER Library: Pennsylvania Photos and Documents, which is funded by the Office of Commonwealth Libraries of Pennsylvania/Pennsylvania Department of Education. |
Full Text | Oldest Newspaper In the Wvomine Vallev P1TTSTON LUZERNE COUNTY, PA., FRIDAY, MARCH 17, "iS^ htobUJwJ 1850. I VOL. XlIXNo.W.» A Weekly Local and Family Journal. ««i oo • W 1 in idTim; By F7ZNNX5Q/V JVEELt ing saw through the flimsy device and returned the letter unanswered and later letters unopened, and tben the woman seemed to take fire and in torn she threatened him. lent and strong, a light brown mustache that shaded bis mouth, and, though be wore no uniform, the rumor went round tbat this wax Lieutenant Loring of tbe engineers. Infantry and cavalry, commisaariea and quartermasters, doctors and sutlers, the denizens of Gate Oity well knew as attachments of the army. But what tbe miBcbief was an engineer? Loring put up at Gate Oity's new hotel, simply registering as from Omaba, but tbat he bore credentials and was a man of mark Gate Oity learned from tbe fact tbat Oolonel Stevens himself bad met bim on arrival and wished to take him out to tbe fort, and was ill pleased when Mr. Loring explained bis business would be best performed in town. Gate City followed the young man with eager eyes, confident tbat engineer must be the army name for detective. He studied the hotel register. He onrioualy examined all relics of tbe late lamented Newhall, who disappeared before Burleigb. He questioned tbe olerks at tbe oorral, reoonnoitered the neighborhood, asked wbat were tbeir means of defense, turned inside oat a worn yet shapely boot tbat bad been tbe captain's, bade man after man to describe tbat worthy and finally walked away from the depot, having picked up lots of information and imparted none. oig wnite gateway ana oeyona it tne main office of the quartermaster's oorral. Staff and gateway were invisible uuw, but beyond tbe latter gleamed two lights, each in a separate window of that office. Why should tbe ourtains be up now? Why, indeed I It waa a question tbat interested other prowlers besides himself, for, as he paused for breath, close at band he beard tbe stamp of a horse's hoof, followed by a muttered ourse, an evident jerk of tbe bit and jab with tbe spars, for tbe tortured creature plunged and stamped in pain. "Keep tbat dashed bronobo quiet I" growled a voice. "You'll give the whole thing as be wrote. Nor was there attempt at rescue. Mounting hia four captives on tbeir horses, their feet lashed to the stirrups, their hands bound, all tbe abandoned arms, ammunition and provisiona destroyed and tbe camp burned, Loring led promptly away up tbe range toward the north until clear of the timber, tben down tbe westward slope toward tbe Laramie valley once more, searching for a secure plaoe to bivouao. Far to the north tbe grand old peak loomed against tbe blue gray of the Wyoming skies. Off to tbeir left front, uplifting a shaggy crest • from its surrounding bills, a bold butte towered fully 20 miles away, and toward that jagged landmark Loring saw bis sergeant peering time and again with hand shaded eyes. Had be not promised to produoe the mysterious Newhall himself? Admirable service, indeed, had the young engineer rendered. The testimony of Folsom, Loring, Jimmy Peters and one or two wakeful citizens all proved that tbere must have been a dozen of Birdaall's gang in town tbat night. fallen brother, and the chance shot, for a marvel, finds its mark, and with a bowl the warrior dropa npon the bank. "Well done, finrleigb!" shoots Lor"Fire again!". rooting spirit. It waa bis band tbat extracted from deep down under the packed clothing in the trunk a small-tto. box, wrapped in a ailk handkerchief. Within the box, when opened, were oertain letter* in a woman's hand, Qeraldine Allyn's—letters written to Loring in.the days of their brief engagement, letters long ainoe returned to her under hia band and seal, and with them, to closely folded wraps of tissne paper, toolosed in stoat envelope, a valuable solitaire and as valuable a ring. The regimental adjutant it was who opened the box and who made these discoveries. Half an hour later tbey were identified by Nevins, in the presence of old Pecksniff, aa the diamonds intrusted to Loring's oare in Arizona, and Nevins professed to be disappointed because the watob, too, was not found with them. Not until late Jaly did Loring learn of the aotion taken in bis enforoed absence and of the resulting developments. Not a word would be vouchsafe to explanation when old Pecksniff, wilting under tbe criticisms of bis superiors, sent bia adjutant to "Invito remarks." "The ooo* has been ordered," said Loring, with ooolness described aa oontemptnoua. "1*11 make my remarks there." Bat long before tbatooartoould meet tbe colonel, as baa been said, went book to bis post. Tbe new oommander arrived and ordered Nevins to an Iowa prison to serve oat tbe year awarded Mm, sent Captain Patty summarily to Laramie, and bade Mrs. Barton go ■boot her business when that lachrymose pernoo came toarge that beabould do something "to make Lieutenant Loring settle." She had lost her lovely boarder, too, for no aooner had "Mrs. Fletcher" beard of tbe new aoooaatiana against loring tnan sne appeared at Omaha and whisked ber sister away, no one at Omaba knew where, bat indignant old John Folsom oould perhaps have told. He out Peoksniff dead when tbat offloer retained to Emory and refoaed to go near tbe fort. He threw open bia doors and bia heart to Loring when tbe convaleeoing engineer waa brought to from the ranch. Tbe new general actually came, ostanaibly to toapeot tbe poet, bat spent IS boars at Folaom'a by Loring's aide to the one devoted to Stevens, and everybody felt that there waa a atorm brewing that would break when Anally tbe witneasea tor tbe defenae arrived and tbe Loring And now she bad brought Mrs. Barton to witness bis cruelty to ber, tbe meek, suffering girl to whom be was pledged and plighted, who bad followed bim to Omaba in bopea of softening his heart and winning back bis wayward love, as was the barden of ber sorrowing song to that moat sympathetic of women, already barning with prejudioe and fanoied wrong of ber own. One "woman scorned" is more than enough for many a reputation. Two, in doable harness, would wreck that of\St. Anthony.ing. Hope or whisky or lingering spark of manhood baa fired the major's eye and nerved hia band. With something like a sob one of Birdaall'a captured crew rolls over to where tbe yoong commander is ooolly loading and firing, and, despite tbeir heavy loss, tbe stout defense has bad its effect and tbe yelling braves an keeping at wider range. "I'm done for, lieatenant," he Tbere could be only one explanation, for a or Ice waa on tbe bead of every mDn. They bad come wun "Newhall" and the key straight from some distant lair in the Black Hills of Wyoming, tbe big shouldered range tbat stretches from the Laramie near its junction witb the Platte southward to Oolorado. They were bent on a sudden rush upon tbe oorral in the dead of night, the foroing of the gate and the office door, tben witb "Newhall" to aniook the safe tbey would be up and away like the wind, with money enough to keep them all in oiover—and whisky—until the last dollar was gambled or guzzled. away!" fore, and Ood only knows what h amiss. Two young lieutenants came In and thrashed him right before tbe whole of us, called htm • liar and all that. His friend Newhall, that pulled him through the yellow fever, he says, was there at the time, drunk, and actually congratulated them, and, though Burleigh raved and swore and wrote no end of dispatches to be aent to Omaha demanding court martial for Lieutenant Dean, devil a one of them waa ever really aent. Not only that, but Burleigh waa threatened and abused by Newhall and had to buy him off with a roll of greenbacks— and I caw It. Who's Newhall, anyhow, and what hold has be on Burleigh f Nursing him through yellow fever doesn't go. Newhall'* gone, however, cither over to Cheyenne or o»ft on tbe Cache la Poudre. There's something rotten tn Denmark, and I want to get oat of this. "It's given away now," was the surly half whisper in reply, "elae those * ' BpMf CHAPTER XXI. The day of per tar bat km had been All this and more had sped through Loring's mind tbat night and was uppermost in bia thoughts as be stood tbere facing his patient oommander. Tbe general's fine, clear out features clouded with anxiety as be noted tbe long silence and hesitation. Again be spoke, with grave yet gentle reproof in his tone. auooeeded by a night of worry at depart• mant headquarters. Dispatches full of grave import were ooming in from Gate Oity and Obeyenne. Old Jobn Folsom, long time a trader among tbe Sioux and known and trusted by the whole tribe, bad given warning weeks before tbat aeriooa consequences would attend tbe effort to build another po#t along the Big Horn. Bed Gload a*d "bis fc. sta of wairlors bad sworn to sweep itfrom tbe face of the earth and every man of ita garriaon with it All tbia bad been reported by the general to hia superiors at Washington, and all tbia bad been derided by tbe Indian bureau. Against tbe judgment, against tbe counsel of tbe department oommander, tbe work went on. A large force of laborers hired by Major Burleigh at Gate Oity early in tbe spring had been aent to Warrior Gap, under strong eaoort. and tbe unaeaaoned timber and fresh out loga were being rapidly dovetailed "What do you see?" be presently asked. "Smoke, sir, I think. Will the lieutenant look with his glass?" Silently Loring unslnng his binocular and gazed. His eyes were keen, bat untrained. "Take it yourself, sergeant," he said. And the veteran trooper reined oat to one side and peered long and steadily, tben came trotting np to the head of oolumn, doubt and suppressed excitement mingling on his weather beaten faoe. Loring's suspicions bad proved exactly correct. Loring'a precautions in having the offloe brightly lighted mod ■ ■bow of armed men a boat had held the would be robbers at bay dt:ring the early hours of the night, %od then his prompt action in hnrling himself on the mysterious stranger who came stealthily in at Folaom'B back gate had finally and totally blocked the game. fiat, just in proportion as Loring turned out to be right, old Pecksniff tnrned out to be wrong, for be bad refused a guard for the depot, and therefore was it now Pecksniff's bounden duty to himaelf to poobpooh the precautions of the engineer and bolittie the danger. Not for a moment would he admit that armed desperadoes had come at Nevins' back. As for the key in hia possession, with all respect to the statements of Mr. Loring, the story of the unfortunate oaptain was just as plausible, and that key should have been delivered to him, the commander at Fort Emory, instead of being taken possession of by tbe engineer. "Surely, Loring, if you know of tbe iellow, it is our right to know)" ''I realize it, sir, but I can do better than tell k.«nere suspicion. Give me authority to act, and I'll land that man in jail and lay hia whole story on your deek." He spent some time at Folsom's that evening. He drove out to the fort in tbe afternoon, "and what do yon think be wanted?" said old Pecksniff, whose command bad been cut down to one company and tbe band. "Wanted me to post a strong guard over tbe quartermaster's depot lest tbatdasbed marauding gang of Birdsall'8 should gallop in some night with Burleigh'* safe key and get away with tbe funds, i asked him if thoae were tbe general's orders, and be said no. I asked him if they were anybody's orders, and be said no. J asked bim if it wad anybody's idea but bis own, and he said no, and then I t told bim, by gad, 1 hadn't men enough : to guard tbe public property here at tbe post. Tbe quartermaster's depot was responsible for most of tbein being away. Let tbem take care of their own." "I have determined to go to Gate City myself, even though time can ill be spared, Loring," said he. "There is urgent need of my preeenoe at Laramie. "I couldn't be sure, sir, but—it looked for a minute like smoke." "Then go and do it," said the chief. "And that means"— "Indian signals, sir. That's Eagle butte, only a conple of miles from Hal Folsom's ranch." CHAPTER XXII. Another week, and all Wyoming was awake and thrilling. There bad been dreadful doings on the Big Horn, and John Folsom's prophecy had come true. Enticing one detachment after another from the stockade at Warrior Gap by ■how of scattered bands of braves, that head devil of the Ogallalas, Red Cloud, had gradually surrounded three companies with ten times their fords of lighting men and slaughtered every soldier of the lot. Loring pondered. It was long since, in any foroe, tbe Sionz bad ventnred ■oath of tbe Platte, but now, after tbeir victory at Warrior Gap and tbe tremendous re-enforcement they bad received from all the turbulent tribes, what was to prevent? John Folsom himself bad told him it might be expected any mosent John Folsom himself bad gone to tbat very spot consumed with anxiety about tbe safety of bis son, bat confident of tbe safety of himself and thoae be loved when once be could reach tbe ranch. "No Sioux," aaid he, "would raise band to barm me." Kneeling and taking deliberate aim, open flre on the foremost foe. moam. "For God's sake lie flat behind me I" And be feebly points to the slope behind their left rear, where half a dozen Sioux, dismounted, are skipping to the shelter of the rooks. Another minnte and their bullets are hissing at the backs of the besieged. Another minnte and JBnrleigh topples over on tbe sward, the lifeblood pouring from bis side, and sees half his fighting force is'gone, even as everything begins to swim before his eyes, and the band that strives te sweep sway the blnr before bis sight leaves his pallid face smeared with blood. and mortised, and long wagon tnins laden with stores and snpplies, purchased by Major Burleigh's agents, were pushing ont across the Platte. "Indians, indeed!" said tbat experi enoed officer disdainfully. "They do not presume to interfere!" Mr. Lorlnij, v 1th Ms grip on the collar and his pistol at his captive's ear. fellows would never be up at this hoar jf tbe night. They've mounted guard. Wbere'd tbe man go with tbe key?" There bad been exoitement at Gate City daring a brief visit of the general and his aid inspecting tbe affairs of Major Burleigh, who, confined to bis bed by nervous prostration and forbidden by the doctor to see anybody, bad nevertheless sent bis keys and books and bank account, and, to tbe mystification of the obief, more money was found in the big office safe at tbe depot quartermaster's than was necessary to cover bis accountability. And long since tbe whisper had been going tbe rounds that Major Burleigh's interest in the oonstruotion of that new post, involving an expense of some hundreds of thousands of dollars, was something more tban official. In vain John Folsom and veteran officers of the fighting force had pointed ont that Indians never do interfere when they see huge trains of provisions and supplies ooining just where they want them. Orders were orders, and the building went on. John Folsom said that any day the news might oome that Red Cloud and his braves bad massacred every man and carried off everv woman in tbe new True, Nevins bad been diamiased iu disgrace, and in a question ot veracity between tbe two men there waa little doubt that Loring'a would prevail. But a very peppery, fidgety, unhappy old man waa Colonel Stevens for many daya, prating about tbia independence of aotion of atripling officers right under bia qoee. | Gate Oity hotel waa alive with ! loungers that night, waiting for tbe en! gineer. At 9:30 be had come from the quartermaater'a corral and after a few minutes bad gone away with Mr. Folaom, who drove np in bia carriage. He waa up at the old man'a now, said tbe impatient ones, fooling away tbe time with the girla when be oogbt to be there answering their queationa and appeaaing their cnrioaity. Tbe talk turned on tbe probable whereabouts of Burleigh and hia"pal." So bad tbe mighty fallen that tbe lately fawning admirers now spoke of tbe fugitive aa a criminal. He oouldq't follow tbe Union Pacifio east. Everybody knew bim, and by tbia time offioera were on tbe lookout for bim all along tbe road. He bad reached Cbeyeune, tbat waa known, and bad I driven away from there up the valley of Orow creek with two companiona. Loriug bimaelf had asoertained tbia in , Obeyenne, bat it waa tbe aberiff who gave ont tbe information. "Up to Folsom'a back gate. Three of our fellows are shadowing bim, tbongh. He can't get away with it. He aaid be bad to see bia wife or abe'd betray the whole business." Bat Loring'a men and horses both were sorely wearied now, and at sundown tbe little command reached a sheltered nook where grass, -wood and water were abundant. Here restfully yet anzioualy they bivouacked until 8 in tbe morning, and then once more, refreshed, but alert and oautioua, watchful of their prisonera and watchful of the aigin ahead, on they aped for Folsom'a ranch. The dawn broke beautifully clear. The trail led down into tbe romantic valley of the Laramie at the bend where it begina ita rush through the range. Then, turning westward aa they reached the foot of a steep and commanding height, Lorlng signaled to his sergeant, and the troopers spurred up alongside. There is a sound of ooraing thunder in his ears, tbe blare of distant trumpet, tbe warning yell of wary Indians, tbe rousing cheer of charging horses, and tbe earth seems turning round and rolling up to meet him as be droops; faint* ing at bis post, tbe battle won. Walter Lorina had come face to face with his old love—Qeraldlne. Possibly I may have to go to Frayne and shall need you with me, but meantime this thing must be explained. Everything indicates tbat this Captain Newhall, who was one of bis cbuins in New Orleans, has some heavy hold on him— a gambling debt, perhaps, or knowledge of cotton transactions during tbe war. I cannot but feel tbat yon know some ■ thing of the man. Tell me, did yon meet that fellow when be was here?" "All tbe samel don't like it. Tbe old man always baa a raft of fort people there. Hello, listen I" All on a sudden there came from afar up the broad avenue tbe aound of scurrying hoofs. Down through the darkness, louder and louder, aparring and thundering, came three horsemen whom tbe shadows at the corner reined out eagerly to meet. There was no suspense. But the worst oame on tbe day when tbe little troop of cavalry at Fort Emory waa atill further depleted by tbe detachment of a sergeant, two corporals and eight trooper*, ordered to report with pack mule and ten daya' rationa to Lieutenant Loring of tbe engineera, and Colonel Stevena had not been oonsulted again. Well and gallantly done, was the universal verdict of the Walter Loring's maiden sool and resolute i» ' peril be bad _ patfaizing soldier hospital tent where lay in the deliriuv lowed hie wonndc. lieved that whan at oame and the dooto: raise the blockade, to bim that so soon olared strong enooi other ordeal ahead be bad served sc ordered elsewhere. at Omaha. "An knew not • oeeph.' was assigned tc the department, The general and bis inspector were fsirly puzzled. They personally questioned the bank cashier and tbe quartermaster's clerks. They ransacked that safe and poured over tbe books, both there and at the bank. Tbe only queer thing discovered was that • large sum of money—$6,000 or so—bad been withdrawn from tbe bank In cash one day and within tbe week replaced. frontier on ooart could meet - fight Brave, who would have dreamed then tm of deepente Mold be nek a dramatic acsneCMore a proved, and many a «ym- mMitary tribunal? hovered a boat the I' oame with the third day of the day after' day he trial. The ooart had been carefully sejf fever that fol- looted by old Pecksniff, whose adjutant fet will it be be- had obediently aigned the charges drawn last convaleaoenoe BP under the ehieTa directions. Them were compelled to war* nine offloara in the array— e news waa broken others being available without s he should be de- manifest injury to the servioe,'' read there waa still an- formula of the day. Five were offi- Tbe gallant general °en Stevens' regiment, one a cavalry well had indeed been the others of the pay, oommia* as was prophesied mr7 and quartermaster's department, v king oame who None had known Loring. Everybody The senior oolonel «*pected him to object to some at leaat, temporary oommand of he objeotsd to none. and he (old Peoksniff) The judge advocate waa a vigilant _ irom JUatened to . a taiee of Kevins and of official who made the most of his oppor, th« northward tbat new arrival from California, Petty, tunity, but his witneasee for the proeez bank of the lapping re-«aforced by heaven alone knowa what notion were, with one exception, weak, eouth of The RHtom the the lambs of Lambert's The exception was Kevins. He swore • | atoutly tbat ha had given the valuables ' in Arizona to Loring and from that day * never aeen them until they wen " " Loring's trunk, cantonment. Wives and children were there, secure, as they believed, behind tbe stout hearts and far and fast shooting new breechloaders, trustful, too, of tbe Indians whom they bad often fed and welcomed at their doors in tbe larger and less exposed garrison. "Come on!" savagely growled a boarsevoioe. "Tbe game'a up. New* ball's wife led bim square into a trap. They've got him. key and all." The senior oolonel in tbe department, he had seen bia oommand cut down company by oompany until only a bare squad, aaid be, remained to guard the most important post in Wyoming. (Which it wasn't by any mean a, but he bad been led tc think so.) And now young just out of West Point were running away with his men right under his noee. Loring stood looking gravely, straight into the face of bis superior. Swiftly bis thoughts sped hack to that soft, warm evening when be and tbe rector slowly fcsoended tbe gentle grade toward Mrs. Burton's homestead, and there was unfolded before his eyes that picture be was destined uever to forget—tbe lovely tints of tbe clear northern sky, tbe broad valley of tbe river, with its bluffs and hillocks, the dark forms, slender and sraoeful both, coming nearer and nearer until in startled recognition of one at least be baited in dumb amaze and therefore oaught but a flitting glimpae of the otber as it whisked jauntily away. Then tbe general had to turn baok to Cheyenne and hasten thenoe to tbe forts aloD;g tbe Platte to expedite tbe sending of his soldiers to tbe relief of tb# beleaguered posts along tbe Big Horn, tbe tidings of tbe massacre reaching Gate Uity and plunging Fort Emory in mourning only a few boors after bis departure.Then away tbey rode, athirst and blasphemous, and away aped Jimmy with bia wondrous new a, and out tumbled the loungers at Peter'a bar, the judge and tbe aberiff laat, and those who bad boraea mounted and galloped up to Folsom'a and those who bad not trudged enviously after, and a few minutes later there waa gathered at tbe corral a panting and eager band of men, for thither bad Mr. Loring, with his grip on the collar and hia pistol at his captive's ear, marched an aahen faoed, aoowling, scurrilous man, a dashing looking fellow at times, a raging raiaoal now, cursing bia wife for a foul traitress, ouraing bia captor for an aooompliee, aaying filthy words about women in general, until cboked by a twiat at tbe oollar. Into tbe lighted offioe and tbe presence of two armed olerka tbe engineer marched hia man, tbe first arrivals following eagerly until tbe door waa shot and barred. Int6 the bands of a aberiff did Loring personally oommit hia prisoner. Then calling to hia aid tbe chief clerk be tried tbe key in the look of tbe aafe. It worked exaotly. Tben he turned to the civil offioer of the law. There before tbem lay the broad and beautiful valley Just lighting up witn tbe rosy hues of tbe glad young day. There to the northward, black bearded with its growth of pine, the rays of tbe rising sun juat glinting on tbe topmost crag a, towered Eagle butte, a plume of smoke puffs even at the moment beginning to soar slowly aloft. There, not a mile away, straight ahead, wae the steep "Two of our companies can stand off • thousand Sionx," said one gallant effioer, who based bis confident report on tbe fact tbat with 60 of the new He waa in hiding, deolared tbe knowing ones, in some of tbe haunts of Birdsall's fellows, east of Laramie City, a growing town of wboae prowess at poker and keno Gate Oity was professionally aware and keenly jealous. He might hide there a day or two and than get out of tbe country by way of Sweetwater along tbe old stage route to Salt Lake, or skip southward and make for Denver. Northward he dare not go. There were tbe army posts along tbe Platte, beyond tbem tbe armed hosts of Indians, far more to be dreaded than all tbe sheriffs' posses on the plains. breechloaders, behind a log breastwork, be bad whipped a horde of mountain braves, armed only with lance end bow and old "smoothbores" or squirrel rifles. But Loring's orders oame to him direct from Omaha. He bad need of every precaution. He was now going on a mission tbat demanded the utmost secrecy, and tbe oolonel could no more oonoeal a movement than a sieve oould water. xnen came snil another excitement at Gate City. Major Burleigh had suddenly beoome endowed with new youth and energy. He who was deolared by bis pbysioians to be in a aritioal condition, one demanding tbe utmost quiet, be who oould not even see the department oommander and of whom tbe doctor bad said it might be weeks before be was again fit for duty, bad sprung from his bed, dictated oertajn letters, wired important news to tbe obief quartermaster at Omaha, demanded of tbe railway authorities an engine and caboose to bear him over the newly completed mountain division to Cheyenne, bad taken every cent from bis private safe, bad entered bis offloe at an early bonr, satchel and safe key in band, wai oonfounded by tbe sight of two olerks there smoking forbidden pipes and, turning, without a word bad fled. One of these was'tbe yonng man who so recently bad written to a confidant in' Omaha telling of Burleigh's queer doings and his own deaire to get from under.ridge that, bid: "We came down through tbe whole tribe," said Burleigh, with swelling breast. "I bad only a small troop of cavalry, and Red Cloud never so much as raised a yelp. He knew who was running that outfit and didn't care to try conclusions." gradual slope of tbe black range, studded here and there with bowlders that seemed to have rolled down from the precipitous cliffa under which they were now moving, two aeaeoned old dragoons 800 yards out to tbe front, oovering the oautioua advance. Quitting (he quartermaster's depot oim rammer night at 12, the little detachment rode silently oat aoross the southward prairie, swung round to the east when the dim lights of town were Ik mile behind, took the trot over the hard, bounding turf, and at dawn were heading straight for the breaks of the Laramie. Halting for rest and ooffee when the ran was an hoar high, they again poshed on until noon, when they unsaddled in a grove of leafy cottonwoods in a little fork of the Medicine Bow, watered the weary horses and gave them a hearty feed and themselves as hearty a dinner, and then picketing and hoppling their steeds, who were glad enough to roll and sprawl in the pand, all hands managed to get some hoars of sound sleep before the son was sinking to the edge of the Sweetwater "They fonnd soma dashed trumpery jewelry in a tin case in a trunk you left with your trapa at Omaha," waa the indignant outburat of Lieutenant Dean, who had led the rush of the oaralry to tbe rescue of Folsom's ran oh and Lortag's exhausted party, "and aome idiothas preferred ohargea on theatrength ot them I" He had bis suspicions, strong and acute, yet with nothing tangible as yet on which to base them, and if he breathed tbem what would be the result? hat. found secreted in „ , and to the hmw of the court, Loring declined to cross examine. Petty was a failure. He wanted to swear to a thouaand things that other people had told him, for of himself he knew nothing, ind, though the defense never interpos- It all sounded very fine among tbe barrooms and over tbe poker table at Gate City, where Burleigh was a patron and an oracle, but in tbe distant oamps aloug tbe Platte and Powder rivers and among troopers and linesmen nearer home there were odd glanoes and nudging elbows whenever Burleigh's boastings were repeated. Even as far as department headquarters tbe story was being told tbat the mere report of "Big band of Sioux ahead" sent in by tbe advance guard, a report that brought Loring and Stone leaping nimbly out of the ambolanoe, rifle in hand and nsu; tot ounueaa, scut mineigu uuuar tbe seat and left bim there quaking. The girl wbose identity be bad promised not to betray, "until Sister Naomi could be beard from" would beyond all question be called to aocountl To bis very door bad abe come within 48 hours of tbat strange evening wbioh tbe rector's prattle bad made public property, begged a minute's interview without giving any name, and. stepping down into tbe plainly furnished little western parlor, there in the dim light of a single kerosene burner, Walter Loring had come face to faoe with his old love—Geraldine. Ten-thirty came and still no Loring, and the rounds of drinks were getting monotonous. Judge Pardee, a bibulous and oracular limb of the law, bad been chosen inquisitor general, with powers to oall for all the news that was stowed away in that secretive "knowledge box" •on the shoulders of the engineer. Gate Oity bad resolved and "lowed" that a man reputed to know so much should be held up and compelled to part with at least a little. Jimmy Peters, the landlord's boy, scouting out to Folsom'i, came back on the run, breathless from three-quarters of a mile of panting through that rare atmosphere, to say that he had Just seen a couple of officers ride away to the fort, and old man Folsom, with "the engineer feller," was coming oat the front gate. They'd be along in a few minutes. All the broad sweep of rolling landscape far to the west just lighting up in the slant of the summer sunshine, not a living thing in sight save their own little band, yet beyond that ridge only two miles away lay the ranch, all seemingly peaoeful and secure, yet over that jagged watchtower to tha north the war signals of the Sioux were flaunting, and every hand seemed to seek the small of the gunstook, even two of the prisoners pleading for "a show in the fight" if there was to be one, and, not five minutes later, it oame. Borne on id, tbe oeort did. It vu all beamy tod be wu Anally excused. Mm. Barton appeared, bat, like Mm Olnppioa, of bleseed memory, bad mort to aay of ber domeatio and peraonal affaire than the allegatlmf against tbC aoonaed. Mite Allyn, aaid tbe judge ad ▼ooate In emtaarraanent, was to have appeared on tbe afternoon of tbe eecond day, bnt did not, nor ooold be find her. She waa a moat important witness, m he bad been assured by Tartans persona CHAPTER XXIV. That Loring court was the talk of the west for many a month. Long before ita meeting the wrathful division commander bad Bent CoJooel Stevena back to the obscurity of Fort Emory, welcomed the new brigadier and bade him, if a possible thing, to quash the proceedings, but now it waa Loring who was obdurate. \ "This matter has been • acandal far months," aaid he. "It must be settled now, once and for all." "Guard this man well," said he. "He has escaped twice before. It is not Oaptain Newhall. He is a thief—whose name is Nevins." "Get jour men down from the Big Horn," was John FoIsoiu'h urgent advice to the department commander. "Get yoor men op there," wax the order from Washington, and no wonder the general was troubled. Then, in the midst of it all, began to come these rumors affecting Burleigh's integrity; then the determination to aend Loring to look after this new boon companion with whom Bnrleigh was consorting; then a dispatch from old Oolonel Stevens, "old Pecksniff," as the irreverent youngsters called him, the commander at Fort Emory, on the outskirts of Gate City, telling of a tremendous storm that bad awept the Laramie plains and the range of the Medicine Bow and fiattlesnake hills, just after Lieutenant Dean bad been sent forth with a small party at troopers to push tbrongb to Warrior Gap with a big sum of money, $10,000 in oasb, for the payment of contractors and tbeir mrn at the new post, and, wbat waa of thrilling import, there had bean a deep laid soheme to head him off, ambusoade him and get that money. Mindfnl of all the barm she bad done him in San Francisco, rather than of wbat bad pasaed before, be met her in Etern silenoe. On his generosity, bis magnanimity, sbe threw herself. Sbe bad deoeived and wronged bim in aver engaging berself to bim, abe said, and wonld have gone on to aay more. "And you hear me, young oook of the walk," was the furious outbreak of the captive runagate, "you stole that key from me, to whom it was given to deliver to Colonel Stevens. It isn't the first time you stole, either. You'll sweat for this night's work so sure as there's a God in heaven!" It transpired later tbat Burleigb went back to the bank, presented a check for the balance to bis credit and demanded currency, bnt the cashier bad beoome alarmed by the investigations made by tbe general andhad temporized, said be must consult tbe president and asked tbe major to call two bonra later, whereat Bnrleigh bad taken alarm. He was looking ghastly, said tbe cashier. It was apparent to everyone that, mentally, bodily or both, tbe lately debonair and successful man of tbe world bad lost bis grip. the still, breathless air there rose throbbing from the west the spiteful craok, crack of rifles, the distant clamor of taunting jeer and yell. Back from the front oame one of the troopers at mad gallop, his eyes popping almost from his head. Ml at the Jut moment she bad apparently deaerted the oause of the prosecution. A civil ooort would bave bad power to drag an unwilling witness before it and compel bla or ber testimony; a military ooort baa neither, so long aa tbe desired person la not in the military •errlee. wbiob Miss Allyn and some 66,000,000 others at that timeoonldnot be said to be. Then came the careful grooming of their mounta, then a dip in the cool waters, the smoking tins of soldier coffee and staling slips of baoon. Then again the saddle and the silent trail, with the moon looking down from the zenith on their warlike array. Heavily armed waa every man, each, even the lieutenant, with carbine and braoe of Colts, and on they rode through the still, soft night air, chatting in low tones, no man knowing but every one believing that the taciiarn, blue eyed young officer in the lead was heading them for a lair of the Birdsall gang. It was too far south just then for Sion«. But, ob, what complications bad not been brongbt about by Pecksniff's spell of brief authority I Never before intrusted with a bigber command tfaan that of a regiment, to tbe bead of wbiob be bad risen by reason of long years of unimpaired bodily bealtb and skillful avoidance of all danger, tbe old colonel bad loat no time in moving, bag and baggage, to Omaha, in having Nevina transported thither, in opening wide bis ears to bis story of tbe beinoua wrongs inflioted on him by that Arizona oourt through the malignity of its judge advooate, of that judge advocate's heartless treachery to two helpless women, one of whom was Kevins' Vtife, the other tbe officer's own deserted and broken hearted betrothed. "Tbat ia all past and done with," be coldly interposed. "Wbat is it now?" So in their eagerness some of the loungers strolled out in front and gazed westward up the long, broad, bard beaten street on which, in many a spot, the bunoh grass of the prairie still lingered. It waa & lovely summer night, warm, starlit, but the moon had early sunk to rest, and the darkness was inteuse, yet the first men to oome forth could have sworn they saw two horsemen, dim and shadowy, go loping across the broad thoroughfare from north to sooth at the first cross streets. There waa nothing remarkable in horsemen being abroad at that hour. Horses were tethered now iu front of the hotel. What was strange was that they passed within a mile of Peter's bar and didn't stop for a drink. Men who are capable of that neglect of opportunity and the attendant privilege of "setting 'em ap" for all bands could be nothing Jess than objeots of suspicion. CHAPTER XXIII. "My God, lieutenant, Folsom's ranoh is afire, and the valley'a thick with Sioux!" And then it transpired that good Mr. Lambert bad been tbe means of securing for Naomi an excellent position; tbat Naomi bad gone to enter on ber dntiea and bad sent for her sister to some and live at Mrs. Burleigh's until sbe oould better provide for ber; tbat Naomi waa living under an assumed name, and tbat sbe prayed tbat no one might know tbeir nnhappy past Tbe interview was cut short by the curiosity of some member of tbe household who came in ostensibly to trim tbe lamp. Gate City had found a hero and wished to worship him, but its hero proved as intractable aa be was retioent For three days after the capture of Nevins the community was agog with rumor aud pj'.itement. To begin with, the oaptive "bad the cheek of a brass monkey," said the sheriff, and swore stoutly that be was a wronged and Injured man. So far from being a prisoner be should be on a pinnacle, rewarded by a generous and grateful government for important servioes rendered. Who bat be had followed and found the renegade major and wrested from him fall confession and the key of the safe? The latter in turn had been forcibly wrested from him through the malevolent jealousy of that upstart engineer, but never, said Kevins, would he now betray Burleigh's hiding place or impart his confession until full reparation waa made for the wrougs and indignities heaped upon bim. The sheriff waa fairly dazed. Even then, when every oarbine seemed to leap from its socket, men remembered the groan of despair that rose from Burleigh's lips. A sensation was "sprung" on tbe oourt at tbia juncture by tbedefense. It magnanimously informed tbe oourt that John Folsom of Gate Oity knew where that witness was in biding and that she ooaJd be reached through him, whereupon tbe judge advocate seemed to lose his eagerness. Something waa wrong with tbe prosecution anyway. It bad begun with truculent confidence. It waa unnerved by tbe serene oompoaure of tbe aooused and bis refusal to object to anything, to cross examine, to avail himself of any one of tbe privilegea acoorded tbe defense. This oould have only one interpretation, and Nevina, twitching with nervous dread, waa worrying the judge advooate with perpetual questions as to tbe witnesses for tbe defense. And before even the swift running engine could have landed tbe fugitive in Obeyenne tbe truth was known. The paokage purporting to oontain $10,000 in currency for tbe payment of tbe workmen at Warrior Gap, sealed in Burleigh's office and sent at incredible risk by the bands of a young oavalry officer with only ten troopers through tbe Indian lines, borne intact to tbe commanding officer of tbe new post, though its gallant guardians had run tbe gantlet at tbe cost of tbe blood of more than half tbeir number, was found when opened to bold nothing but waste paper. "Look after the prisoners, oorporal. Sergeant Carey, you and tbe first six come with me!" cried Loring. A gallop of less than a minute brought them almost abreast of tbe tidge. Black and billowing a cloud of amoke waa rising, lasbed from beneath by angry tongues of red flame. "It isn't the house, thank God!" cried the sergeant. "It's the haystacks. Bnt look at the Indians!" Another moon and tbey had crossed during tbe dark boara tbe broad plaina of tbe Laramie and were winding up among the bills. Another rest and spurring from tbe rear there overtook them a bronzed, weather beaten fron« tiersman whom Mr. Loring greeted without show of surprise, and when again tbey moved on it waa he who rode at the lieutenant's Ipft, up, up a winding trail among the frowning heights until just as every man was wondering when on earth tbey could hope for a bite tbe noiseless signal to halt was given, while tbe leaders dismounted and peered over a shoulder of bluff ahead, held brief consultation, then down the ravine to tbe left rode tbe stranger, and baok to hia men oame Loring, bia eyea kindling. . "It shall be aa you wish until you bear from your sister," said Loring, bowing ber out with punctilious civility and praying in aecret tbat there it might end, but end it did not. Within another 48 boura sbe waa there with another quest. Tbe servant who announced ber preaenoe in tbe parlor below did ao witb a confidential and impertinent grin. Then came Petty, ordered to join bis company in the field and eager aa ever to seek some loophole of esoape. Reporting to pay bis homage to the temporary commander at headquarter a, be aoon got an inkling of what waa going on, and all at onoe there flaabed upon him tbe magnificence of bis opportunity. Look I Well tbey might! All about the corrals they were darting. All on a sudden there blazed from the ridge line across the stream the fire of a dozen rifles. All around them the spiteful bollets bit the turf. One horse madly reared and plunged, bis rider cursing heartily. Wildly tbe more exoitable troopers returned an aimless shot from saddle, while others gazed eagerly to tbe offloer for orders. It was bia first meeting wrtb 'he Sioux. It bad been his bone to sraiu that threatened ranoh by dawn and join ita Harrison, but where waa that hope now? Hank Birdsall and bis gang, 40 of tbe worst toughs on tbe western frontier, bad "got the tip" from some one in tbe aecret in Gate Oity, and no one outside of the post oommander himself and one of Burleigh's confidential clerks bad tbe faintest inkling of tbe tiaosaction. Nothing but that storm oould have defeated their purpose. Several of tbe outlaws and many of tbeir boraes were drowned, and one of tbe gang, recoued at tbe last minute by tbe mail carrier to Frayne, rescued just in time to aave bis life, bad gasped bis confession of tbe plot. Birdsall and bia people were now scattering over tbe territory, but old Pecksniff felt tbat matters ao serious demanded foil report to the department commander, and this foil report bad reached Omaha tbe vary nigbt that Loring got bis orders to fcave. Two minutes later and somebody said, "Shut up!" a frontierism for "Husb!" and all ears were turned expectant. No, there waa no sound of brisk, springy footsteps on tbe elastic wooden walk. Already men had noted that quick, alert, soldierly gait of tbe new officer. But "Sbnt up!" was repeated when audible murmurs were made. Then indeed was explained Burleigb'a insistence. Then indeed was apparent why he bad not pressed bis charges against tbe officer who bad publicly horsewhipped him. Then indeed was explained wby good old John Folsom bad withdrawn so large a sum in cash from tbe bank and bow Burleigb was enabled to replace what be himself had taken. Then did it begin to dawn on people where Hank Birdsall, "tbe Pirate of tbe Plains," as he bad beeq alliteratively described, bad got tbe "straight tip" which enabled him to instantly enlist tbe services of so many outlawed men in a desperate game. Here be could at one and tbe same time feed fat bia ancient grudge againat Loring and make himself indispensable to tbe aging commander at tbe department, per naps even secure another atatt billet, certainly at leaat succeed in being kept there on duty and away from the perils of the field until after tbe oourt, and meantime wbat would frienda be worth if they oould not move the powers at Washington? When wen they to be produced? Who were they? And tbe judge advooate did not know. Very unfairly bad be been treated, aaid be, for the list of witnesses for tbe defense not only bad not been furnished bim, but he had never been "oonsulted." "Tbe aame lady wants to see Lieutenant Loring," and tbia time be waa oolder and aterner than before. "Who were all tbe fellowa you had with you," be demanded, "if tbey weren't aomeof Hank Birdsali's crowd, come there to raid the quartermaster's depot?" Her evident purpose was to revert to tbe relatione that onoe existed, though her plea was only for news from California. Had nothing ever been beard of tbe miaaing jewels? ahe asked*. Tbeir need waa ao great I She had moat excellent prospects of an engagement in Boaton if ahe conld only have six months' instruction under Sign or Oalabteai, but his terma were ao high, and ahe would have to live In Mew York, and people kept writing ber thai abe and Naomi really ongbt to make soma effort to recover tbe value of that property, and abe bad come, friendless aa abe waa, to aDk if ha (bought a suit against tbe steamship company would result in tbeir getting anything. Oaptain Pet—a gentleman, that is, who bad been most kind in Ban Francisco, bad promiaed to do something, but now that tbe general waa dead what cop Id be do? There waa no doubting tbe identity or intentiona of that gentleman, thought Loring, aa be gravely replied that they would only be defeated in any auob attempt. « \rDv •' if 1 Two or three "•took op" engineers had oome oot from St Louis and Detroit, and Loring and they bad been actually hobnobbing with the depart- "There's more fellers a horseback up yonder. Who in 'ell's oat tonight?" queried the oitizen with the keenest ears. "Jimmy, boy, ran np there and •coat. I'll give yoa a dime." Nevlns' indignation was fine to ae«. He denied all knowledge of thepresenoe of any such. He demanded an interview with Folsom. He ntterly refused at first to acoord one to bis wife, aa Naomi Fletcher, Folsom'a bonsekeeper, was now auderstood to be. That woman was in leugne with his enemies, he swore. That woman wrote and bade him come and then had Folsom and Loring and other armed men there to pounoe npon him. Folaom o»me and bad a few words with him, bnt told him bluntly that be wouldn't believe bis preposterous story and would have nothing to do with him until he withdrew the outrageous aoouaationa against both bis wife and Loring. Down along the banks of the Laramie, lashing their bounding ponies, brandishing their weapons and yelling like mad, a band of Sioux, full 40 strong, oame obarging at them, splashing through the shallows and scattering out across their front in the well known battle taotica. Not an instant was there to be loatl Day after day ba vu closeted with old Stevens, adding fnel to the *— tbat ingenious veteran' Bat it ia doubtful if evet of the depth of Nevina' Burleigh, whom the ei "bled" and blaokmailed beyond tbe bar of hnmar "dying like a gentleman captive in tbe bands of Um. and so did Kevins impress tradicted tale of loyal state on tbe old weakling tbat Stevens bad declared was no evidence on wbicb bad ordered bis release from parole, noless tbe civil aired to prosecute bim far &u officer," and bad wr«. vision commander, praia. conduct and urging (bat imprisonment be set aside. And tben be never wbo brought tbis about, Mis. Burton or Misa A1 tears and tribulations; w Nevina, with bis bold Petty, with his insidiotu tween them all the old oC duoed to send bis adjutr aid to examine certain bi ing's atored at tbe hotel. given up his room when to Gate City, ezpectlnf within a week and mei( rent when abeent, as was the arrangement of tbe day, Loring bad left bis trunks and desk securely locked. '* suspicions. Continued on page four. Petty dreamed ■ woandreiism. PPMPpDTiii«rC7^M^W captain bad Kr **«*• had passed of ths Globe for D■■ f RHEUMATISM1 authorities, ■ HSUEAI6IA and eiaflar OcwlatotZ 1 his ODOOn- B h4 prepared ■»C«» the stringent B -SS 3S5S pain expeller! ♦ten to the dlC ■ — -• i rii naaiftT niiitilil) I 1 .as Nerina' Mar*" AMftar.«| he sestenoe of r "•«««* «•C*,titPeariSk, Hew M. ■ I 31 UMEST AWARDS. °°.uif. *®;j £* ft J whether it was »...M 4 paCKi m - lm A rn, with their hmuiimii nether it was *"B,e222:1lJe^luleet' jA I a fitwiw, n. accusations, or "■ oneHras in?gage of Lor- " ' Merer bavins —1— — harrying off ACTCV* SOUCITORS WANTED KVEHT(O be beck where tor "The Story of the Philippine#," IV tn nmv rnnm by Mnrat Halstead, commissioned by the Gotiy to pay room mmatuOOeU Historian to the WwDe partment The book was written in army cam peat San Francisco, on the Pacific with Gen. Merritt, in the hospitals at Bonoiuia, in Hong Kong, in the American trenches at Manila, in tne Insurant campa with Aguinaldo, on the deck of the Olympia with Dewey, and in the roar of battle at the fall of Manila. Bonanza for agents Bria ful of original pictures .teal by governn eat photographers on the t ot. kMjre book. Ixjw prices. &* profits. Freight paid- Oedhtub. Drop all traahy unofficial natLS** •» ■MrjFi iv UMRmnoi vahmmv Bat tbe mere fact Gradually aa tbe whole aobeme became evident and the truth leaked out Gate Oity woke up to a pitch of pious fury against its late popular and prominent "boomer" and citizen. Gradually it dawned upon tbem that, in jealoua hatred of the young soldier whom Folsoin's lovely daughter seemed to favor, be had first sought to undermine him, then to ruin and finally to make way with, ven while at tbe aame time oovering tbe tracka of bia own oriminality.'"Jump for those rocks, meal" rang taring's order. "Oat loose your prisoners, corporal! They mast fight for their Uveal" Hastening to tbe office in compliance with the imperative summons, his heart beating heavily despite bia calm of fiat, oh, what chance bad so few against so many? Springing from aaddle, turning loose their startled, snorting horses that go teariug away dowa the valley, the old bands have jumped for the rocks and, kaeeliug and takiug deliberate aim, opeu fire on the foremost of the foe. A gaudy warrior goes dowa ia the flood, and a yell goes up to heaven. Another sond abot slavs a feather decked pony and sends bis rider sprawling, and wisely the others veer away to right and left and scarry to more distant range, bnt up the alopea to the sooth «till othera dart. jaanner, bis tbougbta reverting to that Well known face and tbe appealing I voice at his window despite bis utmost effort to forget tbem, Loring found the ganfrai, with his chief of staff and Oap- tain Stone, busy over telegrams and dis- "That woman's a million time* too good for you," said Folsom. patcbea. One of tbeae the general handad to the engineer. Then, as the latter read, the veteran of three wars arose from bia cbair, took tbe young soldier by tbe arm and led bim aside, a proceeding that oaused Captain Stone to glance pp from the telegram be waa awiftly copying and to follow with angering eyea until suddenly aware that tbe adjutant general waa observing bim. Then bia pen renewed its scratching. If Was not gooCJ that a newcomer, a young lieutenant, abould be preferred to bim, and it was too evident that between tbe general and tbe engineer was a bond of aome kind tbe aid oould not explain. "Do you understand this?" asked tbe general, aa be pointed to tbe letter in Loring's band. It was brief enough. It waa written by a elerk in Burleigh's office to a fellow clerk in that of tbe chief quartermaster at Omaha, and tbe latter had felt it bis duty, hi said, tq inform bia immediate superior, wbo iq tea had laid it before the chief of It was Elinor Folsom'a lover, Lieutenant Dean, wbo boraewhipped bim for good and sufficient reasons. It waa Elinor'a father who bribed bim with a big and sorely needed loan to prefer no obargea against the boy. It waa Burleigh wbo almoat immediately after this tremendous episode had secured tbe sending of Lieutenant Dean on a mission so fraught with peril that tbe obancea were ten to one againat bia ever getting through alive. Tbeu Kevins oonolnded be moat hive * talk with Loring, and on bis meaaage being conveyed that offloer, the bearer, wai bidden to say that Mr. Loring refuted to have anything whatever to do with him, whereat the oaptive ex-captain ground hit teeth with rage and made the jailyard ring with malediction.Then, with awimming eyea, abe had bemoaned ber past, ber fatal errors, ber greed for wealth and position that bad led her to stifle ber own heart throbs and deceive tbe one troe friend she bad ever known, and Loring broke short tbe conversation by leaving tbe room. Then she came again, alone, and he refused to eee ber. Then she came with Mrs. Burton, and the bouse was in a titter, and be broke up bis establishment and moved back to tbe botal, to the aoandal of bia landlord, as has been aaid, w!io made loud complaint to tbe powera at beadquartera. "You are my prisoner, Rurleigh." "There is a camp half a mile ahead where I have to make an arrest," said he quietly. "Keep close at my heels. We'll have to gallop when we get in view. Draw pistol. Don't fire unless they da They probably won't." From three sides now the Indian ballets are hissing ip. Jn less than four ruinates of stinging figbt gallant Sergeant Carey is stretched on the turf with a shattered elbow, Corporal Burke and two troopers are shot dead, and Loring, with white, set faoe and a scorching seam along the left cheek, seizes a dropped carbine and thrnata it into Burleigb'a shaking hands. Colonel Steven* himself had met him on Events succeeded enoh other with marvelous rapidity. Folsom'a visit waa early the morning after the capture, and by uoou he was bowling along on a 70 mile ride to the ranch in the Laramie valley, hurried thither by {henews that Birdsall's gang bad rnn off many of bia eon'a best horses and that Hal Folsom himself was missing. ' And they didn't. Half a dozen startled men. gambling about a blanket; two or three sleeping off a drunk and pne hunted, haunted wretoh nervously pacing up and down among the pines were no match for the dash of a dozen bluejackets coming thundering into view! There was no thought of fight. Thoae who could oatoh their horsee threw themselves astride bareback and abot for the heart of the bills; two or three scrambled off afoot and were quickly run down; one, a heavily built, haggard, hollow eyed man, shook from bead to foot as the lieutenant reined up hia panting and excited horae and coolly ■aid: arrival. And Jimmy, nottiing loath, waa off, swift and noiaeleaa as an arrow. It was time for Loring and "old man Folaom" to be getting there if they were oomlng, and the boy was athrill with excitement and interest. Wbo oould have "posted" Birdsall but Burleigh? Wbo could say what the amount of his shortage really was? The key of the big safe was gone with bim, and in that safe at the time of tbe general'a visit waa at least |16, - 000. Old Pecksniff, commanding officer at iron ternary, naa wirea to department headquarters- Then abe wrote that ahe was being followed and peraeouted by a man abe never knew before, tbe man wbo waa with ber the night Mr. Lambert aaid they met tbem in front pf Mrs. Burton's, a dreadful man who said that he believed that abe loved Lieutenant Lor- Bending low, as be knew the Indians went on aoout, springing along the plank walk, he sbot like a flitting specter up the street, stooping lower and glaring to left and right at the first crossing, but seeing nobody. A noiseless run of a third of a mile brought him to a suner where, looking southward by day, am oould aaa tbe flagstaff and tha "Dp with you, man I" he cries. "It's your scalp you're fighting for. Here, take a drink of this." And hia filled canteen is glued to Burleigh's ashen lips. iioring galloped by the aide of the ambulance several mllea, conferring with the old frontiersman all the way, then turned back to resume his work at the depot. Eagerly he wired to the general, which were forwarded from Cheyenne to tbe Platte, tailing of bia inuwrtant oaptor*. —»«"ng ouietti Two offioers and tbe protesting hotel clerk were present at tbe opening. Tbe locksmith even seemed to bate bla job; tbe adjutant bad never a meaner one, bat Petty waa eager. Freeh txom an iftterrlew witfc fc* VM Ik* An expert aafe opener waa ordered out from Obicago, and right in tbe midst of all tbe turmoil there suddenly appeared apon the acene a bine eyed A long pull, a gasp, and hardly knowing what be doea tbe recreant offloer kneels at the nearmost rock, aims at a Bain tad savage leaning to the aid at a. "V«are mi urisoner. BnrUUdbu" O |
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