Fort Frayne

T AUTHOR Of II ■.-:) " F0SS IWAMBUSH f _,_ ,?g fFROM THE RANKS " ËIL [Copyright, 1896, by F. Tennj son Neely.] C'h.mter I.- Boyle Farrar disgraces himselfat Wst Point, deserte the school and leadsawandoring lifo, sinkini; lower and lower, marries uis employer's óaughter and then commitsa forgery. II- Cbloncl Farrar, father of Rovle. Is killed 11 tlewlththe IndiauB. III - Koyle Farrar's yonnger brotner Will graduates al West Poini rails in love witn Kitty Ormsby, whose brothcf Jaclt is ín love with Wi U's gister ElHs. IV.- Will is made lieutenant. They al) return to Fort Frayne, acconipanied by a certain Mre. Dauntoo. v.- It luis been reported that Boyle Farrai is dead, bnt he tnrns ïip at the fort in i'i" suise of a common soldier nnder the name f Graice. Kllis Farrar and Jack Ormsby qnarrej over Helen Daunton. VI- Helen Dannton hu . uu interview with Jack Ormsby, ín which i[ transpires that she is Eoyle Farrar's inuch abnsed wife. whom Ormeby das before befriended. All - Helen Farrar discovers lier hnsband. VIII- Ellis Farrar witnesaes another interview be ween Helen Daunton and Jack Ormsby. IX- Tiouble arises between the cowboys and tne Indians. X. -The garrison is ordered out to prorfcet the Indiana. XI- Helen Daunton makes preparations to set her tmsband away trom the fort, XII- At the Christmas ball they are startled by the cry of "Fire!" in the ardhouse. Eoyle Parrar cornos to liis end amid the llames, and Captain Léale loses his eye-sight in the at tempt to rscne tbc unworthy nnsband of the woman he loves. Helen Farrar. XIII- A misunderstand ing among the Indlans causee more trouble. They leave ilie reservation and are pnrsued by the iieveuth. XIV- Colonel Fenton is relievëd of. his command and ordered to report at licadijiiarters. column took a breathing spell and waited. JTar out to tho eastward and below them an occasional flash us of rifle or revolver sparkled through the night, and the faint report wasprcseutly borne to their listening ears. Big Eoad was still barring the way of the column then, and that rneant that all the village was not yet safely within the grim walls of the canyon. Northward the snowy slopes rolled higher still, but it was northwestward, among the clumps of trees, that the leaders had gone. The steam from the horses' nostrils and f rom their heaving flanks rose on the keen air, and the blood raced and tingled in the veins of the men. Net a whisper of inouutain breoze was astir. The night was as still as the voicelcss skies. Three, four minutes, with beating hearts, the littJ.e command watchcd and waited and drew longer breath, and then a dark shape carne jogging back from the front, and Farwell's voice Baid, "Mount and ome on." Then came 15 minutes' trot, winding snakelike and in long extended column of twos among the stunted trees, and then Parwell ordered "Walk;" formore than once a dark form loomed up in their path, and Bremmer wheeled his horse about and rode by the captain's side, eagerly exjjlaining in low tono. Will caught the words: "Eight ahead. You au hear them distinctly, sir, " and for the life of him Will could not quite ontrol the flutter of his heart. "Halt! Dismount and waifc herel were the rext orders, almosfc whispered, and again Farwell pushed out into the front, and again tho column swung out ■of saddJe, watchéd and waited, and presently the men began to stamp about in the suow and thrash their stiffening fingers. "Aro we closo to 'em now, Masther Will?1" asked old Terry, unrebuked. "Kight ahead, they say, corporal. But thi.s, remeniber, is only the women and children, with a íow of the old men." "Ah, it's your father 's son ye are, sorr - God rest his soul! If it was riaytime, ye could almost see fróm here the breaks of the Mini Pusa, where we struck these Indians threeyears agothis cruel winter. " "I know," said Will briefly, "and if - if it comes to fighting here, Rorke, remember father's last order. It rnaybe harder than ever to teil buck from squaw in so dim a light, but Iwant the men to heed it. " "Thcy will, sorr, as they would if the captain himself was at their head, and, Masther Will, for the love of hivn, wherever ye have to go this night let me be wan of thim that go wiel ye if ye only take wan, " and there was a break in the old fellow's voice as he began his plea. . "Hush, Rorke. We'll see tothat," eaid Parrar. "Here comes the captain back. " And Farwell caine with speed. "Mr. Farrar," ho said, aa nnmistakable tremor in his tone, "thore's not a moment to be lost. ïhey are passing through the canyon now. We can hear them plainly, but thoy haveflankers out along the bluff. Two bucks rode by not a moment ago, and Bear says the whole outfit is pushing for the race track. I've got to head them off farther up thi gulch. Bear eays we eau get clown in single file by an old game trail there, and I wish you to disinouiit right here, line this slope with your men, send at least a dozen down into the ravine and 6tand off Big Road and his fellows while we corral that whole village and etart it for home. Thcy can't teil aow few yon are in nnmber, andFeníon will be close at their hecls. Between you they ought to be forced to the north lide while I'm driving the village out to the south. You understand, do you not? It's a fight in the dark, and they're afraid of it, anyhow. You've got a splendid troop, lad, and they won't fail you. Don 't be ashamed to ask your old sergeants for advice. You understand fully?" "I do," said Will stoutly, though his young heart was hammering in his fcreast. "We'll do our best, sir. Forra fours, sergeant, and link - lively," he added, then grasped the captain's hand one instant before the latter turned away. Silently, quickly the men linked horses, and, leaving lo. 4 of each set in saddle, camo running up to the front, unslinging carbines on the way. Farwell and his fellows went trotting off among the clumps of pine as the last man fe)l in on the lef t. Then, quickly dividing off a dozen troopers from that flank, Will placed the .first sergeant in charge and bade him find the way down the stcep incline to the bottom of the gorge, which there was not more than 250 fcet below, giving him instructions to be ready to sweep it with their fire when the warriors came, as come they speeaily must. Kext, facing eastward, ho deployed his men, causing them to stand or kneel in the shelter of the little trees, but to keep vigilant lookout. Anot!j.r little squad was strung out down ie face of the bluff to keep connection with the men descending to the depths of the canvon, and these preparations were barelycompleted when, riding at rapid gait, two horsemen came dashiug up the eastward slope. The pantirig of the ponies could be heard before anything could be seen, but the instant the vague shapes appeared two sudden shots rang out ou the night, and then a dozen - a sputteriug vol ley - flashed f rom tho line. Down went one pony, struggling and rolling in the snow. Away spcd the other back into the blackness of the night. Then a dark object seemed to disengage jtself from tho struggling pony and go crouching and limping away. Two or three excited young soldiers banged their carbinea without the faintest aim. Then it seemed as though the hillsides woke to a wild revel of battle, f or, behind them, f ar up the canyou, there rose a wail of terror froni the fleeing squaws and shouts of the few old braves left to guard them, resounding warwhoops of younger Indians somewhere, anywhere, everywhere, down the slopes to the east. Then a bright column of flame shot high in air over among the rocks to the iiorth of the gate, and afar out over the eastward prairie Big Road and his braves came dashing, driving, thundering to the rescue. "They'll not try the gulch, sorr," shouted Rorke in his car. "Only a few will push in bere. Most of 'era wil] come this way and get around us toour right." ' ' Open out, men 1 Push out sonthward there as f ast as you can!" shouted Wil)., as he ran bounding through the snow toward the right of his invisible line. "Watch for them! They'Jl come with a rush when they come at all!" And Rorke, whose business it was to remain with his "comrades in battle" where first he was posted, near the brow of the steep, went running after his young commander as hard as he could go, with no man to stop hirn. In the excHcment and darkness, in tho thrill of the moment, some of the men seemed disposed to huddle together rather than to increaso their intervals, for plainly now could be heard a dull thunder of hoofs - the roar of the coming storm. Then, too, shadowy specters of horsemen could be dimly seen darting into partial view and out again, like the flash that greeted them. But far up the gorge, behind Parrar's line, the sound of battle grew liereer and louder. Then, down from the depths of the canyon, thero came sudden clamor of shot and cheer and challenge and yells of rage and defiance, and then all on a sudden out from among the stunted trees, with panting, struggling, bounding ponies, with lashing, bending, yelling braves, there burst upon them the main body of the Indians, threescore warriors at least, and despite the ring of shots on and through and over they rushed the slim and extended skirmish line, and Will Farrar, springing from the shelter of a littJe cedar, was struck full in the breast by a muscular shoulder and knocked backward into the snow. He strnggled to his feet, groping for his revolver, just in time to meet the dash of half a dozen racing braves, all veiling like fiends. Something crashed upon his skuJl and struck a million sparks or stars, and everything whirled out of sight and sound and sense as the young officer went down, face f oremost, into the drif ts. CHAPTER XV "The Battle of the Ghosts, " so Big Road's people called it long months after, fought late at night and far up the slopes of the Elk range, was reported at Ifort JFrayne before the rising of another sun. The mysterious system of signaling which enabled the Indians of the reservations in Nebraska to know the details of the Custer massacre before they could be wired from Bismarck was here in use again, and straggiers from the band far back at Trooper creek, and even the cowboys and ranchmen carousiug about Bunko Jim 's in honor of the triumph of their plans, knew all about Farwell's overtaking the village, of Farrar's desperate stand and Wayne's long gallop to tbeir support before the first tidings were whispered within the silent wails across the stream or even guessed at by the grim old soldier rousing from his sleep barely ten miles from the seat of action. The first news to reach the garrison came from Jimtown and was laughed to scorn by members of the guard. Tho next words went fearf ully along among the kitchens of OffiCirs' row and speedily reached the ears of the anxiouswives andchildren of the soldiers in the field, and stil! the surgeon loft in charge at Frayne refused to believe the rumors and hastened to I .cl that any one should speak of them j f.'herc they could rcach the ears of the bousehold of Farrar, for the croakers told of fel] disaster and of the death of the last soldier of that honored name. But bad news ■ travels fast, and the direful tidings reáched Lucretia Fenton's ears while Kitty still slept the sleep of the young, the innocent and unsuspicious, and what Lucretia knew she could never conceal. The morning gun had failed to wake Will's dainty ladyJove, the trumpets rang no reveille, for there was no garrison to rouse, and only oue trumpeter remained to sound the cails, but people were up and astii and hurrying froni house to house long ; before the usual hour, and Marjorie Farrar, watohing by the bedside of her Btricken daughter, heard with straining ears the excited tones of the servants at the back doors and but for Helen Daunfcon's vigilance woald herself have gone to ascertain the cause. Stipulating that her friend should not go down stairs, Helen had hasfened forth, finding their own kitchcu deserted, and, as the colonel's house was but a few rods awav and Lucretia was there at the gate in vehement recitative with Mrs. Amory and sertain of the younger belles of the garrison as listeners, Heien hastened thither, only to see the party scatter at her approach. This in itself was ominous, but it was no tirne for hesitation. Some of the party were e,vidently in tears. The old chaplain was rapidJy approaching from his quarters on the westward Bide ; the doctor, fieldglass in hand, was studying the snowy expanse to the north from the edge of the bluff. With him stood the sergeant of the guard, and another noncommissioned officer was hastening toward him up the sentry post of No. 5. It was to thern she appealed, and in their faces she read the first intimation of ill news. I ie doctor turned as though he had been especting her and held forth his hand. "lam glad you are here, " he said, "for I have reason to disbelieve the news that has been frittering in ever since dawn, but I wish it kept from Mrs. Farrar as long as possible. " Helen's face had turned white as the snow. He saw it and drew her arm within his own. "Stragglers from Big Road's band say - those that were left at Trooper creek, at least - that there was a fight last night. Part of the village was captured and part of the band broke tbrough and got away. The Indians claim to have killed several of our people, but they are the biggest boasters on the face of the globe. The cowboys over yonder believe it, because they hate Fenton and the Twelfth and wouldn't bc sorry to have themworsted, because that would bring on a big war and lots of troops. We would have heard it by this time in some way had there been serious disaster. " "But, doctor, Miss Fenton and others with her rnistened away when they saw me coming, and they were in tears. " "Oh, they've got hold of some eilly story that the servants have been gabbling aud that I've tried to test, that Farrar is among the injured. It all comes from that vile roost over there," said he, scowling malignantly at Jimtown. "No, don't you give way, Mrs. Daunton, " he continued as she seemed to shiver and tremble. "Ishall ueed all your strength if there be trouble coming. But, if my opinión is not i cient, let me te)] you what Captain Leale thinks. He says that the Indiana j wouldn't fight in the dark excepc at long range, and the story is that Will was tomahawked. Keep everythiug from her, therefore, for the present. Colonel Fenton will be here by noon. ' ' "Keep eyerytliing from her, doctor! A mother reads faces as you do books. ! No one can conceal from Mrs. Farrar that ill news is in the air and that it is ! of her boy. Is there no way we can find j the truth? Anythiug alruost would bo better than suspense!" she cried with breaking voice. "I know of none, my poor friend," he gently answered. "All over there at the settlement is riot and confusión. ' They believe everything and know j ing. It may be hours before we can get details, for the Indians say the fight I took place away in among the hills tbrough Elk Springs canyon, over 50 miles north of us, and the telegraph line from Laramie to the old post follows the stage road from Fetterman far to the east. If any reports, however, havo got in by way of Lararuie, they would surely have been repeated up ' here for our benefit. ' ' And just then a man carne hurrying to thera from the line of officers' quarters. It was Leale's attandant. "The captain says, sir, that he thinks if yon wire through Laramie they will be having news by this time at Buffalo or McKinney stage stations. " "That was like Leale, " thought the doctor, "and he must have heard she was here with me." "It's worth trying," he said aloud. "Will you go with me to the office:" "I must. I cannot return to her with such news as I have heard. " Andso together they hastened over the snowy parade, and Marjorie Farrar, watching frorn the dormer window of FUis' little room, saw them and read the motive of tiieir going. Ten minutes later a dramatic scène occurred in that shabby little office, ono that Frayne has not yet ceased to teil of and will long remember. Kurtz, the operator, was clicking away at his instrument as the doctor entered. "I've got Laramie, sir, now, " he answered in j response to the fii-st question asked him, j "and hesays Buffalo knowsnothingyet. The first news ought to come through the stage station near Allison's ranch. Colonel Fenton was over there last night, but nothing has been heard this morning. The operator is there now." "Wire to him then. Urge him to find out whether there was a fight in the hills, whether Coionel Fenton is still at Allison's, and get any authentic news he can and send it hcro at once. " Andeven as Kurtz began clicking his message there was some sudden check, an eager light shot into his face, an expression of keen, intense interest. He let go his key and sat listcning to the juick beating of the tiny hammer of ïhe insirumeut, then seized a pencil and began to write jnst as a faltering step ■was hcard on tho creaking woodwork of She piazza. The doorburst opeu, and in, with wild eyes and disheveled hair, a heavy cloak thrown about her, but without overshoes, without gloves, alloblivious to the bitter cold, Marjorie Farrar rushed in upon theni. "Teil me instantly," she began, but the c actor, an inspiiation seizing him as he jead the operators face, turned with uplifted band, with reassaring smile as Helen opened her arms to receive her friend, There was a moment more of breathless, hairowing suspense, of swift clicking at tho table, of swift skimming pencil, and then Kurtz sprang to his f eet and placed in Mrs. Pamir 's trembling hand the yellow brown sheet. With eycs that seemed starting from their sockets, she read. Then, with one glad cry, "Thank God! Oh, thank God!" threw herself on Hcleu's breast. The doctor seized the fluttering paper ere it it reached tho floor and read aloud : My congratulations on "Will's gallant bearing in his maiden figlit. He morits the name he bears. Expect U3 hozao tomorrow nigbt, very hungry. George Feston. But that was only a part of the story. What Leale said was true enough. The Indianswould not fight in the dark except at long range, but that did not prevent their taking advantage of the dark for a Endden rush that would enable them to burst through what they well knew could only be a thin and widely dispersed line. It was easier to do it in the dark, as the warriors well knew, than in broad daylight, and so, learning froin tlieir vigilaut scouts about where Farrar's men vvere deployed, thcy rode forward in noiseless array until close upon tbem ; then at given signal and with fnll understanding that no one was to stop for anything they dashed forward over the buow at headlong speed. The few shots fired whizzed by their ears without checking them in the least, though two Sioux saddles, by great good luck, were emptied, and when the pony of one low bending warriorcollided with Farrar and keeled him over others iollowing behind raced through just as he was scrambling to his feet, and one of the riders had struck wildly with his warclub at the dark object and downed it again. The whole band was out of eight in less time than it [TO BE CONTIXÜED.] Great Britain's Progressive Tax. A new inheritance tas law was enacted in Great Britain in 1894, and the figures of its flrst year's working have been published. It provides for a progressive tax. The iaw cuts down inuch deeper into srnall inheritauces than would ba acceptable in America. Here it would look like srnall business to tas au estáte worth less than $500. That, however, the British law does. Estates less than $500 pay less than 1 per cent. From tuis the rate increases til 1, on estates worth $5,000,000, 8 per cent must be paid. The revenue commissioners' report gives snme interesting figures of the returns from the progressive inheritance tax. The whole atnount of ï-evenue from this source brougbt into the public treasury nearly 50,000,000. Estates worth less than $5,000 yielded only 2 per cent of this. Estates worth $250,000 and over constituted 40 per cent of theproperty taxable under the inheritance law. The progressive feature, however, brought about the result that these large properties paid 54 per cent of the whole tax. The British consider this tax as little objectionable as any can be. The memorial which the California State Miners' association has presented to congress is well wortby serious consideration. The memorialista respeetfully ask our national legisiature to créate a department of mines and mining. The duties of the attaches of such department shall be to collect useful and reliable iuformation in regard to the mines of the United States and spread it among the people. For the sake of the owners of the Juundreds of millions of dollars invested and to be invested in the mines of the country such a department is needed. Investors in these properties are numerous both in this country and in Europe. If a reliable government mining bureau existed, capitalists would no longer be at the rnercy of private owners or promoters whose only interest is to get money - honestly, if possible, but money anyhow. The fake mining enterprises would quickly be exploded, while the legitímate ones would at the same time rise in value and take their proper place in the field of desirableand wholly safeinvestments. Persons with money to place would only need to consult the government reports of any given mines - gold, silver, iron, coal or otherwise - toknow what they could expect. Let us have that government department of mines. Before its wholesome influenee fake schemes which have made American mining shares a scandal abroad will wither like Jonah's gourd.