Eastern Colorado times., September 04, 1913, Image 6

About Eastern Colorado times. (Cheyenne Wells, Colo.) 1912-1913

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Molly McDonald
A TALE OF THE FRONTIER
SYNOPSIS.
Major McDonald, commanding an army
fioat near Fort Dodge, seeks a man to
ntercept hia daughter. Molly, who Is
headed for the post. An Indian outbreak
la threatened. Sergeant "Brick” Hamlin
meets the stage In which Molly Is travel
ing. They are attacked by Indians and
Hamlin and Molly escape In the darkness.
Hamlin tells Molly he was discharged
from the Confederate service In disgrace
and at Ihe close of the war enlisted In
the regular army. He suspects one Cap
tain LeFevre of being responsible for
hla disgrace. Troops appear and under
escort of Lieut. Gaskins Molly starts to
Join her father. Hamlin leaves to rejoin
his regiment. He returns to Fort Dodge
after a summer of fighting Indians, and
finds Molly there. Lieutenant Gaskins
accuses Hamlin of shooting him. The
sergeant la proven Innocent. He sees
Molly in company with Mrs. Dupont,
whom he recognizes as a former sweet
heart, who threw him over for LeFevre.
Later ho overhears Dupont and a soldier
hatching up a money-making plot. Molly
tells Hamlin her father seems to be In
the power of Mrs. Dupont, who claims to
be a daughter of McDonald’s sister. Mol
ly disappears and Hamlin sets out to
traefc her. McDonald Is ordered to Fort
Ripley. Hamlin finds McDonald’s mur
dered body. He takes Wasson, a guide,
and two troopers and goes In pursuit of
the murderers, who had robbed McDon
ald of $30,000 paymaster’s money. He sus
pects Dupont. Conners, soldier accom
fillce of Dupont. Is found murdered. Ham-
In's pnrty Is caught In a fierce blizzard
while heading for the Clmmaron. One
mar. dies from cold and another almost
succumbs Wasson Is shot as they come
In sight of Clmmaron. Hamlin discovers
a log cabin hidden under a bluff, occupied
by Hughes, a cow thief, who Is laying for
who cheated him In a cnttle
deal. His description Identifies LeFevre
and Dupont as one and the same. Hughes
shot Wasson mistaking him for one of
LeFevre’s pnrty. Hamlin and Hughes
take up the trail of LeFevre. who Is
carrying Molly to the Indian’s camp.
Two days out they sight the fugitives.
A flgh' ensues In which Hughes Is shot
by an Indian. Dying, he makes a desper
ate attempt to shoot LeFevre. but hits
Hamlin while the latter Is disarming Le
Fevre. LeFevre escapes, believing Hnm
lln nnd Molly dead. Molly tells Hamlin
that her father was Implicated In the
plot to steal the paymaster’s money.
Hamlin confesses his love for Molly and
find that It Is reciprocated. Molly de
clares her father wns forced Into the
robbers’ plot.
CHAPTER XXXlV.—Continued.
They could perceive the blue of the
overcoats as they rode over the ridge,
pud at their sudden appearance the
little column of horsemen came to a
halt. Hamlin flung up one hand In sig
nal, and the two urged their ponies
down the Bide of the hill. Three men
spurred forth to meet them, spreading
out slightly as though still suspicious
of some trick, but, e.s they drew near,
(he leader suddenly waved his hand,
;tnd they dashed forward.
"Hamlin I Glad to see you again,”
the first rider greeted the Sergeant
cordially. “Can this be Major McDon
sild’s daughter.”
"Yes, Major Elliott; 1 can repeat
Hie story as we ride along, sir. You
. re the advance of Custer’s expedi
ion, I presume?”
"We are; the others are some miles
'• hind, moving slowly .so that the
•igons can keep within touch. Won
orful the way ‘.hose wagons have
ished ahead ovsr the rough country.
,ive only missf'd camp twice since
• * left Fort Dodge.”
"When was thnt, sir?”
"Before the bfizzard all except your
l oop were at Csmp Supply; they had
fined since, and it was then we heard
bout your trip down here. What be
me of your men, Sergeant?”
"Wasson and one private were
killed, sir; the other private was
'ozen so badly l had to leave him in
belter on the Cimarron.”
"By gad, it sounds interesting; nnd
s» you tackled the villains alone, and
had some fight at that before rescuing
Miss McDonald. Well, the story will
keep until we make camp again.
However,” and he bent low over the
lady’s hand, "I must congratulate Miss
McDonald on her escaping without
any serious injury.”
"That is not all I should be con
gratulated upon, Major Elliott,” she
raid quietly.
"No —eh—perhaps 1 do not under
stand."
‘1 desire that you shall; I refer to
my engagement to Sergeant Hamlin.”
The officer glanced in some bewil
derment from her face to that of the
silent trooper.
"You —you mean matrimonial?” he
stammered, plainly embarrassed, un
able so suddenly to grasp the peculiar
situation. ‘‘Hamlin, what—what does
this mean?”
"Miss Molly and I have known each
other for some time,” explained the
Sergeant bluntly. “Out here alone we
discovered we were more than friends.
That is all, sir.”
For an instant Elliott hesitated,
held by the strafige etiquette of rank
then the gentleman conquered the sol
dier, and he drew off his glove, and
held out his hand.
"J can congratulate you, Mis 3 Me-
By
Randall Parrish
Julhorof "Keith oTtte
■“Border r My LadyqA
Doubt? My Lady of the
South? etc. etc. /
i Illutitrafioos by
I V.1.8d/mcH
COPyWOMT 1912 BY A.C.M'CLURO * CCk
Donald," he exclaimed frankly. **l
have known Sergeant Hamlin for two
years; he is a soldier and a gentle
man.”
The red blood swept into her
cheeks, her eyes-brightening.
“He is my soldier,” she replied soft
ly, “and the man I love.”
They rode together down the steep
hillside covered with its mantle of
snow to join the little body of troop
ers halted in the valley. Only once
did Elliott speak.
“You know Black Kettle’s camp,
Sergeant?”
“We were almost within sight of it,
sir. I saw his pony herd distinctly."
“Where was that?”
“On the Canadian, close to the
mouth of Buffalo Creek.”
“Did you learn anything as to the
number of Indians with him?”
“Nothing definite, but it is a large
encampment, not all Cheyennes.”
"So we heard, but were unable to
discover the exact situation. We have
been feeling our way forward cau
tiously. I fear it is going to be my
unpleasant duty to separate you and
Miss McDonald. We shall need your
services as guide, and the lady will
be far better off with the main col
umn. Indeed some of the empty wag
ons are to be sent back to Camp Sup
ply tonight, and probably Custer will
deem it best that she return with
them. This winter campaigning Is
going to be rough work, outside of
the fighting. You know Custer, and
his style; besides Sheridan is him
self at Camp Supply in command.”
“You hear, Molly?"
“Yes; of course, I will do whatever
General Custer deems best. Are there
any women at Camp Supply, Major?”
"Yes, a few; camp women mostly,
although there may be also an officer’s
wife or two —19th Kansas volunteers.”
"Then it will be best for me to go
there. If I can,” she smiled. "I am
desperately in need of clothes."
“I suspected as much. I will ar
range to give you a guard at once
And you, Sergeant? As you are still
under special orders, I presume I have
no authority to detain you in my com
mand.”
“I prefer to remain, sir,” grimly
“Dupont, Miss McDonald’s captor, is
alive and in Black Kettle’s camp. We
still have a feud to settle.”
“Good; then that is arranged; ah.
Miss McDonald, allow me to present
Lieutenant Chambers. Lieutenant, de
tail three men to guard the lady back
to the main column. Have her taken
to General Custer at once.”
“Very well, sir; and the command?”
Elliott looked at the Sergeant in
quiringly.
“That Is for Sergeant Hamlin to de
termine; he has just been scouting
through that country, and will act as
guide.”
The Sergeant stood for a moment
motionless beside his horse studying
the vista of snow-draped hillside. The
region beyond the crest of the ridge
unrolled before his memory.
“Then we will keep directly on up
this valley, sir,” he said at last “Ira
Wolf Creek, is it not? We shall be
safer to keep out of sight today, and
this depression must lead toward the
Canadian. May I exchange mounts
with one of those men going back,
Major? I fear my pony is about
done.”
“Certainly.”
There was no opportunity for any
thing save a simple grasp of the hand,
ere Molly rode away with her escort.
Then the little column of troopers
moved on, and Hamlin, glancing back
ward as he rode past, took his place
in advance beside Major Elliott.
CHAPTER XXXV.
The Indian Trail.
The weather became colder as the
day advanced. Scattered pellets of
snow in the air lashed the faces of
the troopers, who rode steadily for
ward, the capes of their overcoats
throw'n over their heads for protec
tion. The snow of the late storm lay
in drifts along the banks of the nar
row stream, and the horses picked
their passage higher up where the
w ind had swept the brown earth clear,
at the same time keeping well below'
the crest. As they thus toiled slow
ly forward, Hamlin related his story
to the Major in detail, carefully con
cealing all suspicion of McDonald’s
connection with the crime. It wns
growing dusk w r hen the company
emerged into the Valley of the Cana
dian. All about them was desolation
EASTERN COLORADO TIMES,
and iltence, and aa they were (till
mile* away from the position assigned
for Blaok Kettle's encampment, the
men were permitted to build fires and
prepare a warm meal under shelter of
the bluffs. Two hours later the main
column arrived and also went Into
camp. It was Intensely cold but the
men were cheerful as they ate their
supper of smoky and halt-roasted buf
falo meat, bacon, hard-tack, and cof
fee.
In response to orders the Sergeant
went down the line of tiny fires to re
port In person to Custer. He found
that commander ensconced in a small
tent, hastily erected In a little grove
of cottonwoods, which afforded a
slight protection from the piercing
wind. Before him on the ground
from which the snow had been swept
lay a map of the region, while all
about, pressed tightly into the narrow
quarters, were his troop officers. As
Hamlin was announced by the order
ly, conversation ceased, and Custer
surveyed the newcomer an Instant In
silence.
"Step forward, Sergeant,” he said
quietly. "Ah, yes; I had forgotten
your name, but remember your face,”
he smiled about on the group. "We
have been so scattered since our or
ganization, gentlemen, that we are all
comparative strangers.” -He stood up,
lifting In one hand a tin cup of coffee.
"Gentlemen, all we of the Seventh re
joice In the honor of the Bervice,
whether it be upheld by officer or en
listed man. I bid you drink a toast
with me to Sergeant Hamlin.”
"But, General, 1 have done nothing
to deserve—”
“Observe the modesty of a real
hero. Yet wait until I am through.
With due regard for his aonicveinents
as a soldier, 1 propose this toast in
commemoration of a greater deed of
gallantry than those of arms—the cap
ture of Miss Molly McDonald!”
There was a quick uplifting of cups,
a burst of laughter, and a volley of
questions, the Sergeant staring about
motionless, his face flushed.
"What is it. General?"
"Tell us the story!"
"Give us the joke!”
"But 1 assure you it is no joke I
have it direct from the fair lips of the
lady. Brace yourselves, gentlemen,
for the shock. You young West Point
ers lose, and yet the honor remains
with the regiment. Miss Molly Mc-
Donald, the toast of old Fort Dodge,
whose bright eyes have won all your
hearts, has given hers to Sergeant
Hamlin of the Seventh. And now
again, boys, to the honor of the regi
ment!"
Out of the buzz of conversation and
the hearty words of congratulation,
Hamlin emerged bewildered, finding
himself again facing Custer, whose
manner had as swiftly changed Into
the brusque note of command.
"I have met you before, Sergeant,”
he said slowly, "before your assign
ment to the Seventh, I think. I am
not sure where; were you In the Shen
andoah?"
"1 was, sir.”
"At Winchester?”
"I saw you first at Cedar Creek,
General Custer; I brought a flag.”
"That’s It; 1 have the Incident
“Ho Is My Soldier and the Man I
clearly before me now. You were a
lieutenant-colonel 7”
“Of the Fourth Texas, sir.”
“Exactly; I think I heard later—but
never mind that now. Sheridan re
members you; he even mentioned
your name to me a. few weeks ago. No
doubt that was what caused me to
recognize your face again after all
these years. How long have you been
in our service?”
“Ever since the war closed.”
For a moment the two men looked
into each others' faces, the command
er smiling, the enlisted man at re
spectful attention.
”1 will talk with you at some future
time, Sergeant,” Custer said at last,
resuming his seat on a log. "Now we
shall have to consider tomorrow’s
march. Were you within sight of
Black Kettle’s camp?”
“No, sir; only of his pony herd
out in the valley of the Canadian.”
"Where would you suppose the
camp situated?”
"Above, behind the bluffs, about
the mouth of Buffalo Creek.”
Custer drew the map toward him,
scrutinizing It carefully.
"You may be right, of course," hs
commented, bis glance on the faces ol
the officers, “but this does not agree
with the understanding at Camp Sup
ply, nor the report of our Indian
scouts. We supposed Black Kettle to
be farther south on the Washita. How
large was the pony herd?"
“We were not near enough to count
the animals, air, but there must have
been two hundred head.”'
“A large party then, at least. What
do you say, Corbin?”
The scout addressed, conspicuous
In his buffalo skin coat, leaned against
the tent-pole, his black whiskerß mov
ing Industriously as he chewed.
“Wal. Gineral,” he said slowly, "1
know this yere ‘Brick’ Hamlin, an
he’s a right smart plainsman, sojer ‘ei
no sojer. If he says he saw thet pony
herd, then he sure did. Thet means a
considerable bunch o' Injuns thar, ei
tharabouts. Now I know Black Ket
tie’s outfit Is down on the Washita, sc
the only conclusion Is that this yere
band thet the Sergeant stirred up Is
some new tribe er other, a-driftln
down frum the-north. I reckon If wt
ride up ther valley we'll hit their trail
an' it’ll lead straight down to them
Cheyennes.”
Custer took time to consider this
explanation, spreading the field map
out on his knees, and measuring the
distance between the streams. No
one in the little group spoke, although
several leaned forward eagerly. The
chief was not a man to ask advice; he
preferred to decide for himself. Sud
denly he straightened up and threw
back his head to look about.
"In my judgment Corbin Is right,
gentlemen," he said impetuously. “I
had intended crossing here, but In
stead we will go further up stream.
There Is doubtless a ford near Buffalo
Creek, and if we can strike an Indian
trail leading to the Washita, we can
follow easily by night, or day, and It
is bound to terminate at Black Ket
tle’s camp. Return to your troops,
and be ready to march at daybreak.
Major Elliott, you will take the ad
vance again, at least three hours
ahead of the main column. Move with
caution, your flankers well out; both
Hamlin and Corbin will go with you.
Are there any questions?”
"Full field equipment?" asked a
voice.
"Certainly, although In case of go
ing into action the overcoats will be
discarded. Look over your ammuni
tion carefully tonight."
They filed out of the tent one by
one, some of the older officers paus
ing a moment to speak with Hamlin,
his own captain extending his hand
cordially, with a warm word of com
mendation. The Sergeant and Major
Elliott alone remained.
"If 1 strike a fresh trail. General,"
asked the latter, "am 1 to press for
ward or wait for the main body?”
"Send back a courier at once, but
advance cautiously, careful not to ex
pose yourselves. There is to be no
attack except in surprise, and with
full force. This is important. Major,
as we are doubtless outnumbered, ten
to one. Was there something else
Sergeant?”
“I was going to aßk about Miss Me
Donald, sir?"
"Oh, yes; she is safely on her way
to Camp Supply, under ample guard
The convoy was to stop on the Cim
arron, and pick up the frozen sol
dier you left there, and If possible
find the bodies of the two dead men
Long before daylight Elliott's ad
vance camp was under arms, the
chilled and sleepy troopers moving
forward through the drifted snow of
the north bank; the wintry wind
sweeping down the valley, stung their
faces and benumbed their bodies. The
night had been cold and blustery, pro
ductive of little comfort to either man
or beast, but hope of early action ani
mated the troopers and made them ob
livious to hardship. There was little
grumbling in the ranks, and by day
break the head of the long column
came opposite the opening into the
valley wherein Hamlin had overtaken
the fugitives. With Corbin beside
him, the Sergeant spurred his pony
aside, but there was little to see; the
bodies of the dead lay as they had
fallen, black blotches on the snow
but there were no fresh trails tc
show that either Dupont, or any Indi
an ally, had returned to the spot.
"That's evidence enough, 'Brick,''
commented the scout, staring about
warily, "that thar wus no permanent
camp over thar," waving his hand to
ward the crest of the ridge. “Them
redskins was on the march, an' that
geezer had ter follow ’em, er else
starve to death. He’d a bin back afore
this, an’ on yer trail with a bunch o’
young bucks."
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Cruel Form of Punishment.
A species of punishment, reminis
cent of barbarism, was meted out a
few days ago to a seven-year-old boy
of Kiyosu, Japan, by the child’s fath
er. The little lad committed some
trivial act of disobedience, and the
father punished him by burying him
for forty-eight hours in a hole in the
ground, leaving only his head above
the surface.
FEEL ALL USED UP?
Does your back ache constantly? Do
you have sharp twinges when stooping or
lifting? Do you feel all used up—as if
you could just go no further?
Kidney weakness brings great discom
fort. What with backache, headache,
dizziness and urinary disturbances it is
no wonder one feels all used up.
Doan's Kidney Pills have cured thou
sands of just such cases. It's the best
recommended special kidney remedy.
A South Dakota Case
Ray H. Chase,
M Every Picture Alexandria, 8. D..
Tells a J myback* Marly
system was
acid. My appetite
left me and I
\vere * scanty* °and
filled white,
Kidney Plll/he^>|
Tu first and continued
I ' use cured me. The
I *y* i cure has been per
manent."
Get Doan's at Any Store. Jsoc a Bos
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Necessary Rewards.
Were It not for the prizes of I<*
there would be little effort. Few are
those who labor for love, and the law
of creations seems to have contained
the necessity for struggle, with a
ward attached. Sons go out to labor
as a matter of course, but daughters
are sometimes needed at home, where
they will not remain without com
pensation. To fit all girls for money
getting' Is the duty of parents, but
they need not be driven to use that
knowledge outside of home if parents
are able and willing to make them
Independent financially. Half the
wages of a housemaid would serve to
keep a daughter as a valuable home
worker. The benefit to the girl can
not be over-estimated.—Exchange.
"Examinits."
Let us remember that there la such
a thing aB examlnitls, and that a
brain crammed with a multitude of
useless facts may show up brilliant
ly on an examination, but be so
clogged as to be unable to put the
knowledge to practical use. We know
we are raising the pedagog's Ire by
thus stating that there Is such a
thing rs too much knowledge, but as
a fact the world's work is being done
by specialists who are densely Ig
norant of everything outside their re
spective narrow spheres—and of
many things Inside, too.—American
Medicine.
Circumlocution.
He was new to a certain railway run
in Wales —this guard. Came to a sta
tion which rejoiced In the appalling
name Llanfalrfechanpwllgyngyllgoge
rych.
For a few moments he stood looking
at the signboard In mute helplessness.
Then, pointing to the board, and war
ing his other arm toward the car
riages, he bellowed:
"If there’s anybody there for here,
this Is It.”
Important to Mothers
Examine carefully every bottle of
CASTORIA, a safe and sure remedy for
Infants and children, and see that it
In Use For Over 30 Years.
Children Cry for Fletcher’s Caatoria
Somewhat Previous.
"What sort of people are the Twob
bles?”
"When Invited for a week-end visit
they show up bright and early Tues
day morning."
Summer Annoyances
such as prickly heat, ivy poisoning,
insect bites and offensive perspiration
are quickly relieved by applying
Tyree’s Antiseptic Powder. 25c. at
druggists or write J. S. Tyree, Wash
ington, D. C„ for free sample.—Adv.
Avoiding Disappointment.
“Why not go to Bosco Beach? The
place looks very, very good In the
booklet.”
“So good that I don't want to spoil
the Illusion by going there."
Be happy. Use Red Cross Bag Blue;
much better than liquid blue. Delight*
the laundress. All grocers. Adv.
Many birds form their sounds with
out opening their bills. The pigeon
is a well-known Instance of this.
[Backache Rheumatism^
1 Kidneys and Bladder I
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