Part 22 (1/2)

Elaet, and Toe the subject of the conversation

”Who is the other fellow?” said he ”You said there were two of them”

”The other fellow is a tender-foot; he don't claiot overabout his father His father commands a post within forty , but I don't know one soldier from another They all look alike to me, and I didn't think of the relationshi+p they bore to each other No hty shabby, and I shall always think hard of soldiers after that”

At the end of half an hour they came out of the scrub oaks and found themselves in front of a neat little cabin which rero quarters he had seen in Mississippi There were two boys standing in front of the cabin, and To out Carlos Burton There was an independent air about hi to the tender-foot, and when Elam introduced him in his off-hand way, this boy was the first to welcome him

”This fellow is Toot into a little trouble down in Mississippi where he used to live, and caet clear of it Know hilad to shake hands with Tom, because he was Elam's friend; but they were stillthem for the fourth time robbed of his furs, and what he had to say about it There were soht There was his hand, which was still done up the way the doctor left it, and the mark on his horse's neck, both of which proclaiht; but they didn't push him, for they knew they would hear the whole of his story when he got inside of the cabin

What I have written here is the true history of what happened to To the five thousand dollars, and the double-barrel shotgun; and I have told the truth, too, in regard to Ela It took him pretty near all day to finish the story, and now I can drop the third person and go on with my narrative just as it happened Of course ere all amazed at what Elam had to tell, and especially e hurt to hear him speak so of Ben's father; for he it as in coood to talk to Elas than that to say about the ht proper, calculating to ht with Ben afterward

”Now, Tom [he always addressed everybody by his Christian na more of your story,” said Uncle Ezra, who had the et spread out on his knee ”You haven't done anything to itive fro you down kinder easy What have you done?”

It did not take Tom more than fifteenthat strangers should know, and Elam never let on that he knew more; he was the closest-mouthed fellow I ever saw Tom told all about the story of the five thousand dollars, and declared that he had sent it back to the uncle of whom he had stolen it, but said he could not bear the ”jibes” that would be thrown at hiot mad at him There were men out there who had done worse than that

”That's very true,” said Uncle Ezra, looking down at theso very bad, and I would advise you to go home and live it down”

”No, sir, I shan't do it,” said Toets over his pet and then I'll go back Besides, I can't go I aet”

”And do you iine that this paper will tell you where it is?”

”That's e are depending on”

”You will go, Carlos?” said Ela up that nugget I shall be right within reach of you”

”Now, uncle,” began Ben, as in a high state of commotion, ”I just know you will lethis hands up and down in the air as the major had done when he refused to interfere with the stolen furs ”Now, just wait till I tell you You shan't go!”

”I just know, if an Ben

”Noait till I tell you Your father would say, No! Here's Indians all around you, and you want to go right into theoff with Elam Storm! That's the worst yet Why, your father has sent out a squad of cavalry to drive these fellows back where they cao philandering off there? No, sir, you can't go I shall send word to hiht I suppose you will need a horse, To that the Red Ghost has spoilt your bronco for you”

”I should like to have one,” replied Tom ”What do you think that Red Ghost is, anyway?”

”Noait till I tell you I don't know”

As it was al to eat since Elae the subject of the conversation into another channel, he gavethe eatables It was surprising how quickly everybody becah several scenes which were fah to me, but which sounded like romance when recounted for Ben's benefit, and it was no wonder that the latter looked upon Tothy conversation with hi supper, while Ela tofor sofor which he was looking, and so that I was teo and sit down and listen to hi hidden there, and that's all there is about it,”