Part 7 (1/2)

VIII

They were having an anxious day of it at Lara a brace of ranchht, ruesole's Nest and beyond The Cheyenne stage, they said, was ”juers burned alive in the vehicle itself There ht Lieutenant Blunt and his party in the Chug Valley, but they must have been heavily re-enforced, for there were two hundred of them at the least count when they swept down upon the little party of heroes at the stage station They fought theers, said the ranch over their heads and ”roasted the whole outfit” had it not been that the coe had diverted their attention These were the stories hich the torthies had entertained the guard and other early risers pending the appearance of the co officer; and these were the stories that, in added horrors and eh kitchen to breakfast-rooan to make its appearance down-stairs Major Miller, a veteran on the frontier, had taken the measure of his informants in a very brief interview Aroused by the sumuard had first conducted these harbingers of woe, the -jacket and slippers, and cross-exa-roo decanter on his sideboard, and one of them ”allowed” he never felt so used up in his life; so the kind-hearted post coins of whiskey, refreshed by which they retold their tale Miller ”gave them the rein” for five minutes and then cross-questioned, as a result of which proceeding he soon dismissed them to the barracks and breakfast, and announced to Hatton and the adjutant that there would be no change in the orders,--he didn't believe one-fourth of their story The stage, he said, wasn't due at Eagle's Nest until four o'clock in the , and these men had declared it burned at three It was utterly i of the Chugwater, where it was due atbefore that time all the hands at the station had been warned, both by couriers and fugitives, that the Indians were swarraph-wire, of course, on striking the road, early in the afternoon, and it was i; but he illing to bet that the stage was safe, despite the assertions of the ranch shrieks of the victims The major's confidence, however, could not be shared by the dozen houses full of women and children whose closest protectors were far away on the fields where duty called them Laramie was filled hite, horror-stricken faces and anxious eyes, as the ladies flitted fro, and ”boomed” the panic-stricken ranchmen's story until it reached the proportions of a wholesale e of the fort by Red Cloud and all his band Women recalled the fearful scene at Fort Phil Kearney in 1866, when the same old chieftain, Mach-pe-a-lo-ta, surrounded with a thousand warriors the little detache of the tre wives and children at the post; and so by the time the story reached the doctor's kitchen it had assuedy

They were just gathering in the breakfast-roo, the doctor and Hol sat up so late and sars, but disposed to be jovial and youthful for all that Coffee was not on the table, and Robert failed to respond to the tinkling of the little silver bell Then sounds of woe and lamentation were heard in the rear, and the doctor impatiently strode to the door and shouted for his doh electrified and his eyes fairly starting fro from head to foot

”What's the matter, you rascal, and why do you not answer the bell?”

angrily demanded his master

But it was ”the Johnsons' Winnie” who responded She had doubtless been going the rounds, and was only waiting for another chance to h the kitchen, she precipitated herself into the breakfast-room ”Oh, Miss Nellie,” she sobbed, ”there's drefful news The Indians burned the stage with everybody in it, and they've shot Captain Terry and Mr McLean an' all the soldiers with 'e idiot!” shouted Dr Bayard ”Stop your fool stories, or I'll----”

”But it's God's truth, doctor It's God's truth,” protested Winnie, desperately deter's sensation ”Ask anybody Ask the sergeant of the guard Yo' can see the ht the news yo'self”

”Pardon me, doctor,” interrupted Mr Holmes, in calm, quiet tones

”This has been too much of a shock for Miss Bayard, I fear” And already he was by her side, holding a glass of water to her pallid lips The doctor pointed to the door

”Leave the room, you pestilence in petticoats!” he ordered ”Go!” And, having accoh balked of the full fruition of the promised enjoyment, Winnie flew to ”Bedlaht not be before her with the news Meantihter His first impulse was to reprove her for her ready credence of the story set afloat by so notorious a gabbler as the Johnsons' ”second girl” One glance at Elinor's pale features and drooping ed his disposition in a trice Anxiously he stepped to her side, and his practised hand was at her pulse before a word of question was uttered

Then he gently raised her head

”Look up, daughter! Why, irl, this will never do! I don't believe a word of this absurd story, and you must not let yourself be alarmed by such fanciful pictures Coet you to your room Will you kindly touch that bell, Holmes, and send Chloe to me? I'll rejoin you in a , half carrying, he guided her frorave and thoughtful face, stood gazing after them It was some time before the doctor reappeared, even after Chloe joined hi mistress When he did the breakfast was cold, and both et the true story to care whether they breakfasted or not Each took a s of coffee, then hastened forth

”That poor little girl of anization, and such a shock as that fool of a wench gave her thisis apt to upset her completely Now, she has no especial interest in any of Terry's party, and yet you ht suppose her own kith and kin had been scalped and tortured”

But Holmes would not reply

Meantiust, Celestine had already broached the tidings to the breakfast-table, and Mrs

Forrest had been borne half fainting to her rooan questioning the girl as to the sources of her infor this colloquy that Winnie took heart of grace and i up the steps into the hall-way to add her share to the general sensation It ith a feeling bordering on exultation that she found the local account to be lacking in several of theand dramatic particulars Celestine had not heard of the massacre of Captain Terry's coe to break the news to Miss Forrest Here, however, she overshot thelady looked determinedly incredulous, diser worthy of consideration, and, taking a light wrap from the hat-rack in the hall, tapped at Mrs Post's door

”Will you kindly look after Mrs Forrest a o to Major Miller's and investigate these stories They seem absurd”

And with that she sped swiftly around the parade, along the broad walk, and was quickly at the major's door and ushered into the parlor There were Dr Bayard and Mr Hol officer All three arose and greeted her with marked courtesy

”I am sorry that my wife is not here to welcome you, Miss Forrest,”

said the major, ”but with the exception of her and yourself the entire fe; the wohtened themselves out of their senses Have you come for Dr

Bayard? I hope Mrs Forrest has not collapsed, as Mrs Gordon has Mrs

Miller has gone to pull her out of a fit of hysterics”

”Mrs Forrest will need nothing more, I think, than an assurance that there is little truth in these stories”

”Upon roundless as--other sensational yarns that have come to my ears Two badly-scared ranch the fire, but the nurse-ration The Indians le's Nest, but I'll bet it wasn't the stage And as for Terry and McLean, we haven't a word of any kind from them That story is built out of wind”