CHAPTER XX.

THE SURGEON’S MISSION.

When Detective Raymond had departed from headquarters with his two friends, the colonel turned to Surgeon Powell and Buffalo Bill, who had seen that from some cause the colonel was greatly moved.

“Sit down, Powell, you and Cody, for I wish to talk to you,” said the colonel. “I am very glad that you are here.”

They both obeyed, and the colonel lighted another cigar, and after smoking it for a couple of minutes, tossed it away.

“Tobacco always soothes me,” he said, by way of explanation. Then brightening up, he continued:

“Let me ask pardon for my delay, but the truth is I was both nonplused and pleased by the news brought by that gentleman, Raymond. He is a State detective, an officer of the law, and brought me this letter, which I will read to you.”

This the colonel did, the two listening most attentively:

“This,” he continued, “is a requisition from the Governor of Illinois for the prisoner, Silk Lasso Sam.”

This also was read, the surgeon and the scout making no comment. The colonel then continued:

“There seems to be in this a reflection upon my course in having at once tried this man by military court, which sentenced him to death upon the gallows. Out here on this border my word is law, and the outlaw has had a price set upon his head for breaking the laws of the land, for committing crimes untold, and he richly deserves his fate.

“The proof against him was perfect, and I sentenced him to death by hanging, at a certain date. Now, it must be that the general gave out my report to the papers, the man was recognized as an old offender, who had broken the laws of the State of Illinois, and the State has sought to gain possession of him, to try him by civil process.

“Now he may, or may not be hanged, according to the law known by his lawyer, or his brilliancy as an orator, for most cases hang on these two things. Of course, if acquitted, he will be back here soon after, again working the trails as a road-agent. If sent to prison he will be pardoned out by the next governor, who may be of his political creed, who hopes to gain a few votes thereby for his clemency, and, if hanged, then he saves us the trouble of swinging him up.

“Now, this is the point that pleases me, for, from certain reasons I cannot explain, I am very glad that I will not be the one to have to sign his death-warrant, or send him to the gallows. That is an honor I shall gladly yield to the Governor of Illinois.

“But, Surgeon Powell, you spoke last week of desiring to run to Chicago upon important business of your own, and I desire to say that I will make you the bearer of my despatch to the general, giving all the papers in the matter, which can be used against this man upon his trial there, and which will go far toward hanging him, a result most devoutly to be desired.”

“I thank you, Colonel Dunwoody, and I appreciate the honor.”

“You are to see the State’s attorney and place him in possession of all the facts of the case against this outlaw, and yet this is to remain a secret, as I do not wish to be thought to influence the case, though, of course, the just deserts of the man is hanging. You can therefore get ready to return with Detective Raymond and his prisoner, and be especially careful that he does not escape them, for he is no ordinary man and they may not be accustomed to the ways of this wild land.”

“I will endeavor to obey your orders in all things, Colonel Dunwoody.”

“I know that well, Doctor Powell. But say nothing of your going, only be ready to start on the coach with the prisoner and his guards.”

“I will, sir.”

After a few other words of instruction from Colonel Dunwoody, Surgeon Powell left headquarters accompanied by Buffalo Bill. The scout accompanied the doctor to his quarters, and there seemed to be something upon his mind. At last he said:

“Frank, did you see those papers?”

“What papers?”

“The letter from the general and the requisition of the governor?”

“Yes, I saw them.”

“I thought I noticed you reading them once.”

“I did. But why?”

“Were they regular?”

“Perfectly.”

“Seal, letter heading, and all?”

“Everything was regular, Bill. Why do you ask?”

“I do not know, unless being a scout detective makes me suspicious of everything nowadays.”

“Yes, and I feel the same way in many things.”

“Well, you are going along, so if there is anything wrong I will be glad to know that you will be on hand to thwart it.”

“What do you really suspect, Bill?”

“I don’t know, but I am as suspicious as a coyote.”

“Well, as you say, I will be along and will keep my eyes open, and I will go prepared for work. I am glad that you gave me a hint, for I was not at all suspicious in that quarter, I admit, and now I will be upon my guard.”

As the scout turned away to go to his quarters Frank Powell looked after him a moment and muttered:

“Yes, Bill, you have set me to thinking.”

The coming of the three detectives, with an intimation that a mistake had been made, and with a requisition for the prisoner from the Governor of Illinois spread quickly around the fort.

It ran like wildfire through the officers’ quarters, the barracks, and the settlement. Rumors of all kinds were flying about, that Colonel Dunwoody had overstepped his authority in trying the outlaw chief and his men by military court, and that he would meet with a strong reprimand if not something more severe.

The prisoner, rumor had it, was a convict, escaped from the State’s Prison of Illinois, and if he had been executed much valuable information which he possessed would have been forever lost.

It was said that he was to be saved by turning State’s evidence, and the Governor of Illinois had raised such a rumpus about the trial of the prisoner by the military, no matter what his crimes on the border might have been, that the secretary of war had hastily taken action in the matter and demanded that the outlaw be given up.

These and innumerable other rumors were flying about, and it was not long before the prisoner heard the news.

Colonel Dunwoody, knowing the facts of the case, was serene as to the result, and was more than glad to give the prisoner up.

“I could never win that lovely girl by offering her the hand in marriage which had signed the death-sentence of her brother, for whom her love is almost idolatrous,” he said to himself.

Then, as he had heard the various rumors afloat, he mused with a smile:

“How little it takes to start a lie upon its rounds. A letter from the general and this requisition from the Governor of Illinois, was all there was to cause a hundred idle tales to be set afloat. Well, I shall be glad when the prisoner is off my hands, and I trust he will be hanged---- Well, orderly?”

“The prisoner, sir, Silk Lasso Sam, requests an interview with you, colonel.”

“Indeed? I suppose he has already been posted as to what is going on. It is as hard to keep a State secret as it is to find out a woman’s exact age. Say that I will come to his cabin, orderly.”

The orderly disappeared and soon after Colonel Dunwoody started for the prison of the outlaw. He passed Nina de Sutro on the way, and said:

“You look pale, Miss Nina, and I was sorry to hear of your indisposition.”

“It was of little consequence, colonel; but may I ask you if it is true that this outlaw is to be surrendered to the State of Illinois?”

“It is true, Miss Nina.”

“When does he go?”

“On the next coach day.”

“Then he will escape death?”

“Here, at least, though, perhaps, he may be hanged by civil process of law.”

“I thank you, sir,” and Nina passed on, while there flashed through her mind great joy at being relieved of having to carry out the bold plan she had formed for the rescue of the man.

“I think they will hang him in Illinois, and he will hardly expect me to rescue him from the civil authorities. But I shall never feel at rest until his neck is stretched. I hope that he will attempt to escape on the way, and be shot by the guards.”

The colonel, meanwhile, met, as he strolled along the bluffs, Clarice Carr. He stopped for a moment’s talk with her, and waited, supposing she would ask him, also, about the prisoner. But she did not.

“Where is your curiosity, Miss Clarice?” he asked, with a smile.

“I have no idle curiosity, colonel.”

“This is remarkable, for when I went to the adjutant’s this morning I met seven ladies, all of whom asked me about this prisoner, Silk Lasso Sam. On my way back a dozen were lying in ambush for me, and I had to tell the story over again. Just now I was waylaid by Miss De Sutro, and she questioned me like a Philadelphia lawyer, and now you have no questions to ask.”

“I have not, sir, for I am not in command of Pioneer Post.”

“Well, I do not know whether you are or not, for you command about two-thirds of the officers,” was the gallant reply.

“Yet I am under orders myself, colonel.”

“And obey, I have noticed; but let me tell you that I am more than glad to have this man Arden taken out of my keeping, for I did not relish having to order him hanged.”

“I am glad, too, sir, on his sister’s account; but I trust that he will not be allowed to go free through some trick of the law, for, though I do not believe in capital punishment, still such a man should be imprisoned for life, I think.”

“And I agree with you, though if hanging is justifiable he richly deserves such a fate. I am now going to see him, and I will drop in and see you on my way back,” and the colonel passed on his way.

The prisoner arose as Colonel Dunwoody entered the cabin and bowed courteously.

“Pardon me, sir, but you see that I cannot be hospitable even in my own house,” he said, with a sad smile.

“Resume your seat, Arden, and tell me why you desired this interview?”

“I have heard, sir, that a requisition has been sent to you for my body, by the Governor of Illinois. May I ask if it is true, Colonel Dunwoody?”

“It is, sir.”

“There is, then, a conflict of authority, it would seem, between the military and the civil authorities regarding me?”

“Well, no, only there were crimes alleged to have been committed by you in the State of Illinois, which the governor wishes to try you for. My authority is here, for your crimes committed upon the border, but this requisition takes precedence in that you are said to be an escaped convict and your crimes were committed against the State of Illinois prior to your lawless deeds on this frontier. That is all there is in it, Mr. Arden.”

“I thank you, sir; but is there no possibility that I can be kept here for my execution and not be sent back to Illinois?”

“I can see none.”

“You could not assume the responsibility of detaining me?”

“I could not, and, to be frank with you, Mr. Arden, I am more than glad that my hands will be clear of your execution.”

“Yet you offered a reward for my body, dead or alive?”

“Very true in the discharge of my duty, and were you my own brother I would have you hanged upon the day set. You are now to go out of my charge, and I am glad of it.”

“You do not appear to be revengeful, Colonel Dunwoody?”

“I am not, I hope, for it is a feeling one should be above allowing a place in his heart, from my standpoint.”

“May I ask your particular reason for being glad to send me to Illinois?”

“I wish for the misery and misfortune of no man. You richly deserve your fate, and, as the laws of our land punish by hanging the crimes of which you have been proven guilty, I sincerely hope that you will not escape punishment, and yet it would be better to give you a life sentence to my mind, as something far more severe to bear than hanging.”

“And you will not strain a point and keep me here, sir?”

“No, and why do you dread to go to Illinois?”

“I shall be taken there to be hanged, sir.”

“And remaining here you will be much more quickly hanged.”

“Still, I would prefer to remain here, sir, than to trust myself to the mercy of an Illinois court.”

“They can do no more against you than I have done, Mr. Arden--condemn you to death.”

“There is another thing I wish to speak to you about, Colonel Dunwoody.”

“Well, sir?”

“My sister.”

“Ah!”

“I wish to talk to you, sir, of Ruth.”

“I am wholly at your service, Mr. Arden, and am glad that you spoke of your sister.”

“You were kind to her when she was here, sir, and she appreciated it, as I also do. But I wish to disarm in your mind, Colonel Dunwoody, any thought that Ruth is in any way connected with my evil life.”

“My dear, sir, I would no more connect that pure, angelic girl with such a devil as you have proven yourself to be than I would compare darkness and sunlight,” said the colonel, suddenly losing his urbane manner and becoming vehement. The prisoner smiled and said:

“I agree with you perfectly, sir; Ruth and I are as different as light and darkness. But I wished to say that I was well born, my name being a proud and honored one until I disgraced it, and my parents dying left their fortune to my sister, for I was disinherited by my father, and very justly so.

“Ruth devoted her life to my reformation and failed, and the noble girl will mourn deeply the fate which I must some day suffer. She is her own mistress, possesses a large fortune, and yet I would feel that she has one who would kindly look after her when I am gone, and I am going to ask you to let me give you the address of our old home, where a letter sent will reach her, and beg that you will at least keep the cold and cruel world from making her suffer too deeply upon my account, if it is within your power to do so.”

“Mr. Arden, I will tell you that it will be my greatest pleasure to do as you request, for when she was here I took a deep interest in your sister, and formed a friendship for her which will be lasting and sincere. I regret keenly your misfortunes, sir, and wish that I could help you, but it is not in my power to do so. The detectives sent by the governor are here for you, and they will take you with them the day after to-morrow. Good-by, Mr. Arden, and may Heaven have mercy upon you.”

With this the colonel turned away, and the prisoner was alone once more.