CHAPTER XXIII.

THE COLONEL RECEIVES A LETTER.

Toward sunset of the day the troop and scouts started to follow Buffalo Bill upon the outlaws’ trail, a horseman was seen coming rapidly toward the fort.

He was coming along the trail from the post nearest above, where there was a more direct and frequent communication than from Pioneer Post with the East. It was soon seen that he was a military courier, and his coming was watched with great interest.

The news brought by Buffalo Bill had fallen like a thunderbolt upon those in the fort. The colonel was more impressed by it than he cared to reveal.

He naturally supposed that the outlaw chief had escaped, and what the fate of Surgeon Powell was no one could tell.

That his body had not been found was hopeful that he had not been killed.

The fate of the other two detectives was uncertain. What it all meant could only be surmised.

The colonel could not find it in his heart to connect Ruth Arden, as he knew her, with this tragic escape of her brother. It did not seem like the woman he had met to plan an escape where death must ensue; the innocent fall to save the wicked outlaw chief.

In the fort there was a diversity of opinion, and all were very freely expressed. Clarice Carr did not know what to believe, while Nina de Sutro, after thinking the matter over, said to herself:

“That is the work of that girl and no one else. She was determined that her brother should not hang, and she plotted to have him rescued at all costs. In some way she learned of his intended removal from the fort, and so she planned accordingly, and plotted well.

“If so, she has put herself in a very unfortunate position, for she can be looked upon as an accessory. Oh, that in the mâlée Arden had been killed! How rejoiced would I be, for then his tongue would be forever silenced. What a fool I was to allow him to bluff me as he did.

“He certainly frightened me terribly by stating that I could show no marriage-certificate. Neither can I, but I know the priest that married us; I know the church well, and I saw it put upon the register. He thought that I had forgotten, and so forced me to vow to rescue him.

“Well, he has escaped, and I only hope that he will soon be shot, for then will I be free, and a widow. It is useless for me ever to dream of love with Colonel Dunwoody now, for I know that he suspects me. I cannot, I dare not tell him the truth, and, doing what I did, impersonating Clarice Carr, I cannot make him understand unless I confess all to him.

“No, I must go on as best I can and try and wipe out that mistake of mine from his memory. I shall make an effort now to win Caruth, and, failing there, I will turn to Lieutenant Turpin, for he is by no means bad, and he has prospects of promotion as well as money. I would like to know what news that courier brings, for I will be anxious until Buffalo Bill again returns to the fort.”

So mused the woman, and with her beauty, wit, cleverness, and money, it was very certain, if she could bury Silk Lasso Sam, the world yet had charms for her which she would make the most of.

The courier, meanwhile, had reached headquarters, and, dismounting, had delivered his leather satchel to Colonel Dunwoody.

He had come from the upper fort, also under the command of Colonel Dunwoody, and the officer in charge there had sent him through as a special, as an important paper had come there, addressed to Pioneer Post.

The colonel saw two letters, one an official document and so marked and sealed, the other a personal communication. Both came from Chicago, the army headquarters.

The official letter was first opened and was only some special orders, and a sanction of the act of Colonel Dunwoody in having Silk Lasso Sam and his men so promptly tried and sentenced.

This was a satisfaction to him, and then he turned to his letter. It was a personal one from the general, and read as follows:

“MY DEAR DUNWOODY: If you resist falling in love with that beautiful girl to whom I gave a letter to you, then you are indeed destined never to be a benedick.

“I am sorry you can do no more for her than to allow her to see that villain of a brother, who certainly deserves hanging, and I suppose will be promptly executed on the day set, as he should be.

“The young lady did ask me something about the possibility of her having the civil law take the man from the military, but I have heard no more of it, so suppose she made no attempt to do so.

“You have shown nerve and determination in your dealing with those border ruffians, and I uphold you in it.”

The letter then spoke of other matters, and having read it to the end Colonel Dunwoody hastily sent for Lieutenant-Colonel De Sutro and Major Lester.

When the officers arrived at headquarters they found the commandant pacing the floor with a look as though very much annoyed.

“Gentlemen, I received by courier this evening a despatch from the military headquarters and a letter, and they perplex me, so I wish you would kindly look over those papers, brought by Detective Raymond some days since, and see how you regard them?”

Colonel De Sutro at once took the letter from headquarters explaining the situation regarding the prisoner, Silk Lasso Sam. He read it through carefully and handed it to Major Lester, who did the same.

“Do you see anything irregular in that, gentlemen?”

“I do not, sir.”

“Nor do I.”

“Read this now, please.”

The requisition of the Governor of Illinois, for the delivery to his authorized agent, Detective Henry Raymond, was then read by both officers.

“Now give me your opinion of that, please, gentlemen.”

“There is but one opinion to give, sir.”

“So I say,” added Major Lester.

“Now, gentlemen, a courier just brought this official paper, and I have received with it a personal letter from the general. Please do me the kindness to read the official document, and I will read to you extracts from the general’s letter.”

This was done, and then the two junior officers sat gazing at their senior.

“What does it mean?” asked Colonel Dunwoody.

“I can see but one meaning to it,” the major said.

“And that meaning, major?”

“Is that the general was in ignorance of the governor’s requisition or----”

“But he could not be, when his other communication orders me to give up the prisoner.”

“That is so, sir. And, as Texas Jack always says, I pass.”

“So do I,” the lieutenant-colonel said, with a smile.

“Now this last letter and despatch from the general is dated ten days after the former one and the requisition, so I can see but one thing to be said of the first received, and that is that they are forgeries.”

“But that cannot be, colonel, for see the real and official letter-heads, and the writing,” the major said.

“The letter-heads have been stolen, as also the use of the seal, while the handwriting of the adjutant-general has been copied. I tell you, gentlemen, some very clever head and hand have been at work here for the rescue of that prisoner, and it was accomplished, too, for those men were no more detectives than you are.”

The colonel paced to and fro, deeply moved, and the two officers with him evidently began to see the situation as he did, for Colonel De Sutro remarked:

“It is true that it could be done, Colonel Dunwoody, and we read about such escapes in novels, but it can hardly be possible.”

“It is possible and has been done, gentlemen, I now feel certain of that. But, keep the matter quiet, please, and I will at once send a special courier with a letter to the general and these forged papers, stating just what has occurred.”

“It would be best to do so, sir.”

“Yes, Lester, all that I can do. I will also send another courier after Caruth with a letter giving these facts, so that he can advise Buffalo Bill, and they will not be acting in the dark. It is a bold, clever game that has been played, and I fear it was too well planned to be any doubt as to the escape of that daring outlaw, Silk Lasso Sam.”

“Do you think, sir, that he was in the secret?”

“Yes, or it could never have been carried out to such a successful termination.”

“Then the lady who was here as his sister must have been the fair plotter.”

“Yes, Colonel De Sutro, she and no one else; but, I cannot believe that it was intended by her that a life should be taken in this escape. That is why I say it was so cleverly planned, in Chicago, not here, and money obtained those letter-heads, the use of the State seal, and the forgery of those papers.”

“She is a very remarkable woman, Colonel Dunwoody.”

“Yes, Lester, she is; but humane as well as clever and daring. She has planned, too, that her brother should make no mistake in escaping, and so I am sure that Buffalo Bill and those he guides are following a blind trail.”

“Where is the woman now, sir?”

“The lady, Colonel De Sutro, for she is such and cannot be censured for saving her brother, has gone East, I believe. At least, such was her intention.”

“And Miss Carr does not know her address, major?” asked Colonel De Sutro, who was always envious of Clarice Carr’s receiving more attention than Nina, and was willing to give a little dig at the major, in return for the colonel’s rebuke to him for calling Ruth Arden a woman.

“Miss Arden has promised to write to Miss Carr, Colonel De Sutro, yet has not done so thus far. With Colonel Dunwoody, I am not one to cast the slightest censure upon her for wishing to save her wicked brother from the gallows, and I admire her pluck, but only hope Powell has not been a sufferer by it.”

“I most sincerely echo your hope, Lester, that Powell has come to no harm by this escape,” said Colonel Dunwoody, and Colonel De Sutro expressed the same wish.

After some further conversation upon the subject it was decided that the letter should be at once written and despatched by courier, in order to get a response from the general as soon as possible.

Then, while Colonel Dunwoody was writing the letter it occurred to Major Lester to volunteer himself to go on after Captain Caruth’s command, and explain the situation to that officer and to Buffalo Bill.

When he mentioned to the general his determination, his services were gladly accepted, and he at once repaired to his quarters to make preparations for the night ride, and an order was sent for an escort of a sergeant and eight troopers, with a scout as guide.

The courier was despatched with the letter to the general, to be taken to a point on the Overland Trail where there was a tri-weekly mail going East, and a scout was the bearer, a man thoroughly acquainted with the country so that he could make the best time possible.

Soon after Major Lester and his escort rode out of the fort, and at a trot started upon the trail. They went prepared to push on by night, for several lanterns had been taken along, and these were put into requisition upon reaching Deep Dell Brook.

The trail was thus readily followed from there, and just at sunrise the party came to the camp of the troop ahead, which had been deserted a couple of hours before.

A halt was made of an hour for rest and breakfast, and then they pushed on again.

The scout with the escort was a good one, and he followed the trail readily, gaining here and there by cutting across country, from his knowledge of which way the trail must lead. In this way, by noon, several miles had been made, and Major Lester felt cheered with the hope of closing up with the party ahead before nightfall.

A long rest was taken at noon, for both men and horses needed it, and then the trail was resumed once more.

When the sun was nearing the horizon the scout descried ahead a camp-fire. He at once halted and reported it, and soon after the escort rode into the camp of Captain Caruth’s troop.

“Well, Lester, what on earth brings you here?” cried Captain Caruth. “Has aught gone wrong at the fort?”

“Come aside and I will tell you. Where is Buffalo Bill?”

“Asleep yonder at my camp.”

“We will go there, then.”

“Your manner indicates that something is wrong.”

“There is. Have you made any discovery?”

“Buffalo Bill has.”

“What?”

“Well, he was on ahead, and we came upon him here. He has been going all the time, and at last even his iron frame had to acknowledge fatigue, and he halted here, while his scouts have gone off on the seven different trails that lead from yonder valley in as many different directions. Ho, Cody, here is Major Lester, and he has news for us.”

Buffalo Bill was asleep upon his blanket, but sprang to his feet in an instant and said:

“Glad to see you, major. Hope nothing has gone wrong at the fort to bring you after us, sir.”

“There is something very wrong, Bill, as you shall know, for I wish to tell the major and yourself at once.”

Then the major went on to tell the captain and the scout of the letters brought by the courier, and just what the general had done.

Buffalo Bill gave a low whistle, and the captain laughed.

“Well, Bill, what do you think of it?” asked Captain Caruth.

“I think that Miss Arden is a dandy, sir, for it’s her work, sure as can be.”

“You are right, she did the work, and she is a dandy. She has outwitted a fort full of soldiers, from colonel down, and she has serenely gone her way beyond harm herself,” said Captain Caruth.

“Yes, it is the belief of the colonel also that Miss Arden did the planning, and from what I know of her she is capable of it,” Major Lester said.

“But where is she now?” the captain asked.

“Ask the winds, Caruth,” said the major, and then he added:

“And, Bill, where is Silk Lasso Sam?”

“I surrender, sir.”

“Explain, please.”

“Well, sir, I followed the trail to the point down the valley there, and from the creek it divided into just seven trails.”

“All going the same way?”

“No, sir, going off like the fingers from your hand. I followed one, then the other, and then gave it up and waited for the coming of Captain Caruth and my scouts. I sent two men off on each trail, for I borrowed a soldier or two from Captain Caruth, and I turned in to rest, sir.”

“Then you delay here until you get the reports from your scouts?”

“Yes, sir.”

“That is all that I can see to do, Lester.”

“Yes, Caruth, you can do nothing else but wait,” was the major’s reply.