et for nearly an hour she stood alone in her conviction. Her husband
quickly cautioned silence, and, going forth, gave instructions to the
couriers that sent them speeding for the Rawlins road. But at seven
o'clock Mrs. Hay herself appeared and asked to see the general, who was
taking at the moment his accustomed bracer, tonic and stimulant,--the
only kind he was ever known to use--a cold bath. So it was to Mrs. Dade,
in all apparent frankness and sincerity, the trader's wife began her
tale.

Everyone at Frayne well knew that her anxiety as to the outcome of the
battle on the Elk had well nigh equalled that of the wives and
sweethearts within the garrison. While her niece, after the first day's
excitement, kept to her room, the aunt went flitting from house to
house, full of sympathy and suggestion, but obviously more deeply
concerned than they had ever seen her. Now, she seemed worried beyond
words at thought of her husband's having to go at just this time. It was
mainly on Nanette's account, she said. Only last night, with the mail
from Laramie, had come a letter posted in San Francisco the week before,
telling Miss Flower that her dearest friend and roommate for four years
at school, who had been on an extended bridal tour, would pass through
Rawlins, eastward bound, on Friday's train, and begging Nanette to meet
her and go as far at least as Cheyenne. Her husband, it seems, had been
hurriedly recalled to New York, and there was no help for it. Nanette
had expected to join her, and go all the way East in late October or
early November; had given her promise, in fact, for she was vastly
excited by the news, and despite headache and lassitude that had
oppressed her for two days past, she declared she must go, and Uncle
Will must take her. So, with only a small trunk, hastily packed, of her
belongings, and an iron-bound chest of the trader's, the two had started
before dawn in Uncle Bill's stout buckboard, behind his famous four mule
team, with Pete to drive, and two sturdy ranchmen as outriders, hoping
to reach the Medicine Bow by late afternoon, and rest at Brenner's
Ranch.

Confidentially, Mrs. Hay told Mrs. Dade that her husband was glad of the
excuse to take the route up the Platte instead of the old, rough trail
southeastward over the mountains to Rock Creek, for he had a large sum
in currency to get to the bank, and there were desperados along the
mountain route who well knew he would have to send that money in,