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The young infantryman who had been detailed for the iraph operator, sat in the Cheyenne office, his feet on the rude

table his face buried behind a newspaper He had passed through two

eventful weeks of unreht and

day, and now, the final despatches forwarded, he felt entitled to enjoy

a period of well-earned repose

"Could you inforovernment

scout?"

The voice had the un of military authority, and the

soldier operator instinctively dropped his feet to the floor

"Well, rapher's momentary hesitation vanished; his ambition to become

a martyr to the strict laws of service secrecy was not sufficiently

strong to cause him to take the doubtful chances of a lie "He was

here, but has gone"

"Where?"

"The devil knows He rode north, carrying despatches for Custer"

"When?"

"Oh, three or four hours ago"

Hampton swore softly but fervently, behind his clinched teeth