Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-11

7 hour, and then dropped off Que by one
/ 20 seek some place inside or outside the
house 10 sleep away the effects OF their
orgies.
! tired TO ascertain from Osierton
where he WINS bound TO and when he in-
tended to march, being DESTROYS OF giving
him and his men a wide berth. Tie
smiled furliyely aud replied IN lis
smooth almost musical voice " Really,
Captain, J am not quite sure yet. ] was
detailed 10y General Clifford 90 proceed
20 HarrismitA, ont 1 understand that
that has now been changed. and am
waiting here for orders. Where might
you be going ?"
thought it well to conceal my desti-
nation, and said:
"Oh In for the Bushman's river, at
Weston"
1.-The Bushman's river? Why the
mounted police are there They have
plenty of ammunition. / know. Major
Dar.ucl, their commandant, told me
So"
eyes. of course" / replied. "But
this ,hat have is intended for distsibu-
+ ton TO any detached post that may DO in
need Of it ; and Weston IS centrally stu
ated"
This conversation took place in the
vernda outside Of my room, il the
vicinity Of tho boxes MOndum coming
ont of the hotel ut the moment with a
pipe 80 his mouth, rce!ed 10 to where he
hctrl voices.
az hatsup?" he demanded. "Who
says wore % move ou2 Dcvilish IN
hhcly. with comfortable quarters and
five bob a day Tor doing nothing.
Ioe enough 10 30 the fighting when It
comes.
81 vote Tor staying here aud holding
the lager 4 lager adjacent to and
partly Joining the hotel had just been
completed hY tho noighboring farmers as
place Of ICtrea, should an attack be
mode
d" What 10 you say, Commandant :?
ne inquired, addressing OAertOn and
seating himself on the boxes.
d" Don't smoke over the ammunition,
said, tone doesn't know how 4 spark
might reach it,
"Lct it 90 off, then he answered
with en- ugly word, kicking at the pile
and disiodGiug one of the boxes, which
Tell TO tire ground.
Hullol" be cried, at iinglos like
coin. Let US lit It mp again"
This random shot made me hold my
breath for moment. Then I hurriedly
stepped forward and replaced it.
"lt wouldn't be bad idoa," said
Osicrton, "tO store this in the lager,
and thero We would have ii snug in case
Of q visit irom Dolulameni. ! henrd
he was seen at Ycidtman's Drift yester-
day.
IL couldn't allow it to leave my
charge. i returned. "untl il is handed
over TO the officer commanding at
Weston. Otherwise Should get into
trouble
"Oh, Wen hcye YOU Of all that. " he
cried. "IhIs is wartime, and clrcum-
stances alter cases"
The position Was getting q little en-
haraesiuH, 81 10 struck ma had better
ieli IN Vth bis hUmor Gul pretend 70
think it might be as vel 10 DO as he
suggested: merely observing that they
would not find il Of much use. as tho
cartridges were for Noliini-Henrys and
their arms seemed to he Snilers.
ooh. 1T il go What's the good OF
keeping 10 here said Nondrum. at
will only be in the way. We have plenty
for oar own fellows. Have you anything
to drink ?" me inquired, turning TO me
"lcs. I have couple of bottles o.
whisky ia the cart, and shall be glad il
yo1 will JOIN me 10 glass"
This OF. r Has met with a noisy Op-
prov4I; ami seating ourselves on the
stepOf the hotel we proceeded to discuss
the liquor After awhilc pretended to
fill asleep. and they, when both bottles
bad been finished, were soon snoring be-
Size me.
Irosc cautiously on oscertaing that ali
around were dep IN slnmber, and went
toward my room, very anxious as re-
Garlcd The action [ should take.
may here mention that tho money
was made mp at the bank in roulelus of
twenty sov.raig1s each and packed
tightly iu th4 boxes. But after the last
hsd been filled there remained over GnG .
above about eighty eovoreicns too Jew - .
Gli nn0ther box and too bulky TO I'D In
made up ln tho same manner as the
others So tucv were distributed loosely
over the top of tie last box and some .
sheets OF paper pressed heavily down
upon them 60 prevent any rolling about. +.
10 TINS circumstance ny thoughts re-
verted when MondrUm spoke Of the .
"UucIe Of coin {; for undoubtedly the .
same impression bad been conveyed TO .
my own mind when the box fell. 1t
would he eingular.y unfortunate if this
should be the identical box in which the .
loose money had been placed.
i also began 10 have doubts Of the
crafty cOmmaldant. l had noticed him .
eycmg me once or twice, and | might, /
unknown TO myself, have shown more .
anxiety than the occasion seemed to .
warrant
vas in much perplexity as 10 what .
course ! should pursue. could do no. .
thing openly against the desperadocs .
that surrounded Inc and il any idea .
davned upon them Of the real nature OF .
my charge nothing could save me. BIT .
/ was determined not to resign it with
ont a struggle.
Several plans were suggested to my
mind 1 thought OF quietly Harvesting
The mules aud driving back to PETER
taking my chance OF pur-
suit and waiting more favorable oppor-
unitv. But this idea, on reflection, /
abandoned, as it would he impossible to
get away unobserved, and my returning
without any obvious reasons would give
rise to comment.
1 never closed my eyes during the
night, aud just as the gray light Of dawn
began to appear | got mp and looked
around. Os;erton and Nondmm we're still
living whore | had left them. and r num-
Der Of others were scattered about the
steep.
At this moment ] heard q quiet step
pass the end Of the house near tho
ia.ger. and was a little startled to see the
dark face Of an italian named Marco
Dinclli, who had been employed as
clerk in the Office of the
Chief Paymasier. From that post lie
had been quietly dismissed on account