Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-10-02

outside. ~NeSA ISAlidl1
co,,I, as an unexpected rebuff and al r
5oi urge would not make bar H.. - :
~ - 90 with many misgivinos 7 riIoa
.rie BOXES III front of a little t,,,,at Plieu
Gnu VI me veranda that had been a1lo4+e y
10 me as a sleeping place - O'en aiio00ed
oahd OF volunteers. or what x,.--
po4solS would be inclined to call b..,ast.9J
- - up tnelr revels to a late hour ana 49,
uioPped on, one by one, to seek sor,1a 49,, To-
Ut outside the house to slear a,,,ol, ~
effects of their orgie. p away Cne
Irled to ascertain from Osia,+o,,
NC was bound to and when he into-,da - - =
-lit'ic en- Delng DESTROYS of giving him a9d ~
men wide berth. He replied fnr+iva1,- ~
replied In his smooth, almost nnsioaI y-, anu
really, captain. am not onita s,,ra ~ e-oo
was detailed by Gen Clifford to r1roo,es
Harrlsmith; but | understand thai 49, ~ "
f.. o 80 changed, and am waiting here
tI uls' " mere might you be goinggn
and said: my ueS'liialion,
Weston river at
The Bushman's rivera Why the mounted
ponce are there! They have plenty of am
iiiuiltlon, know Maj Dartnell their com
mandant, told me 500
es, OF course, replied. 'tBut this that
! nave Is intended for distribution to anv de-
Incheo posts that may be in need of if. and
"eSUon Is centrally situated.n
ms conversation took place in the vara,,ra
outside my room, in the vicinity of +bo
boxes Mondrum coming out of the hotel at
the moment with pipe in his mouth. reeled
up to where he heard the voices
"hst's upf' he demanded ssNbo s,,-u
were to move on: Devilish unlikely prith
comfortable quarters and five bob a dav fo,
DONG nothing. Time enough to do the fobt-
ing when it comes.
vote Tor staying here and holding the
lager" A lager adjacent to and ioinino
the hotel had just been completed nv me
nelghboring farmers as place of retreat
should an a$tack be made. ''What do vo,,
say commandant" he inquired. ADDRESSING
Oslerton, and seating himself on the hoxas
Doht smoke over the ammunition. - T
SAID. lone doesn't know how a spark MIGHT
reach it." ~
Let IL go Off, Them" he answered with an
ugly word, kicking at the pile and dislodging
one OF the boxes, which fell to the ground
Hullo!" he cried. st jingIes like coin.
Let US lift it up again.
Inns random SHOT made me hold nv breath
Tor moment. Then l hurriedly stepped for
ward and replaced it,
1t wouldn't be bad idea" said Osierton.
TO store this in the lager, and there we
would have it snug, in case of a visit from
Dabulamanzl. hear he was seen at Veldt
mans Drift yesterday"
II couldn't allow it to leave my charge -
returned, until it is handed over to the
officer commanding at Weston. Otherwise
should get into trouble"
"Oh, we'll relieve you of all that. y he cried
This Is war time and circumstances alter
cases.
The position was getting little embarrass-
ing, so it struck me had better fall in with
his humor, and pretend to think it might be
as well to do as he suggested, merely observ-
ing that they wouldn't find it of much use, as
the cartridges were for Martini Henrvs. and
their arms appeared to be Snider's.
"Oh, let it go! What's the good of keeping
it here" said Mondrum. sit will only be in
the way. We have plenty for our own fell
lows. Have you anything to drinkl' he in
quired, turning to me.
YES; have a couple of bottles of whisky
in the cart, and shall be glad if you will Join
me in a glass"
This offer was met with noisy approval.
and, seating ourselves on the steps of the ho-
tel, we proceeded to discuss the liquor. After
a while pretended to fall asleep, and they,
when both bottles had been finished, were
soon snoring beside me.
L rose cautiously on ascertaining that all
around were deep in slumber and went
toward m j
the action l should take.
may here mention that the money was
made up at the bank in rouleaus of twenty
sovereigns each, and packed tightly in the
boxes. But after the last had been filled,
there remained over and above about eighty
sovereigns; too few to fill another box. and
too bulky to fit in made up in the same
manner as the others. So they were distrib-
uted loosely over the top of the last box, and
some sheets OF paper pressed heavily down
upon them to prevent any rolling about. To
this circumstance my thoughts reverted when
Mondrum spoke of the Jingle of coin;" for
undoubtedly the same impression has been
conveyed to my own mind when the box fell.
1t would be singularly unfortunate if this
should be the identical box in which the loose
money had been placed.
| also began to have doubts of the crafty
commandment, l had noticed him eyeing me
once or twice, and l might unknown to
myself, have shown more anxiety than the
occasion seemed to warrant.
l was in much perplexity as to what course
l should pursue. could do nothing openly
against the gang of desperadoes that sur
rounded me; and If any idea dawned upon
them OF the real nature of my charge, moth
not to resign it without a struggle.
Several plans suggested themselves to my
mind l thought of quietly Harvesting the
mules and driving back to PieteJuaritzburg,
taking my chance of pursuit, ami waiting a
more favorable opportunity. But this idea
on reflection, abandoned, as it would be
impossible to get away unObserved, and my
returning without any obvious reason would
give rise to comment.
| never closed my eyes during the pight,
and just as the gray light of dawn began to
appear, got up and looked round. Osierton
and Mondrum were still lying where had
left them, and number of others were scat
tered about the steps.
At this moment l heard a quiet step pass
the end of the house near the lager and was
a little startled to see the dark face of an
Italian named Marco Dinelli, who had been
employed as a temporary clerk in the office
of the chief p stmaster. From that post he
had been quietly dismissed on account of a
doubtful transaction in reference to a money
order sent to a soldier who was a patient in
hospital: which order was cashed by Dinelli,
after the mans death.
The deceased soldiers signature was sus-
pected of being a forgery. The Italian
avcrrcd, however, that he had advanced the
amount of the order to the man.
The ex-clerk knew a good deal about the
nav Office, and the object of my journey
might by some means have leaked out, SO
was not without apprehension on this score
He advanced and saluted me respectfully.
Gwen, Dinelli," l said, what are you do
ing heref'