Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-12-20

,lay. Graves left department head
quarters on the west-bound express,
his clerk, his valise full of funds nee
cssary for the payment of the battal-
ion, and he himself, all comfortably
ensconced in the Pullman car They
were due at Allxah at four a. IN. They
could retire early, have good nights
rest, and be called by the porter in
plenty of time to be up and dressed
and to enjoy camp breakfast with
their escort at the little station-a
mere siding with some cattle chutes
and pens-before starting on their
drive.
Standing where Constance had stood
on the summit of the high, precipitous
butte that lay southwest of the fort,
one could see the valley of the Mini
Ska stretching away to the eastward a
| distance of nearly fifty miles. Then
the stream seemed to bring up sudden
ly against line of bluffs that turned
it off the northeast, and this general
direction it followed another fifty
miles. The land was low and undulat-
ing along the left bank while on the
/ right, between the stream and the bold
line of bluffs to the south, there was
barely room for the railway Portable
here near the fort, the Mini Ska speed
/ lily dcepened and widened and became
1 sluggish in flow as it rolled out into
the lowlands after its tumbling rush
through the mountain chain at the
west. Every year since its establish
ment had cavalry column marched
away from Fort Ransom to straighten
out matters between the Sioux and the
settlers who were venturing too close
to the reservation. The first year or
two the trail led along the west bank,
hugg.ng the stream, but, as it was
found that this was the longer, hotter,
and dustier way, new route was de-
cided on, cutting across the big bend
aid winding along over the foothills
of the range, from which several
streams of clear, cool water came pour
iLg forth, speedily to become murky
and turbid on reaching the broad plain
below. The first days march lay al
most due east from Ransom and par
allel with the Mini Ska, the next veered
around toward the northeast, and
camp was always made at Bear Fork.
Not until the fourth camp at Painted
Lodge did the trail and the stream
again come together, and from that
point down to the disputed territory,
the pet raiding-ground of the restless
''young men," the two were never far
apart. West of Painted Lodge the
Sioux did not often venture, though
the broad bottom-land within this ell
bow of the Ska was fine grazing
ground.
The railway, coming up from the
southeast and over a high plateau,
dropped down to the valley by means
of long, winding ravine scooped out
for it by the Antelope, a little tributary
that joined the Mini Ska just at the
elbow, and here, at the point where
the rail and the river after running
parallel for eighty miles suddenly quit
the line shooting eastward.
the stream northeast--here stood
AllSali station. Cattlemen had built
low bridge over the stream at this point.
with the intention of making Allxali
the shipping station for their bceves,
and from this place sandy road ran
down the left bank to Painted Lodge
Butte and away to the agencies. Once
upon time mails were carried that
way. and stage ran twice a week be-
-ween Alkali and the reservation, but
when a rival railway sent a line across
he Missouri and tapped the lands of
he DalSotas far up to the northeast.
he agency freight, mail, and passen-
rers We're sent around that way, and
Al,sali became a deserted village.
There stood the old stagehoase, the
attic chutes, and the riclSety depot,
mt no trains stopped there now ex-
ept on signal, and the telegraph
instrument and operator had been
noved TO Minden, some twenty-five
allies farther west. Here, too, was
ridge over the Mini Ska and a cattle
hipping point. Here the ranchmen
Fho did not care to take the extra
gallop to Butteville
ad all their mail addressed. and
linden speedily assumed the mild
nd modest Importance which Allxali
ad lost
And it was at Minden, said Maj.
hett, that the paymaster was robbed
nat morning soon after dawn, and
'bbed by men in cavalry overcoats.
organ listened moment, simply
unned.
When did the news come in, sir?"
'ked he of the major.
Ten minutes ago, as soon as they
'uld repair the wires which were cut.
he sheriff is on his way out here
wv"
Where IL the paymaster?"
They're coming up on q freight
ON Minden this afternoon, he and
5 clerk"
Butt don't understand" said
organ; how on earth did he get to
lnden9 Why did he come so far west?
he escort was to meet him at Alkali,
| was told"
That's just what nobody under
lnds. and what he'll explain later,
esume."
An orderly hastily came from the d.