The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-02-28


10 miles out Of town, and before any
one could draw derringer every man
Of us was covered. The judge might
have known they'd shoot him on sight
ever since that greaser from Hermosillo
was lynched. But they never harmed
the quartermaster.
Huh! The devil they didn 't!'
laughed the lieutenant. They took
his watch and his money and every
thing he had on except his undercloth-
ing. How long had you been driving
when that happened?'
"Just eight months, sir, between
Tucson and Grant. y
"And did you never serve with the
cavalry before? You ride as though
you had. .
Most men hereabouts served on one
side or other, said Bland calmly, as
his horse finished his long pull at the
water.
And your side was''-
Confederate, was the brief reply.
IT was born in Texas. Here comes the
troop, sir. -
"Come on, then. l want to ask you
about that trail to Crittenden as we
ride. We make first for the Picacho
pass from here.
"Why, that's south of west, sir, an
swered Bland. st had thought perhaps
The lieutenant would want to go north
ward toward the Gila to head off any
parties Of the Apaches that might be
striving to get away eastward with
their booty. They must have picked
up something over at the Bend
They're more likely to go south
ward, Bland, for they know where
we've been scouting all the week. No,
I'll march straight to the signal. There
they must know where the Indians
have gone. .
Aye, aye, sir, but then you can only
pursue, and stern chase is long
one.
Drummond turned in his saddle as
they rode forth upon the dark falda and
gazed long nd fxed]y at the trooper by
his side. Imperturbably Bland con-
tinued to look straight ahead. Queer
stories had been aioat regarding this
new acquisition. He mingled but lit
tie with the men. He affected rather
the society of the better class of nom
commissioned officers. an ofense not
likely to be condoned in recruit. He
was already distinguished for his easy
mastery of every detail Of cavalry
mans duty, and for his readiness to go
at any or all times on scout, escort OF
patrol, and the more hazardous or lonely
the task the better he seemed to like it.
Then he was helpful about the Offices
in g.rrison, wrote neat hand, was Of
ten pressed into service to aid with the
auartermaster or commissary' papers,
and had been offered permanent daily
duty as company clerk, but begged off,
saying he loved a horse and cavalry
work too well to be immured in an Office.
He was silence and reticence itself on
matters affecting other people, but the
soul of franlness apparently where
he was personally concerned. Any
body was welcome to know his past, he
said. He was raised in Texas; had
lived for years oD the frontier; had
been through Arizona with bull team
in the fifties. and had listed under the
banner of the Lone Star when Texas
went the way Of all the sisterhood OF
southern not border) states, and then,
being stranded after the war, had 'Sbull
whacked'' again through New Mexico;
had drifted again across the Mimbres
and down to the old Spanish-Mexican
town of Tucson; had tried prospecting,
mail riding, blackboard driving, gam
bling; had been one Of the sheriff posse
that cleaned out Sonora Bills little
band of thugs and cutthroats and had
expressed entire willingness to oficiate
as that lively outlaws executioner In
case of his capture.
He had twice been robbed while driv-
ing the stage across the divide and had
been left for dead in the Maricopa
range, an episode which he said was
tie primal cause Of his dissipations
later. Finally, after summary dis
charge he had come to the adjutant at
Camp Lowell, presented two or three
certificates Of good character and BRAY
cry in the field from officers who bore
famous names in the southern army,
and the regimental recruiting officer
thought he could put up with an occa-
sional drunk in man who promised to
make as good a trooper under the stars
and stripes as he had made under the
stars and bars. And so he was enlisted,
and to the surprise of everybody hadn' t
taken drop since.
Now this, said the rank and file, was
proof positive of something radically
wrong, either in his disposition or his
record. 1t was entirely comprehensive
and fully in accordance with hum; :
nature and the merits of the case that a
man should quit drinking when be quit
the army, but that man with the blot
of an occasional spree on his escutcheon
should enlist for any other cause than
sheer desperation and shonld then be-
come teetotaler was nothing short of