The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1894-12-27

time he had expected to return 10 pay
the infantry at the fort and then 20 on
to the outlying posts TO the northwest.
by eyeninr. too, Rhett had received
Geographic orders to hold his little
battalion Of foot in readiness TO take
train TO Pawncc and thence march
across the range TO the lower Mini Ska.
Although exaggerated, the reports OF
rapine and murder were only too true.
The Sioux were indeed at their dcvilish
work. In the subdued hustle OF prep
nration the paymastcr'5 excitement
md distress of mind created less gym
pathy than would ordinarily have been
the ease. Eagerly he was showing his
dispatch to officer after officer. and
asking whether anyone would not have
acted Just as he did under the circum-
stances and on receipt of 80 genuine a
message. and gentlemen who under
other circumstances would unhCsitat-
ingly hare said yes were now
disposed to be bit conserva-
tive. to look judicial and suggest
inquiries. Wouldn't it have been bet.
ter 10 stop the train ut AllSali and sec
if the report were true? The bridge
was only half milc from the station,
and somebody would have been cure to
know. These are times when every
body's backsight is so much better
than his foresight. Everybody could
see with half an eye that had the pay
master caused the conductor to stop
the train at Alllali some of the escort
would have been on the platform to
meet him, and they would have told
him that there was nothing in the
world the matter with the bridge, that
the whole thing was plant. But
Graves pointed out that he didn't own
the road and )uldn't make the train
stop unless he meant to get off, which
he didn't. Lieut.. Edwards had wired
him To come on to Mindcn. Everybody
knew Edwards He had escorted
Graves on the winter trip to the Black
Hills cantonment. 1t was most nat
ural Edwards should have been Sc
lected to escort him this time. He was
with the battalion. first lieutenant of
Capt. Frank Amory's troop. True. as
turned out. Edwards had not
been sent at all. Old Sergt. Daily,
with eight troopers, was considered
amply sufficient. Of course it was
plant. a most successful plant, and
more than likely. said the paymas-
ter. somebody closely connected
with the cavalry had engineered
the whole scheme. Everybody knew
there were some very shady characters
among the men enlistiDg during the
year. Everybody knew
what train would fetch him out from de-
partmcnt headquarters. The plottcrs
would not wire in time TO admit Of his
last moment. then. dressed and
equipped rs the cavalry were dressed
and equipped. they had sent two of
their number in to Minden station
with a dispatch signed by an officer
whom they reported mile or two be-
hind. coming up with the wagon and
main body. Everything looked straight
to the operator, and SO it was sent to
Pawncc and there handed TO the Pull
man porter. What could have been
more complete? The troopers who met
him at the platform addressed him
confidently and respectfully, saluting
exactly like old soldiers. or course. he
hadn't personal acquaintance with
the entire regiment, but this he would
iay and did say, that he believed Mr..
Lacy. his clerk, was willing to swear
hat the two men who met him ut
Nindcn were bona ide members of the
Eleventh cavalry; Mr.. Lacy had seen
.hcm before, and could identify them
( hc were to see them again. The
'heriff's people were already working
IN the clcw.
CONTINUED NEXT wEEK1