The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-10-13

OTlOEe over tllS MILL Ohd dAu q S<SotAOT
shipping point. Here the ranchmen
who did not care to take the extra
| twenty hve-mile gallop to Butteville
had all their mail addressed, and
Minden speedily assumed the mild
and modest Importance which Alkali
| had lost.
And it was at Minden, said Maj.
Rhett, that the paymaster was robbed
that morning soon after dawn, and
robbed by men in cavalry overcoats
Morgan listened moment, simply
| stunned.
ssWhen did the news come in, sir?''
asked he of the major.
"Ten minutes ago, as soon as they
could repair the wires which were cut.
| The sheriff is on his way out here
now"
"Where is the paymaster?"
"They're coming up on freight
| from Minden this afternoon, he and
| his clerk
"But-I don't understand said
! Morgan: ''how on earth did he get to
Minden? Why did he come SO far west?
| The escort was to meet him at Alkai,
SO was told.
''That's just what nobody under
stands, and what he'll explain later, I
| presume"
An orderly hastily came from the di-
rection of the Office, and, hating, sa-
luted the post commander.
t'The sergeant major says they were
assigned to G. Company, sir, for ra-
TONS"
| There was an awkward silence a mo-
ment. Then the commander wheeled
on Morgan:
you've known those couriers some
time, haven't you, MIR. Morgan? What
is their reputation?'
"Our men, sir? Schultz and Schramm,
do you mean? Why, major, the SER
geant is one of our veterans, man we
all trust. Schrarnm is not year with
us yet, but he's as good as they make
'em, think in Germany. Surely they
are not suspected? They came in with
orders and dispatches
| every true, but they passed within
sight of Minden if they came back by
the trail, and through it if they fol-
lowed the stage road. They may have
seen or heard something. At all
events, wish to question Them" was
the majors answer. what time did
they reach the post, Mr.. Adjutant?''
"Just at guard mounting, SIR"
Rhett pondered a moment. ''The
| colonel's note says he was aroused at
midnight by couriers from the agency
who had had hard ride and could go
! no farther. Bat for his orders to meet
the paymaster at Willow Springs to-
day, he says, he would have pushed on
to Painted Lodge-made a forty-mile
march. It really looks very threaten
ing down the valley, and now that the
moneys gone and the paymaster can't
reach him I'm in hopes he will push
ahead. Already people are wiring out
here from town, asking whether the
| Indian rumors are true. They've got a
story there that ten people were killed
yesterday
eyes, SIR put in the adjutant; "orr
market-1nan brought it out here an
hour ago. It's going all over the post.
They Say in town one reason there's no
chance of catching these robbers is
that the cavalry has been ordered to
come on with all speed, and that a
| courier rode out to them from Minden
before day break this morning. Dis
patches were sent them before the line
was cut"
Away on the winding road to the
southwest towards the distant frontier
town couple of wagons could be seen
slowly moving towards the post. Be-
yond them little dust-clouds, rapidly
sailing over the plain, told where feet
er hosremen were speeding. The men
coming out from their dinner were
gathering in groups on the verandas,
chatting in low tones and watching the
group of officers. Presently the order
" came hurrying back alone.
t'What orders did you give those
couriers, Mr.. Wood?"
"Nothing especial. sir. Schultz asked
if they were at liberty to start back as
soon as they wished, and said yes"
"Then they must be taking a nap, %
said the major. what with being up
most of last night and having to ride
ell tonight, they need it. Their con-
sciences are clear if they can sleep all
the morning"
The orderly reached them as the
major concluded, halted half dozen
PAGES away, and reported:
Sergeant Shea says the couriers left
nearly an hour ago, sir"
cleft an hour ago! Which wav?''
"He doesn't know, sir. Private Burns
says he saw them ride away after the
quartermaster' corral at 11:3O,-going
towards town.
CHAPTER VI.
| It was one o'clock that afternoon be-
fore the sheriff reached the post.
Butteville, the thriving county seat,
lay just five miles away to the south
west, and hard prairie road connected
it with the post AS a distributing
point to the mines and a market for
the ranchmen the growing town had
shot rapidly into Importance. Two
banks, both reliable, two hotels, we'll
patronized, and shops and stores in
good number, were barely able to sup
~, ~ 81 1,1c% tin -