The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-11-17


oncie Sam, WITH al the brdod to'feeu
and clothe and educate, without q word
Of aid or welcome from the kinsfolk in
the east, poor Morgan meekly took his
discharge and his retired pay, and
tiny two-storied cottage in an out-of-s
the-way street in Hutte, and strove to
set up housekeeping with Connie at
the head and a Chinese man-of-au-work
at the foot of the new establishment.
Rand had been to see them and urged
their all coming eastward awhile Rs
his guests at home, but the railroad
company had offered Morgan little
berth which he considered it his duty
to accept at once, and Connie secuted
the idea of her being in need of rest or
change; she could not think of leaving
father; and within the month it seemed
as though her vision were preternatu-
rally clear, for presently poor Morgan
could not leave the house at all. 1t
was at this stage Of the proceedings
shat as Connie, broom in hand, and an
old silk handkerchief over her head,
was sweeping out the hall one sharp Oc-
tober morning, the Chinaman having
been discharged as the result of a
strike for more wages and less work,
she sent whirl of dust upon the glis-
tening boots of a statuesque trooper
with hand at salute and blue eyes
beaming in delight at sight of his
friend the captains daughter.
ooh, Schr-rramm!" she cried, throw
ing down her bosom and joyously
grasping his gauntleted hand. Where
did you come from? Come right in;
papa will be SO glad!-Here's Schramm
-Sergt. Schramm, daddy DEAR" and,
first closing the outer door, she opened
that which led to the den, and ushered
the sergeant in and watched with
glistening eyes the greeting Of the two
soldiers. Schramm must stay and take
luncheon with them. "'We are no
longer on duty, lad" said Morgan,
with a sad smile, land If you'll have a
bite with us and tell Ms all about the
old troop IT'LL be a comfort" And
Comics eyes and lips were
even more insistent. OF came
the blue overcoat, and there
in ala the glossy sheen Of the new,
snug fitting blouse, with the triple
bars Of his serg@ant's chevron's, the
athletic frame OF their soldier guest
stood revealed, and they made him sit,
and Connie poured his tea and hustled
in and OFT Of the Kitchen and Sci1ramzn
sat will, his old'captain. and talked by
the hour Of the troop, and how we'll
! Jeffers held his own now as first ser
|: geant and what fine soldier Treacy
},why, but fast:as their term of service
i.expired the cid hands took their dis
charge, and then took on in some
other troop And all the time he
! talked, whatsoever She fitted in Or
| out or by, the blue eyes would follow
! and were full Of light and reverence
and watchful care 1t was as he
| walked slowly away, two hours 'iater,
| eagerly promising tscome again, that
those Same .blue. eyes were cloudeG with
deep ,axigsty-Morga,n was failing so
last.
THE trial, he told them, was to begin
forthwith; but it never did. kn some
of Aacy?s appealing letters to former
employers in official station in Wash
ington reference was made to the malig-
| nant hatred of Col. 1sand as the inapira-
ton OF AL their proofiess and danna-i
BILE accusations, and these getting to-
the war depart meMt and so coming to-
Rand for remark, the placid colonel
finally waxed indignant. It was bad
enough, said he, that Lacy should be;
an expert thief and blackleg, but that
to cover his own tracks and those of
his pals he should seek the ruin of in.
good thing. Then the general came;
back from the field about this time;
Rand made his report, and on went a,
four-page letter to Washington reciting
briefly tire evidence now In tleia. pos
session as affecting Lacy. This was
shown to the ex-cEerl1's friends at
court, and two letters from the east,
after being opened and examined by
the sheriff, were handed in to iIacy's
cell the day after Schramm's arrival.
That night the prisoner asked for more
paper and permission to write till late,
and when Inorning came the neatly
folded document proved to be the final
statements of the clerk mho had casi,ed
SO many papers of that name Within
the past year--but would cash no more.
What was left of Lacy lay stiffening
on the narrow cot, The night-watch
had not even heard him groan.
A fellow of Eaueh inventive genius
was Lacy, and of uncommon useful
ness until luck turned. Cards, mining
stocks, wheat, wine and women all
combined against him. He had to coy
er the money distracted to pay his
losses and put up more. margins. He
owed still more, and hiscreditors, gam
hlers like himself, said: ''Pay or we
peach" There was just one way to
''raise the wind" without reaping the
whirlwind; the payn1aster must be
robbed on the very next trip; and the
plan was to have the train held up"
until the sudden move of the cavalry
suggested an easier way. Out went
two of his sportsmen friends with let
tiers Of Introduction to the hunter her
NIT in the Tomahawk' range. Down