The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-11-10
CHAPTER XIV.

Payday at the post! Old Curran had
ordered an extra stand put up In tho
barroom, an extra load Of lSeg beer out!
from Butte, and a choice supply Of cab
bageros for the defenders of their cou1l~4
deemed it their duty not to be seem Quit
of ranks without a weed in their teeth,
no matter how high in price Dor how
low in grade. The laundresses, arrayed;
in their best bib and tucker and s!a!iles,t
had spread the cloth in their shan ties
down under the hill, with the bucket,
Of punch and dozen Of tumblers in,
readiness for cal]ers-it being one Of
the unwritten laws of the rank and file:
in the good old days to square with the
laundress If you didn't square with:
anybody else. The non-conmissi,cned.
staff, the band and the troops had all,
been ordered to hold themselves in
readiness-the one function of the mill
tary year in which such orders were
totally unnecessary, even the sick in
hospital nlanifesting a strong desire to:
get up and go to duty, on that day
at least; and Lieut.. Phipps with;
twenty troopers had met Paymaster;
Graves as he and Mr.. Lacy stepped
forth from No. 3, hustled them into the,
waiting ambulance and around. the
corner to the express Office, where fheyi
receipted for the little iron safe, andt
then at spanking trot set forth across!
the prairie and were deposited at the.
hospitable door Of Old 1intop, where,
breakfast awaited the major, where'
his safe was stored pro te1npore UNDER
the vigilant eye Of the officer Of the
guard, while Mr.. Lacy, pleading pre-
vious engagement, begged to be ex-;
cused and went to ia se his sustenanceI
under the Currans' roof. Guard was|
mounted in full dress uniform 1T the
usual hour, everybody being out for to,
see, and Gray being in his glory. Even
more than usually jubilant and STIR
ring were the strains of the band ASH
to the rollicking airs from 'Arrah.. na'
Pogue." the yellow-crested column
came swinging around in review, for it
was ''Cavalry Day, one of Tintep's
fads being that it spoiled the CEREMONY
and ruined the guard to have foot and
troopers march on together. Uni
form, arms and manual are all unlike"
said he. $50 what's the use? They MOI
more mix than oil and vinegar; we're
the oil and you're the vinegar And
SO, being a favorite at department.
headquarters, the old fellow had heeni
sustained in his idea Of having alter
nate guard, cavalry one day and JIM
fantry the next--a system which
worked in with the percentage fair
ly we'll and which the colonel pro-
nouncea a triumphant success, and
any body who don't believe it had bet:
ter not say So
Then, right after guard mounting,
in their full-dress uniforms, with gloves
and side arms, the garrison was pa
raded for payment. Graves sat beslaet
q table IN the administration room, bigi
stacks OF greenbacks-tens, fives, twos
and ones-and cylindrical columns OF
silver and nickel in front Of him. Off
to his left, muster and pay roll OF the
first detachment, headquarters staff
and band open on the table before
him, his keen eyes glancing about the!
room and studying every face, satl
Lacy. The adjutant took a seat at AM
other little table midway between theI
door with his duplicate roll, and, all
being ready, called the sergeant majors
name Mr.. Lacy called out the amount
due. The paymaster rapidly countedl
out the money and handed it to the
soldier who stood attention in front Of
the desk. The staff and band were
speedily settled with and sent about
their business. Then came the senior
captain with his company, q change oil
rolls, and so on for three hours, with
out incident OF any kind, the interest,"
ing yet monotonous ceremony went on.
Not until near noon did it come the
turn Of the captain youngest Ia COM
mission at the post, and then at last
D troop came swinging acroas thell$;;
parade from their barracks, and gray
haired 1dorgsa took the Little table just
left vacant by 'rriine The lyRir-I
dows were open, 4 soft 4 WINS 81
ing throngh and see b
II !.