Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-12-13

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mouths at home meanwhile as best her
ean-that isn't Uncle Sans business.
Morgan had over seven hundred and,
City dollars in ''greenbacks' in the lin
ing of his canvas hnntpg-coat when
they reached the southern hills in Oc-
tober, and not cent of it when they
marched out on the 18th. The cam
paign being virtually over, all danger,
hardship, work and heavy responsible
ity at an end, staff captain came by
rail and stage to take over the funds
and stores of the line lieutenant and
charge up to him every cents worth
that had leaked or dribbled from the
mule-packs, a species of charging that
differed from that expected of lines
man, in that it involved none Of the
perils, yet promised greater reward.
You may be assured this gentleman
did not come without a safe. Morgan,
riding from the bivouac to the stage
station, mile away, the very evening
of his successors arrival, was lassoed
on his horse in Cinnabar canyon,
gagged, bound, robbed of his package
of greenbaclxs, all in the flash of a
bulls-eye. Picked up, stunned, ten
minutes thereafter, he could not de-
scribe his ASSISTANTS, but certain hard
characters with the command. some of
the precious gang of recruits just ar
rived, made off that night with their
horses, equipments and everything.
Certain civil officials gave chase. There
was still hope they might be over
hauled and the money captured before
they could reach the mining towns.
Meantime, Morgan, not severely hurt,
was ordered to join his troop. 1t was
Gods mercy that only an hour before
the robbery he had counted out every
cent for which he was accountable in
the presence of Old Tintop and his adj
jutant, otherwise he would have had
to stagger under the accusation of hav-
ing made away with the money and
made up the story.
In vain the rough old campaigner
had sought to cheer Morgan by assur-
ances that the party sent out in chase
couldn't help gathering in the robbers,
who, with one exception, were
strangers TO the frontier. Morgan
groaned in spirit mo, colonel, it is
useless. Luck has been dead against
me ever since we furled the Wolverine
guidons and joined the regulars.
That money will never be found, and |
am eight hundred dollars more In debt
than was a month ago, when it was
all | could stagger under. It's only
worse and more of IT," And here this
forty-year-old fatalist turned away and
buried his bearded face in his hands.
And now, a few weeks later, with
hole in his shoulder and fever in his
veins, Mr.. Morgan was being borne
along homeward in a mule-litter, hope
less and sick at heart, totally uncon-
scious of the fact that one man at least
in the long dusty column looked up to
him with an enthusiastic gratitude,
even while looking down on him from
the saddle. Schramms right leg had
been shot through midway between
ankle and knee, but the fracture was
simple, and the wounded limb was
skillfully dressed, set in splints, and
Schramm rode in litter a week or
two. as ordered, then his Teutonic
prayers took effect on the Herr Wun-
dartz," and he was allowed to swing
the leg over the handsome roam his cap
tain had promised he should have again
as soon as he was able to straddle the
beast and settle the question why he
had named him Bredow. We had little
or no time for war history in the cav
airy in those days.
Morgan could not but note how af-
fectionately Schramm's blue eyes
would beam upon him and how full of
anxious sympathy were his frequent
inquiries as to whether there were not
something he could do for the Herr
Lieutenant. They sent the two, with
others, in together to the old fort on
the railway, and Schramm, whose
wound was the more serious, was
much the sooner recovered, and bust
ling around as though nothing had
while the veteran lieuten-
ant, whose hurt was slight, seemed I'M
able to rally. There are wounds that
sap the vital forces worse than knife or
bullet. Morgan was fretting himself
to death. He broke down utterly when
Old Tintop, month later, came in to
see him on his arrival at the post
What can l do, colonel?" he moaned.
II am too old to resign and try to find
employment at home. There's no
room for crippled dragons there. Yet
are bounding me, my pay
may be stopped any minute to settle
this copmissary business, and then
what will become of my children"
1t was too much for Tintop. He had
n his desk that moment the fatal paper
received from Washington. 1t was
III very well for the board of survey
f -