The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-10


And did you mover servo with the
cavalry beforeP You ride as though
you had"
Most men heroabouts served ON one
side or other, said Bland calmly, as
his horse finished his long pull ut tho
water.
And your side was'-
confederate" was the brief reply.
was born in Texas. Here comes tho
troop, sir.
Como on, then. want to ask Won
about that trail to Crittenden as We
ride. We make first for the Picacho
pass from hcre.'
Why, that's south of west, sir" an
swered Bland. II had thought perhaps
tho lieutenant would want to go north
ward toward the ella to head off any
parties of tho Apaches that might bo
striving to get away eastward with
their booty. They must have picked
up something over at tho Bend. -
They re moro likely to go south
ward, Bland, for they know where
we've been scouting all tho week. No,
! III march straight to the signal. There
they must know where the Indians
have gone"
Aye, aye, sir, but then you can only
pursue, and stern chase is long
One."
Drummond turned in his saddle as
they rode forth upon the dark falda and
gazed long and fixedly at the trooper by
his side. Imperturbably Bland con-
tinued to look straight ahead. Queer
stories had been afloat regarding this
new acquisition. He mingled but lit
tie with the men. He affected rather
the society of the better class of non
commissioned officers, an offense not
likely to be condoned in a recruit. He
was already distinguished for his easy
mastery of every detail of a cavalry
mans duty, and for his readiness to 20
at any or all times on scout, escort or
| patrol, and the more hazardous or lonely
the task the better ho seemed to like it.
Then he was helpful about the Offices
In garrison, wrote neat hand, was Of
ten pressed into service to aid with the
quartermaster or commissary papers,
and had been offered permanent daily
duty as company clerk, but begged off,
saying he loved horse and cavalry
work too we'll to be immured i'll an office.
He was silence and reticence itself on
matters affecting other people, but the
soul of frankness apparently where
he was personally concerned. Any
body was welcome to know his past, he
said. He was raised in Texas; had
lived for years on the frontier; had
been through Arizona with bull team
in the fifties. and had listed under the
banner of tho Lone Star when Texas
went the way of all the sisterhood of
southern mot border) states, and then,
being stranded after the war, had "bull
whacked" again through New Mexico;
had drifted again across the Mimbres
and down to the old Spanish Mexican
town of Tucson; had tried prospecting,
mail riding, blackboard driving, gam
bling; had been one of the sheriff's posse
that cleaned out Sonora Bills little
band of thugs and cutthroats and had
expressed entire Willingness to officiate
as that lively outlaws executioner in
case of his capture.
He had twice been robbed while driv-
ing the stage across the divide and had
been left for dead in the Maricopa
range. an episode which he said was
the primal cause of his designations
later. Finally, after summary dis
CHdi 50 He ildu cOlHe 10 the auJutant at
Camp Lowell, presented two or three
certificates of good character and BRAY
cry i'll the field from officers who bore
famous names in the southern army.
and the regimental recruiting officer
thought he could put up with an occa-
slonal drunk III I, man who promised to
make as good Il trooper under the stars
and stripes rs he had made under tho
stars and bars. And SO he was enlisted,
and to the surprise Of everybody hadn't
taken drop since.
Now this, said the rank and file, was
I proof positive Of something radically
wrong, either in his disposition or his
record. 1t was entirely comprehensive
and fully III accordance with human
nature and the merits of the c;lsc that a
man should quit drinking when he quit
the amy, hut that Il man with the blot
OF an occasional spree on his escutcheon
should enlist for any other cause than
sheer desperation and should then be-
come Il tcctotaler was nothing short of
prima facic evidence of moral dcpray-
ity.
There's something behind it all, fell
lers, . said Corporal Murphy, land
mean to keep an eye on him from this
out. If he don't dhrink next payday,
look out for him. He's a professional
gambler laying for your hard earned
| grccnbacks. -
And SO while tho seniors among the
sergcants were becoming gradually the
associates, if not the intimates, of this
fine looking trooper, the mass of the
! ani