Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-12-27

orerate Lieut.. Morgan from blame,
but the watch-dogs of the treasury
couldn't allow him to drop that seven
hundred and fifty dollars. There was
no doubt that he was robbed. The
robbers, in fact, deserving recruits en-
route to the mines, were easily over
hauled by experienced frOntierSmen
who ''1it OUT in pursuit the moment
the affair was heard of. TWAS scandal
Gus on the part of 'tenderfOot toughs"
from the far east to rob an army dis
bursting officer-and expect to get away
with the swag. Buckslzin Joe, Lop-
sided Pete, aud other local celebrities
lost little time in overhauling the
Bowery gang and recovering such val
uables as they had; but who was to
overhaul Joe and Pete? The auditor
said Mr.. Morgan ought to have kept
that money in the safe. The depart
ment commander. striving to aid a
good soldier, pointed out that they
didn't carry safes when on Indian cam
paigns; if they did, they would even
less frequently catch the Indians. But
it availed nothing. What did the treas
ury department care whether Indians
were caught or not? Mr.. Morgan was
held to have violated the spirit of his
instructions in that he went to Capt.
Stone in town to turn over the money,
instead of waiting for Capt. Stone to
come to him. Then the general pointed
out that Morgan was ordered to march
with the command at daybreak,, and
therefore had to turn over the money
that night. But the bureau officials
couldn't see it. Let Lieut.. Morgan get
bill of relief through congress, said
the pragmatic official, well knowing
that such bills are the outcome of in
fuence, not innocence. The colonel
went to the Office, and by way of COM
forting himself for the weakness which
prompted him to blow his nose and
wipe his eyes very often before leaving
Morgan, and to kiss Connie and Lot
several times after, pitched into Mr..
Gray, his perennial chopping-block,
and Gray, finding meekness and silence
not what was needed, fired back. They
exchanged vol1eys a minute, Gray hav-
ing all the advantage of sense and the
colonel Of sound, and ended, as usual,
by the old man saying he wouldn't
give tinlxer's dam for IN adjutant he
couldn't pitch into when he had to
pitch into somebody, or that couldn't
talk back. I'm all broke up about
Morgan. Can't we do something to
pull him out of his hOle?"
So they wrote letters, did the officers,
to Morgan's wife's relatives, setting
forth how brave and deserving and IN
fortunate he was, and that something
| must be done for those children. It's
all well enough in the eyes of ones
wife's relatives to be brave and deserv-
ing, but they have no use for man
who is unfortunate. In fact, if he is
only fortunate they care very little
| how brave he may be, and less for his
! deserts. Robert answered the colOnefs
missite, but the others did not. Rob
said they had already been put to much
expense on their sisters account
which, as they wore no mourning and
published no notice in the papers at
the time of her death, was an out-and-
out whopper. He furthermore said il
netting had to be done for those
children to go ahead and do (which
! was simply indecent. Tintop had a
copy made and sent it to a classnate, q
distinguished officer of engineers whose
Office was in Detroit, and whose duties
made him well known in influential
circles, and the colonel made inquiries
and sent reports. The boys were Wei
to-do, in paying business, both Of
them; and, as for Aunt Lottie, she
wasted more money in six months thar
would cIothe, feed and comfort hel
army nieces and nephew as many
years. But" said the engineer, 81
fancy her husband owes very mucf
more than Mr.. Morgan, and the crasl
may come any day"
ITo BE Continued