The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-10-20

the mountain breeze was freSh ana
bracing. The men were chatting in
low tones over their work, ana the talk
was only Of the robbery eaves was
ii town. in consul 6 ton sth the civil
authorities. The local forming paper
had but two topics to Aaascuss, the In
dian outbreak and the obbery. It had
but one theory: he4Indians were the
malefactors IN the first case, and the
soldiers in the second. That cowboys
or settlers, ranchmen or road-agents,
could be the real culprits was not for
an instant to be believed. Two soldiers
closely answering the description given
by Mr. Lacy, the paymaster's clerk,
had been in town for several hours the
previous day, patronizing stables, sa-
looms and restaurants, and literally
supplied with money, had ridden away
as soon as details of the robbery were
being circulated about the streets, and
they awere now ''at large''r--that ex-
pressive term which, is used by the
press when it desires to imply that the
party enjoying his constitutional
rights is probably fugitive from JUS
tice. The sheriff, with efficient
'.posses,'' was securing the country in
pursuit. Officials at the fort, profess
ing to doubt the evidence laid before
them, had refused to cooperate with
the civil authorities in securing their
arrest. and had insisted that the men
were merely returning on the trail OF
Co Winthrop's command. Morgan
had -read many screed in similar
strain. 1T was what his own men were
saying t,at,aroused him to sudden in
terest.
'.Who was hat red-headed chap was
out here last 1.:~ht asking to know
where was Schramm's trunk?" inquired
Private Gect,egan of his comrade.
''Oh. he's wan of the sheriff's gang.
I misremember his name. Sure the
quartermaster sergeant told him
Schramm carried his trunk, Ike the
elephants, on the end of his most But
he said he knew. he'd left boz, or
trunk in mebody's care-Mrs. Hink-
els, think, or the wife Of some Of the
sergeants. He was nosing around the
landresses' quarters half the evening"
''Was he? Did he get anything2"
''He did. He got some important in
formation. Mrs. Clancy tould him
;ehe'd black his eye FOR him if he stuck
his red head inside the door. and while
she was entertaining the gentleman
Mrs. Hinkle ran Up to the post with a
box, and when she calse back the Teller
was talking about search warrant.
It's little of Schramm's they'd find at
Guild Hinkle's now. She's took IL up to
the officers quarters, whatever it ISL
And then Morgan remembered <the
eager voice in his kitchen the night be-
fore. and Lots announcement that it
was Mrs. Hinlel who begged to see
Constance, and new light flashed
across his mind, new shadow fell
athwart his path. What If the author
tiles were now to ask him where
sclarramn* ei 4 sets we're hidden? What
il they should demand the right to ex-.
anime them? Morgan was no longer
simply subaltern officer, he was the
commander. pro tenn, OF the big and
important post of fort Ransom, and
bound by every consideration to act in
conjunction with the civil officials in
the enforcement of law and in the aid
of civil process.
Even as he was pendering over the
matter, horseman appeared in the
broad glare of the sunshine on the bare
open space in front.
''I'm looking for the post command
err" said he, and handed him tele-
gram. Morgan mechanically unfolded
it and read:
'sTo the Sheriff, Latimer county,
Dutteville Commanding officer Fort
Ransom instructed to give every assist
ance in his power. You will be allowed
to make: all proper search"
This was signed by the adjutant gen
eral of the department, and was pres
emily supplemented by another which
the operator at the post handed in. He
was in conversation with the deputy
sheriff at the moment, and, excusing
himself, Morgan opened and read:
Commanding Officer, Fort Ransom.
Civil authorities report they are ham
pered in search for money stolen from
Paymaster Graves. Render every as
sistance and allow all proper investi-
CATION
"Do you mean that your people think
any Of this money is hidden here at this
post?''' he queried.
"Well, sir, that's what some Of 'em
say. Two of our officers will be out
here in moment. rode ahead while
they were jogging along in their bug.
nv. They were here last night, and
Mrs. Hinkel was seen toting box up
into the post just as soon as she heard
they were inquiring for her shanty'
Morgan turned away. Far out across
the winding ribbon of the road, twist
ing and twining over the rolling sur
face Of the prairie. he could see the
black dots. in the light dust-cloud that
told of the rapid approach of the Off
GERS of the law. Officially he had no
knowledge of the whereabouts of that
box, nor even of its existence; person
ally he had now every reason to be-
lieve that it was secreted under his own
roof. Confident of Schramm's inno-
cence, he had faith that nothing crimi-
mating could be found in Schram's be-
longings. But suppose that the box
contained papers-personal and family
documents which dealt with nobody's