Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-03-14


words: "Wen, guess he wishes he
hadn't been SO precipitous."
CHAPTER XIV.
Payday at the post! Old Curran had
ordered an extra stand put up in the
barroom, an extra load of keg beer out
from Butte, and a choice supply of cab
bageros for the defenders of their coun-
try's flag, who, on these occasions,
deemed it their duty not to be seen out
of ranks without weed In their teeth,
no matter how high in price nor how
low in grade. The laundreSses, arrayed
in their best bib and tucker and smiles,
had spread the cloth in their shanties
down under the hill, with the bucket
Of punch and dozen of tumblers in
readiness for callers-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-commissioned
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 manifesting 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 they
receipted for the little iron safe, and
then at spanking trot set forth across
the prairie and were deposited at the
hospitable door of Old Tintop, where
breakfast awaited the major, where
his safe was stored pro tempore 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 take his SuStenance
under the Currans' roof. Guard was
mounted in full dress uniform at 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 as,
to the rollicking airs from ''Arrah ma
Pogue," the yellow-crested column
came swinging around in review, for it
was Cavalry Day, OF Tintop'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"
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 been
sustained in his idea of having alter
nate guard, cavalry one day and in
fantry the next-a system which
worked in with the percentage" fair
ly well and which the colonel pro-
49,,
anybody 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 beside
a table in the administration room, big
stacks of greenbaclxs-tens, hves, 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, sat
Lacy. The adjutant took seat at an
other little table midway between the
door with his duplicate roll, and, all
being ready, called the sergeant majors
name. Mr.. Lacy called out the amount
due. The paymaster rapidly counted
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 mis- company, change CT
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 in com
mission at the post, and then at last
D troop came swinging across the
parade from their barracks, and gray
haired Morgan took the little table just
left vacant by Capt. Prime. The win
dows were open, a soft air was blow
ing through, and yet it seemed hot and
oppressive.
This is the last company, is it?"
said Graves. ''Thank Godi I'm about
tired out now. All ready, captain?''
''All ready, sir" answered Morgan.
and then called: First Sergeant War
rem
ITO BE CONTINUED