Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-01-17


Butte and away to the agencies. Once
upon a time mails were carried that
way, and stage ran twice a week be-
tween Allzali and the reservation, but
when rival railway sent line across
the Missouri and tapped the lands OF
the Dakotas far up to the northeast,
the agency freight, mail, and passen-
gers were sent around that way, and
Alkai became a deserted village.
There stood the old stagehouSe, the
cattle chutes, and the riclzety depot,
but no trains stopped there now ex-
cept on signal, and the telegraph
instrument and operator had been
moved to Minden, some twenty-five
miles farther west. Here, too, was a
bridge over the Mini Ska and cattle
shipping point. Here the ranchmen
who did not care to take the extra
wenty-five-nilc ga1op to Butteville
had all their mail addressed, and
AIinden speedily assumed the mild
and modest Importance which All1aH
had lost.
And it was at Minden, said Maj.
Rhett, that the paymaster was robbed
that morning soon after dawn, and
robbed by men in cavalry Overcoats.
Morgan listened a moment, simply
stunned.
''When did the news come in, sir?'
asked he of the major.
Ten minutes ago, as soon as they
could repair the wires which were cut.
The sheriff is on his way out here now"
Where is the paymaster?"
They're coming up on freight
from Minden this afternoon, he and
his clerk
Butt don't understand" said
Morgan; ''how on earth did he get to
Minden? Why did he come SO far west?
The escort was to meet him at A1kali,
SO was told"
''That's just what nobody under
stands, and what he'll explain later, L
presume
An orderly hastily came from the di-
rection Of the Office, and, hating, sa-
luted the post commander.
1.-The sergeant major says they were
There was an awkward silence a mo-
ment. Then the commander wheeled
on Morgan:
you've known those couriers some
time, haven't you, Mr.. Morgan? What
is their reputation"
''Our men, sir? Schultz and Schramm,
y
! geant is one of our veterans, a man we
all trust. Schramm is not a year with
us yet, but he's as good as they make
'em, think, in Germany. Surely they
are not suspected? They came in with
orders and dispatches"
Every true, but they passed within
sight of Minden if they came back by
the trail, and through it if they fol
lowed the stage road. They may have
seen or heard something. At all
events, wish to question them" was
the majors answer. what time did
they reach the post, Mr.. Adjutant?"
Just at guard mounting, sir"
| Rhett pOndered a moment. THE
colonel's note says he was aroused at
! midnight by couriers from the agency
who had had hard ride and could GO
no farther. But for his orders to meet
the paymaster at Willow Springs to-
day, he says, he would have pushed on
to Painted Lodge-made forty-mile
march. It really looks very threaten
ing down the valley, and now that the
moneys gone and the paymaster can't
reach him I'm in hopes he will push
ahead. Already people are wiring out
here from town, asking whether the
Indian rumors are true. They've got e
story there that ten people were killed
yesterday"
Eyes, SIR put in the adjutant; ''oul
market-lnan brought it out here ar
hour ago. It's going all over the post
They say in town one reason there's Nc
chance of catching these robbers i:
that the cavalry has been ordered tx
come on with all speed, and that (;
courier rode out to them from MindeI
before daybreak this morning. Dis
patches were sent them before the line
was cut
Away on the winding road to thu
southwest towards the distant frontiel
town couple of wagons could be seer
slowly moving towards the post. Be
yond them little dust-clouds, rapid.
sailing over the plain, told where fleet
er hosremen were speeding. The mel
coming out from their dinner wer
: gathering in groups on the verandas
chatting in low tones and watching tn
group of officers. Presently the order
ly came hurrying back alone.
: ''What orders did you give thos
couriers, Mr.. Wood?"
Nothing especial, sir. Schultz aske'
if they were at liberty to start back a
soon as they wished, and 1 said yes"
''Then they must be taking a nap.
said the major. What with being u
, most of last night and having to rid
all tonight, they need it. Their cor
sciences are clear if they can sleep a
the morning"