Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-03-28
CHAPTER Ay.-CoNr1NuEp.
1893. by J. B. Lippinbott Cs.

CHAPTER Av.-CoNTINUED.
They must go farther east, by way
~of Wagon gap, and back to the
agency with their game, as though
from innocent and successful hunt.
But, in lodging the troops and
certain couriers they saw, time was
Host, in which they got to drinking and
~quarreling. Lacy's friends were two
wen-known contractors for Indian sup
plies, long accustomed to agency ways,
rvell-versed in Indian affairs and often
suspected of being knaves of deeper
dye than more swindlers of the alb
~origines, which species of crime was
not bereft of virtue in frontier eyes.
They were known to the trade by the
names of Stein and Writ, and their
intimacy with Lacy and certain en-
1ployes of the quartermaster depart
ment had attracted Rand's attention to
them months before the robbery.
Hearing of their absence from town,
he traced them to the agency, thence
ITO the range beyond, and found that
-the date of their return that way cor
responded exactly with that of Thorn
tons fight. Young Stearns had at last
made coherent statement. Promising
to give his 1ucklcss father his share as
esoon as they got back within sight Of
that harbor Of refuge, but plying him
with liquor all the time, these men
rode to Fossil creek in company, then
gave their doing guide the slip and
dashed rapidly ahead. Being aware of
the Indian outbreak, they probably
studied the country with their glasses
land saw the commotion among the dis
-tant war parties and so lodged into
Al k1,0 I'D I~xv
"a wide detour got safely in, while their
hapless guide, following in drunken
pursuit, ran foul of the Sioux, was
chased and killed. Wisely they hid such
of the money as they did not need at
the moment, and kept away from head
quarters and Lacy awhile until the an
nouncement in the papers that the
crime had been definitely fixed on the
asoldiers Schultz and Schramm gave
them courage to unearth their plumber
land fetch it nearer home. Not that
they intended to divide with Lacy by
ANY means-he was in their tolls now,
and could be further bied-but to hold
him with mingled threat and promise.
And all the time Rand was weaving his
web about them. The more coherent
statements of the half-witted son, now
being restored to such intellect as he
possessed, had given ample clew, and
the arrest of Lacy at Ransom was the
result of a dispatch to Rand that his
sconfederates had been bounced upon
the previous night at Yankton with
lover ten thousand dollars of the stolen
money in their possession. So long as
they did not peach, however, Lacy was
sstill safe, and he played the indignant
sand wronged and faithful servant, and
played it well, for just six weeks; then
~'tDux femina facti"-the woman who
was leader-by the nose-of the trium-
~virate, and the recipient Of much of
their stolen plumber, was also arrested
when on the wing to the east, and-she
couldn't keep a secret; her circumstan-
-rtia1 confession of the whole business
from beginning to end. made when
hoping to win exemption for herself,
ended the battle. Then Lacy's own
hand penned his parting words and
freed his shame-stricken soul.
''It was a wen-planned job" said
Rand, ''on Lacy's part at least, but it
had its leak SO long as there was a
woman in it,
And now. as his evidence was no
1onger needed, Sergt. Schramm had
no further business at either Butte OF
Ransom. But you don't want to go
back that long distance Alone" said
Old Tintop. 1--WE can assign you to
duty here until your troop comes home
@aaxt month" Aad to the adjutant's In