Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-03-07

Der close at hand. learned enough to
guide him In a letter to the American
legation at Berlin,-a soldier fathers
letter to another soldier father in a
foreign land, angered at and estranged
from the son of whose very existence,
perhaps, he was in doubt. The letter
was posted before Thornton heard him
babb1e of other names, and tell of the
gnadige Fraulein, Morgan's oldest child,
and with grave face the colonel rose
and looked at his sleeping boy, and
went out upon the breezy prairie, walk
ing for hours before his return. Many
things did Schramm mutter and muir
muir and reveal that Thornton could
not understand at all, but he knew
enough German to divine much of the
soldiers past, and to demand of his son
what letter was that he sent to Con-
stance Morgan; whercat Perry, looking
much amazed. answered with all
promptitude: Letter to Connie Nor
gan? Why, certainly wrote to her
the second day out from Ransom to tell
her what you told me about promotion
and to ask her TO send US the measures
for her fathers belt and helmet. The
men Of the old troop were bound to
send him his captains shoulder knots,
and some one suggested that it might
be pious idea to chip in and order q
complete new outfit, helmet and knots
and belt and adjust to surprise him.
Some thought he might take offence,
but old Tintop swore he shouldn't. ="
And Thornton pere walked out again.
Perry had never lied to him in his life.
Would it be fair to ask the boy if he
had been making love to Morgan's
Inotherless daughter?
But within the week the crisis was
| over-Schramm was out of danger.
Mother and sisters were clamoring for
Perry at home, so eastward went the
colonel and his boy, and presently, by
easy stages, westward went Schramm,
his escort camping at Alkai, crossing
to the north bank and going on to Min
| den, where camp was made again, and
where Mr.. Fisk, the agent, came over,
ostensibly to see if he could be of any
service, and then went back to his
Office and said to deputy sheriff that
if that was one of the men who came
| in with the dispatch that Friday morn
| ing of the 1st of June he'd changed so
| he couldn't tell him.
Meantime, Rand had been clear
around to the agency by the other
|
the day Schramm was returned to
Ransom. Don't you disturb him, Mr..
Sheriff. said he, land just take my adj
| vice now, don't go too fast on this trail;
you may get in so far you can't get
back-with credit to yourself" And
out at the post the doctor had given
strict orders that nobody should breathe
in Schramm's hearing what everybody
| knew-that he was ''waoted'' for the
Minden robbery. MY first duty is tt
see him restored to health and
strength" said he; "then the law
must take it's course" And so
with the regiment long miles away
Schramm lay patiently in hos
pital. tenderly thought for by every
one, frequently reDe1r bered through
the mails by the distant family O
Thorntons, promoted corporal of hi.
troop in regimental orders promulgated
from headquarters in the field and reaC
to the whole assembled command boil
there and here at Ransom, reciting the
heroic nature Of his conduct in the af
fair at Slaughter cove and the skill
and bravery with which, his superior.
being disabled by wounds, he had con
Quoted the defense. All this was very
pleasant to Schramm, whose eye
lighted with joy when Morgan, hi
captain now, and LETTERS, invalided by
wounds, and Treacy ditto, all came il
to congratulate him; but the sweetes
thing IN life to the convalescing sol
der was the sight of Connie Morgan
pretty face when, regularly as the da!
came round, the gnadige Fraulein ap
peared with some little bunch OF wilC
flowers, some little dainty or COO
drink, but always with her gentle voic'
and soft brown eyes and sweet, seriou
smile, to ask how the corporal was feel
ing this bright day. The only troubl
now was that he began to get well to,
fast. His fellow non-commissionedo OF
fcers, LETTERS and Treacy, limping il
one day said there was a big row
among the railway people all over tn
east. ''Riots and ructions" had fol
lowed. The. militia and police were
whipped. The regiment had beer
whisled in from the field, piled int
passenger cars, and sent away toward
Omaha, and they, the wounded of tn
Indian war, were losing this trip t
; civilization and beyond. Next da.
Rhett and his men were suddenly tele
; graphed for, and again was Capt. Nor
gan both ordnance and commanding
! officer.
iTO BE Continued
|
Screamed In Freedom.