Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-22
THE PAYMASTER'S MONEY
WILLIAM q. WASSELL.


traders who had given them credit were
consequently glad. The soldiers reJoiced
because they world be able to pay their
bills at the canteen and ut the traders
stores and thereby get more credit. So far
as they were concerned, money was only
means Of barter for more credit; and IL
the traders were agreed the paymaster
might dole out wampum, beads or hatchets
in lieu of their S13 a month.
A company was drawn up in front of
the administration building. every man in
his inspection clothes, white gloves and
side arms all neat. clean and soldierly, and
al. waiting for their money. The Chinese
laundrymen stood near the doorway of the
building. ready to collect their wash bills
and to prove all disputed charges by slips
of unintelligible Chinese characters. Near
the Cinnamon were the money lenders, the
leeches who made soldiers loans at the
rate of 400 per cent n year; also the Illicit
whisky sellers. with a long list of bills
against the veterans bills in which the
cheapest adulterated whisky was put down
at S1.50 the quart.
"Well run a game might" said Private
McPhee, IAN it'll be dis way. Ev'ry man'll
put up de cash fer mis- stack. Seer
''Ye can bring me four more bottles as
seen as I've paid me BILL said Sergt. Muir
ply to one of the whisky sellers from
across the river.
And the Cinnamon were counting on a
fresh order OF smu.;gled opium and hand
kerchefs from San Francisco; the money
lenders counted their gains In a way to
make even a pawnbroner blush: 1T was
money, money, money all over the from
tier post. Grasping hands .tched for SOL
der money: soldier hearts were merry
over the prospect Of their meaGer pay;
even the old guard house had payday
look about it. and shifted suspiciously at
the moneyed air and thought of the addi-
tional inmates it would have on the follow
ing day
Suddenly Capt knight appeared in the
doorway of the administration building.
Company. atten-shun,' snapped the first
sergeant, and as the men Strengthened
the captains order to march the company
Into the pay room.
Sergeant said the captain. march the
company back to barracks"
That was all. With pockets as empty as
their hearts were light the men returned
to their quarters.
1.-THE paymaster has a lot of finals TO go
over" ventured a corporal, land he isn't
ready for us yet.
An orderly came running from the Office.
What dye think?" he gasped. Were
sure out of luck-th' paymaster's money is
stoen'
"Stolenr exclaimed twenty voices.
Eyes. stolen" repeated the orderly. HE
got over there in the pay room, an his
clerk got all ready t pay, an then they
unlocked TIL iron box t stack up TIL stuff,
an, Good Lord says tn clerk, What's
this?' An they all crowded roun' tn clerk,
an there in tn iron box. instead of tn
silver an gold. was big rock"
soldier. but 1 guess tn government can
stand t. Wen get t all right mex pay
day, sure"
But over in the pay room there was
greater excitement. The silver-haired pay
master sat back in his chair, speeches. at
his loss. Fifteen thousand dollars meant
the savings of lifetime to hint meant
more-it meant the loss of government
money and even, if replaced. the loss
would always be more or less of a blot On
his honorable record. His clerk looked at
the bowed head. and would have given his
life without hesitation to save the reputa-
ton of his chief.
The commanding officer hustled about, an
incarnated Interrogation point.
when did you see the money!" he de-
manded. when did you see 1t last? Where
did you carry the iron box? Who had the
keys of the box? Where did you put the
box when you stopped for the night at the
about it? Where is Mr.. Crossing: Who
stole the money!"
Lieut.. Crossing had been sent to the rail-
road with an escort of eight mer to bring
the paymaster to Barrenal 1t was in the
spring of the year. the roads We're bad. and
it had taken them two DAYS to make the
eighty-mile trip. On the way the party
stopped over night al a fanCh.
The commanding officer and Lieut.. Cross
ing were closeted in the formers office
"Mr. Crossing" said the colonel, what
do you know about this AFFAIR."
Every little, SIR" answered the young
man. Il saw the money put in the box at
the express office where we got it. 1t was
in four canvas sacks. all sealed. 1 put the
sacks in the box myself, locked it and put
the key in my pocket. The box was in the
ambulance with the paymaster, his clerk
and myself Last night when We stopped
at the ranch the box was taken to the bed
room where the three of us slept. I put a
sentinel in front of The house, and when we
ate our meals it was in the room next to
the bed ROOM and the box was in plain
sight all the time. EXCEPT when we slept
sir. the box mas been under our eyes since
the money was put in it,
And you carried the key" asked the
colonel.
"Yes, SIR" said Crossing.
THAT is ALL concluded the colonel.
Crossing left the Office and walked toward
his quarters. Suddenly he stopped and put
his hand to his head
"Oh. no, no. no." he said to himself at
isn't possible that the colonel suspects me-
Al d yet he asked me If 1 had the key to
the box
Lieut. Crossing was a general favorite at
Fort Barrenall. In his two years of ser
vice since leaving West Point he had con-
Quoted himself as a quiet. unassuming,
modest gentleman. Officially. he was a
model officer; socially. he was a courteous
man of the world. with just touch of the
old school mannerism that endeared him
to the ladies of the garrison. and a quiet,
sympathetic nature that took with his
brother officers.
But alas for garrison popularity; hard to
attain and easy to lose. AS Crossing walk
ed to his quarters, he fancied that the few
officers he passed were less cordial than
usual in their greetings. And when he
raised his cap to a number of ladies on the
coloners porch, he thought he detected a
lull in their conversation and some curious
glances at himself.
On the following day. Crossings fancies
took decided form. There was no doubt
about this brother officers held aloof
from him, and the ladies bowed but no
longer invited him on their porches. Sensi-
tive by nature, the awful suspicion hung
over poor Crossing like a great cloud. 1t
was very. very hard to drop from his pin
nacle; it was harder still to be suspected
"Tom, said he to his room mate-they
We're both young bachelors-"let me talk
this thing over to you, and see If you can
make anything out Of it. Now, you have
been in charge Of a paymaster's escort
yourself you know just how we travelled
just how we put up for the night at Har-