Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-11-05
ASTORIA
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the ready knives or revoIvers Of the
squatters across the stream, had no BEAR
ing in the eyes Of the law. Fenton had
warned the divekeeper dozen times to
no purpose, but when finally Sergeant
Hannifn was set upon and murdered
there one fine April evening within easy
range, and almost within hearing OF his
comrades at Frayne, Fenton broke loose
and said impetuous things, which reach
cd the ears Of his men, who went and
did things equally impetuous, to the
demolition Of the "shack" and the de-
struction Of its stock Of spirits and gam.
bling paraphernalia, and it was proved
to the satisfaction of the jury that Fen;
ton did not intexpose to stop the row
until it had burned itself and the
"shaok" inside ont. The people rallied
10 the support Of the saloon keeper-he,
at least, was q man and q brother, q
voter, and, when he couldn't lie out Of
it, a taxpayer. The officers at Frayne,
Oh the other hand, in the opinion Of the
citizens Of that section Of Wyoming,
were none Of the four, and Bunko Jim's
new resort across the Platte was big
improvement in point Of size, though
not in stock or sanctity, over its prede.
cessor. Jim ran ferryboat for the bert:
eft Of customers from the fort. It was
forbidden to land on the reservation,
but did 80, nevertheless, when the sentry
ON the bluff couldn't t see, and sometimes
it must be owned, when he could.
The boat was used when the water
was high, the fords when it Was low,
and the ice when it was frozen, and i
was q curious thing in winter to see
how quickly the new fallen snow would
be scanned with paths leading by
devious routes from the barracks to the
shore and then across the ioebound
pools straight to BunAo Jim's Bowling.
as became the soldier Of the republic. to
the supremacy Of the civil law. Fenton
swallowed the lesson, though he didn't
the whisky, but Jim had his full share
Of customers from the fort, and the
greatest Of these, it soon transpired, was
the big recruit speedily known through.
out the command as Tough Tom Graioe.
Joining the regiment at the end Of
September, it was less than q month be-
fore he was a. we'll though not as ia.
vorably known as the sergeant major
There is more than one way Of being
conspicuous in the military service, and
Graice had chosen the worst. Even the
recruits who came with him from the
depot, the last lot to be shipped from.
that once crowded garner Of flood for
powder. F." could tell nothing Of his an.
tooedents, though they were full Of
grewsome details Of his doings since en-.
listment He was an expert at cards and
billiards, said they-for they had found
it out to their sorrow-and a demon
when aroused by drink. Twice in
drunken rage he had assaulted compar'
atively inofensive men, and only the
prompt and forcible intervention Of
comrades had prevented murder on the
spot, while the traditional habit Of the
soldier Of telling no tales had saved
him from richly merited punishment.
Within the month Of his arrival Graice
had made giant strides to notoriety. He
was powerful fellow, with fine com
mand of language and an education far
superior to that Of the general run OF
noncommissioned officers, and it was
among the younger set Of these he first
achieved certain standing. Protesting
to bold himself above the private SOL
dier, proving himself an excellent rider
and an expert in drill with carbine or
saber, he nevertheless declared it was
his first enlistment and gave it to be
understood that a difficulty with the
sheriff, who sought to arrest him. had
been the means Of bringing him to the
temporary refuge Of the ranks.
For the first few weeks, too. he drank
but little, and wearing his uniform with
the ease and grace Of one long accus-
toned to the buttons, and being erect
and athletic in build, he presented q
very oreditable appearance. The bloat-
ed, bloodshot look he wore on his ar
rival, the result Of much surreptitfous
whisky en- route. passed somewhat away,
and it was only when one studied his
face that the traces Of intemperance;
added to the sullen brows and shifting,
restless eyes, banished the claim to good
looks that were at first accorded him:
From the first, however, the old ser
geants and such veterans among the
corporals as Terry Rorke looked askance
at Trooper Graice. Another guard
house lawyer. said the first sergeant
Of Leale,s troop as he disgustedly re.
ceived the adjutant's notification OF
Graice's assignment. Another wan
Of thin jailbirds like Mr.. American
Blood, the newspaper pet" said Rorke;
in high disdain. "We'll have circus
with him, too, a. they had in the Elsv-
enth, or I'm Jew. Where have seen
that sweet mug Of his beforeF' be
added reheotively. as he watched the
newcomer surlily scrubbing at his kit
and the newcomer, glancing sideways
at the Irish corporal, seemed to read his
thoughts, although too far away to hear
his muttered worda 1t was plain to
every man in G troop that there was
apt to be no love lost between Terence
Rorke and Tommy the Tough.
And there was another still who wore
the simple dress Of private soldier,
whose eyes, black, piercing ana full Of
expression, were constantly following
that new recruit, and that was the Sioux
Indian, Crow Knife, youth barely 10
years Of age. He had been boy scout
before the days Of the ghost dance craze
A valued and trusted ally Of tho white
soldiers. he had borne dispatches .up to
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