The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-12-17

further after No. 5. Has that man been
drinking again?" ho turned and asked
tho silent sergeant, as tho relief marched
away.
cts hard to say, sir. He's ono of
those steady soakcrs. 1t would be diff
cult to find him when ho hadn't been
| drinking more or less. I think he has
been drinking all day, but he knows
what he's doing and is as sober as hc
Is ut any other time. "
Farrar gazed doubtfully ut the relief
as it trudged away through the misty
moonlight, shook his head in some dis
satisfaction, then turned in at tho door
way of tho tower
II will look over tho guardroom and
cells" said he, "and visit scntrics
later, and, taking up his lantern, tho
sergeant followed.
A big stove burned brightly in the
center of the guardroom, and tho men
of tho third relief, sitting or sprawlng
about, sprang up and stood to attention
as the officer looked in. Another stove,
the mate to it, WAS burning almost ut
red heat in tho general prison room
across the hail. Here were confined
some half dozen poor devils, the scapc-
graccs of the commands some drink sod
den and stupid, others merely reckless
and "nccr do wccl" Following the
spirit of holiday decoration and never
expecting the visit of an officer that
night, ono Of tho number, with a fine
sense of humor, had induced q comradr
to fetch him parcel from tho barracks,
and now on tho bare wooden wall 0Dpo-
sito the entrance thcro hung chrome
with flowcry border and the pious
sentiment, "God bless our happy
homo" Wills eye caught it at the in
slant. "Take that downp' said he, with
manifest indignation. "There is to bo
no burlcSquc business here tonight. !"
There was faint odOr Of dead tobacco
about the grimy room. "You'll have TO
search those mon and that room," said
he TO tho sergeant as they turned away.
'Thcrc must be neither pipes, matches
nor anything with which they can start
Il fire. If this old rookcry ever flames it
will go like flash. Do it at once. ANY
mon il the cclls?'
'NonC, sir, and mono in the outer
prison ROOM"
chances arc it'll bo filled tomorrow
when the column gets back. Romcmbcr
the orders about fro"
"No mans like to forget that, lieu
tenant, with the powder stored thcro on
the second floor"
81 know" answered Will gravely.
GLOW much powder is there there?''
"Only dozen cartridges for tho
rcvcillc gun, sir, but that's enough to
| blow the place into flinders. ="
! "Thcrc's no one in the light prison
room on that floor?"
"No one, sir. That floor is empty.
| There's no fire up there at all. ."
Presently the tramp, tramp of mar
| tial feet was heard on the crunching
| snow, and officer and sergeant both
| stepped forth to receive tho relief of
| scntries just taken off post. One of them
was Grow Knife. EIc gravcly salutcd as
| he passed his officer and placed his car
| bilsc in the arm rack, then went out OH
tho east side of the little building and
| stood thorc, silent, listening for sounds
from tho distant cast.
May 1 have tho licutcnant's pcrmis-
! sion to go out on tho bluff awhilc?" he
asked, as Farrar camc by him. 81 can
hear tho call Of tho corporal If wo alr
wanted for anything, and am very anx-
| iOus.' And Will, who at first would
hHvc said no, saw tho anxiety In tho
Indians face and consented.
"Crow is strangely superstition "said
] the sergeant, after moments silence.