The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-12-15

Handed square, aohtte enuelope to Mrs.
| Ddunton.
further after No. B. Has that man been
drinking again?" he turned and asked
the silent sergeant, as tho relief marched
away.
cts hard to say, sir. Hos one Of
those steady soakers. 1t would be diff
cult to find him when he hadn't been
drinking more or less. think ho has
been drinking all day, but he knows
what he's doing and is as sober as he
10 at any other time"
Farrar gazed doubtfully at the rolief
al 1t trudged away through the misty
moonlight, shook his head in come dis
! satisfaction, then turned in at the door,
way Of the tower.
II will look over tho guardroom and
cells" said he, "and visit sentries
later, and, taking up his lantern, the
sergeant followed.
A big stove burned brightly in the
| center Of the guardroom, and the men
of the third relief, sitting or sprawling
about, sprang up and stood to attention
as the officer looked in. Another stove,
the mate to 1t, was burning almost at
red heat TN the general prison room
across the hall. Here were confined
some half dozen poor devils, tho scape-
Braces Of tho command; some drink sod
den and stupid, others merely reckless
and "ne'er do weel." Following the
spirit Of holiday decoration and never
expecting the visit Of ali officer that
night, one Of tho number, with a fine
sense Of humor, had induced comrade
to fetch him parcel from the barracks,
and now OH the baro wooden wall oppo-
site the entrance there hung a chrome
with flowery border and the pious
sentiment, "God bless our happy
home" Wills eye caught it Mt the in
slant. ''Tnke that downl' said he, with
manifest indignation. "Thcre is to be
| no burlesque business here tonight"
There was faint odor of dead tobacco
| about the grimy room. "You'll have to
search those men and that room," said
he to the sergeant as they turned away.
There must be neither pipes, matches
nor anything with which they can start
fire. If this old rookcry ever flames it
will go like u flash. Do it at once. Any
mon in the cells?"
"Nonc, sir. and none in the outer
prison ROOM"
"Keep the other empty, then The
chances are it'll be filed tomorrow
when tho column gets back. Remember
the orders about fire."
"No mans like to forgot that, lieu
tenant, with the powder stored there on
the second floor
"I know" answered Will gravely.
elbow much powder Is there there?'
"Only dozen cartridges for tho
reveille gun, sir, but that's enough to
blow tho place into Finders
':Thcre's no one in the light prison
room on that floor?"
'No one, sir. That floor is empty.
There's no fro up there at ALL"
Presently the tramp, tramp Of mar
tial feet was heard on tho crunching
snow, and officer and sergeant both
stepped forth to receive tho relief of
sentries just taken off post. One Of them
was Grow Knife. lie gravcly saluted as
he passed his officer and placed his car
biIfe i'll the arm rack, then went out on
the east side Of the little building and
stood there, silent, listening for sounds
from the distant east.
"May have the lieutenant's permis-
sion to go out on the bluff awhile?' he
asked, as Farrar camo by him. II can
hear the call of the corporal If we are
wanted for anything, and am very anx-
ious." And Will, who at frat would
have said no, saw the anxiety In the
Indians face and consented.
Grow is strangely superstitous, "said
the sergeant, after moment's silence
"He has been like that ever since he
came on guard. He says the ghost dogs
were bowling the death song last night
and that somebody's to got his death
blow tonight. We can't laugh him out
Of it."
Will turned away and watched the
rapidly retreating form, growing dim
mer every second. ~ suppose he breads
trouble for his people, and this row
makes him nervous" said he. "I'm 60.
ing the rounds now, sergeant, and viii
leave you here in charge" h
SIT is just 10 80 now, sir. Shall we
call ofR2'
AYE, aye, let it go, was the answer
as the young fellow stalked away in the
direction Of the stables. 1t was his pur-
pose to take the sentry posts in inverse
order, so as to visit first those on the
eastern flank.
Without break the watch cry went
from man to man, Nc. shouting q
gruff, stentoriap, "All's WE'LL" that
again directed the attention Of the off.
Ger Of the guard to his probable condi.
tion. The last sentry had called off ard
No. had given, loud and prolonged
the final assurance that all along the
chain was peace and security before Will
reached the bottom Of the slope and be
gan his examination Of the stables ant
oorrals. The last thing he saw as hi
cast backward glance northward along
the snowy slope that terminated thu
plateau ON its eastern side was the soil
tary figure OF Crow Knife, standing
nsute mqtipnless and attsptige, Just 9