Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-01-26

way westward In time to tell at the
state capitol his story of the riot to his
properly indignant chief, while, all
alone, Capt. Close was jogging over to
Potts Oh the day accommodation" lit
tie dreaming of the ill-repute in which
he and his youthful subaltern would
stand before the nnthinking of their
northern fellow-citizcns on the NOR
row; for, as was only natural, the dep
uty marshal had squared accounts with
Close by laying the blame for the escape
of the prisoners, the peril of the be-
leaguered posse, and the riot end insur-
rection in Chittomingo county upon the
captain and his lieutenant. who, he said,
though wearing the uniform and hold
ing the commission of the United States,
had refused to come to the aid of the
officers of the law.
II ought to be back by nine O'clock"
was the message the captain told Cor
poral Cunningham to take out to camp;
but Cunningham was the ingenious
youth who first accostcd Mr.. Lambert
on his arrival that morning, and Burns
had nearly shaken the life out of linn
when he heard the story the men were
passing from lip to lip. Cunningham
was young fellow with better opin-
ion of himself than his employers
seemed to entertain, and, though fair
ly educated in the public schools and in
business college of his native city, a
fondness for Bowcry life and associa-
ton with Bowery boys had undermined
his usefulness. He enlisted after los
ing his situation, and, coming 10 Closes
company when clerks were hardly to
be had at any price, was put into the
company office instead of the awkward
squad. Then came a vacancy among
the corpornls; the young fellow, being
q new broom, had swept clean. and was
so helpful about the books, papers and
the like for six weeks that Close gave
him the empty chevrons, and gave
Burns abundant cause for another out
break of blasphemy. There might have
been some way of licking Private Cum
bingham into shape. but there was none
whatever of reforming Corporal Cum
ningham. He was not all bad, however,
| for by evening lie began to realize the
extraordinary solccism of which he had
been guilty in the morning; so he was
actually ashamed to go near the lieu
| tenant, and never even repeated his mes
sage to Burns until nine O'Clock had
come and the captain hadn't. Then
Burns went over to the lientenant's
tent. where the youth sat wrapped in
his overcont, trying gloomily and with
stiffeped fingers to write some letters
by the light of single candle.
81 suppose, sir. the captain meant 10
| ride the mule back himself. He could
have got to Potts place Before six and
back here by eight. easy. 'Tisn't likely
they'd ask him to stay to supper. I'm
only afraid of his gettin' into row,
and him all alone"
| II wish he could have been content to
send for the mule instead of going" said
Lambert. "Any of the men could have
gone. lsuppose."
well, sir, tile trouble is that he'd
have had to send the men on lauleback,
or else pay their fares over on the cars.
The captain has Il pass. and it doesnt
cost him anything; and he's afraid to
let the mule be gone over night. It's
mighty easy losin' 'em among all these
niggers. and they might charge it up
against the captains Pay. The captain
las stuck close to camp so far as these
night posses have been concerned, but
he'd hunt the whole state for cost
blanket or bayonet. And he always
| goes alone-and gets what he's after,
and he's had no trouble worth mention
in; but that fellow Potts was impudent
to him to-day. and he was slow bout
seem il mt first: now, though, he's sot
his mad up and gone over there to get
the mule and satisfaction both; that's
what I'm afraid of, sir. He dashed
Tarinelcee to-day for bein' u coward
and--beggin' your pardon. lieutenant
though the captain Amt much on mil
! itary, he fires up like n fash at anything
like insult to the flag"
do you think it advisable to send
after the cnptain?" asked Lambert
after moments reflection.
There's no way we can send, sir
'cept afoot or behind Il four-mule team
in an army wagon. we only had that
one saddle mule"
Lambert stepped to the tent door ant
looked out. The Sky was overcast anC
the darkness thick. a wind was rising
aud whirling the sparks from the cool
fire over by the road. and from the pipe:
of the men sitting smoking and chatting
in little groups about camp. Some hat