The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-01-14
copva,ln1 1895, ey :. rtMhysoh Nttly.

ssIt's hard to say, sir. He's one Of
those steady soakers. It would be diff
cult to find him when he 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 he
is at any other time y
Farrar gazed doubtfully at the relief
as it trudged away through the misty
moonlight, shook his head in some dis
way of the tower.
II will look over the guardroom and
cells,' said he, tsand 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 it, was burning almost at
red heat in the general prison room
across the hall. Here were confined
some half dozen poor devils, the scape-
graces of the 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 an officer that
night, one Of the number, with a fine
sense Of humor, had induced comrade
to fetch him parcel from the barracks,
and now on the bare wooden wall oppo-
site the entrance there hung chrome
with a fowery border and the pious
sentiment, "God bless our happy
home. Willis eye caught it at the in
stant "Take that down!'' said he, with
manifest Indignation ''There 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 rookery ever flames it
will 60 like flash. Do it at once. Any
men in the cells?"
"'None, sir, and none in the outer
prison room. ~
''Keep the other empty, then. The
chances are it'll be filed tomorrow
when the column gets back. Remember
the orders about fire.
"No mans like to forget that, lieu
tenant, with the powder stored there on
the second floor"
81 know answered Will gravely.
"How much powder is there there?'
"Only, a dozen cartridges for the
reveille gun, sir. but that's enough to
blow the place into flinders -
''There's no one in the light prison
room on that foor?'
"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 the relief of
sentries just taken off post. One of them
was Grow Knife. He gravely saluted as
he passed his officer and placed his car
bine in 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 I have the lieutenant's permits
sion to go out on the bluff awhile?' he
asked, as Farrar came 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 first would
have said no, saw the anxiety in the
Indians face and consented.
'Crow is strangely superstitious, "saidl
the sergeant. after moments silence.