Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-02-05
CAPTADN cHAJ2bE@ KING
Copyright. 1894. by j. B. Llppineott company.l !.

about the time of Riggs discharge by
expirati ton of term of service. Then,
after protracted spree in New Or
leans, he turned up at the barracks and
"took on" again in the infantry, and in
the very company which, oddly enough,
was so soon ordered up to the region he
knew so well. Indeed, Riggs claimed
when drinking to have acquaintance
not only with the Walton ladies, but
with some of the most prominent men
in Quitman county, and frequently
boosted of the good times he would have
could he only get over there. Another
thing about Riggs: He had twice got
Murphy to go as his substitute on GER
tain detachment or posse duty, Offering
| as excuse that marching wore him out,
yet admitting to Murphy that there
| were other reasons. "Ihere are men in
this section who'd shoot me on sight
get the drop on me-pick me off from
the woods or fences" he had explained.
Murphy believed him, and believed, too.
his statement that he had powerful
friends even among officers and gentle
men who had fought through the war
on the southern side. "He got money
when he needed it, and spent it like
gentleman" said Murphy; which, be.
| ing interpreted, meant that he literally
squandered it on his comrades.
But Riggs had Of late been out Of
money; he couldn't hear from his
friends" said Murphy, and was getting
in trouble. lie owed poker debts in
the company and liquor debts in town.
He couldn't get drink on trust and
the men were shy of playing with him;
but he had always been liberal to Muir.
ply when in funds, and Murphy stood
by him now. About nine o'clock, there.
fore, the previous evening, he noticed
that Riggs was greatly excited when an
old darby came shambling in and gave
him little note. The negro had oc-
casionally come before, and did not
seem to belong either in town or at the
Walton place. Riggs stole out to the
road, despite Murphy's warning, and
came back in ten minutes, bidding Muir
ply in eager whisper to be quick and
come with him. 1t was evident even
then that Riggs had had drink or two.
Murphy reminded him of the lieuten-
ants orders and begged him to run no
risk; and then Riggs broke out and
told him that. come what might, he'd
simply got to go to town, and Murphy
with him. lie would explain when they
got out Of camp, but there wasn't a
minute to lose; and Murphy went along,
'.just to keep him out of trouble" Out
in the darkness stranger Joined them,
gave Riggs some low-toned orders, but
refused to let him have another drink.
They were stealing along the road to-
gether, trying to dodge the Pickering
freight, when it suddenly fared up
and must have betrayed them, for mo-
ment later they heard Burns shouting
after them. Then the stranger "lept
the fence" into the Walton place; Riggs
dnrted away and ran like streuk, so
he followed Riggs.
When at safe distance from camp
Riggs slowed up and told what he had
agreed to do. At Cohen's store was u
box containing some expensive wine
and cordials which had been prescribed
for Mrs. Walton two weeks before by
their old family physician and ordered
sent from New Orleans. twas one OF
the sad cases common in the south in
those hard times. Miss Walton, who
wrote the order without her mothers
knowledge, had no money to send, and
the firm had none to lose. She explained
that the wine was needed at once, and
the money would be at hand in the
course of ten days. The wine was sent,
care of Cohen & Co., with Instructions
to collect first; and not until this night
had there been money enough to pay for
it. Now 81 gentleman" whom Riggs
knew we'll, had brought them help;
but he himself could not go to Tugaloo
because of certain past events with
which he was intimately connected, and
none of the Walton servants dared go
, because of the tremendous stories in cir
, culntion conc crning the events of the
day. The gentleman had come n long
distance at big risk to see the lady
Riggs declared. and must getaway thai
night.
In this dilemma Riggs was called or
for help. His chivalric nature wa.
aroused-presumably or possibly "th'
tiger had tasted blood" and needed more
Riggs had got the gcntleman's last
drink, and the money for moro was nov
in his hands. But the gentleman hat
stipulated that n reliable man must gc
with him to fetch the precious packc
in case Riggs got full;" and Murphy
was the man. eve got the box, eorr
an Riggs his bottle Of liquor, an come
back all right, an we stole in there q!
we were bid. an raised the cellar door
8 nm, carried fl,v.n tho l,oy ~ tho f,,t n
thin slippery steps meself. for Rigg'
was gettn' noisy-likc. An thin WI
stole away, niver disturbin' anybody
sorr, only dom THE poor Teddy kind
ness, rs we were towld. We didn't SCI
! or hear anybody. 1t was afthcr it al
the throublc came"
There was pnthos in Murphy's de
: scription Of the ':throuble." Their tasl
n accomplished, Murphy sought to ge
Riggs to his tent, but the man hnt
> drunk just enough to be rabid for more
8 and in the struggle the bottle fell will
: the gill OF two remaining and was
smashed. This was indeed catas
e trophe. Riggs had that fearful Graz
for alcohol which is satiated only whel
$ the victim !;,pscs into drunken stupo1
. Murphy got him to the tent and to bed
t and thought lie had him safe, butawok
:, later to find him gonc-gohe for NOR
: liquor; but where? None was to b.
: Ind i'll camp, unless he broke into tn
8 captains medical stores, which, Muir
L ply argued, he wouldn't dare attemp
It with the lieutenant lying there along
p side. All Of Il sudden ii flashed over hin