Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-05-20


4 boasted of the good times he would have
could he only get over there. Another
thing about Riggs: He had twice go
Murphy to 90 as his substitute on GER
tain detachment or posse duty, offering
as excuse that marching wore him out
vet admitting 70 Murphy that there
were other reasons. There are men il
this section who'd shoot me on sight
get the drop on ne-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 wa,
on the southern side. "He got money
when he needed 1t, and spent it like a
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. He 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 darky came shambling in and gave
him a 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. It 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
minute to lose; and Murphy went along,
"just to keep him out of trouble" Out
in the darkness a 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 fliclSering
freight, when il suddenly fared up
and must have betrayed them, for mo-
nent later they heard Burns shouting
otter them. Then the stranger 'lept
the fence" into the Walton place; Riggs
darted away and ran like a streak, so
he followed Riggs.
Riggs Elowed UP and tod what he had
agreed TO do. At Cohen's store was a
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. II was one OF
the sad cases common in the south in
those hard times. Miss Walton, who
wrote the order without her mothers S
knowledge, had no money to send, and
the firm had none to lose. She explained
that the wine was needed at once, ana
the money would be at hand in the
course OF ten days. The wine was sent,
care of Cohen g. Co., with instructions
to collect first; and not until this night
had there been money enough TO pay Tor
II. Now IN gentleman" whom Riggs
knew we'll had brought them help;
but he himself could not 20 to Tugaloo
because Of certain past events with
which he was intimately connected, ana
none of the Walton servants dared go,
because Of the tremendous stories in cir
culation concerning the events of The
day. The gentleman had come n long
distance Mt big risk to sec the lady,
Riggs declared, and must get away that
night.
In this dilemma Riggs was called on
for help. His chivalric nature was
aroused-presumably or possibly "the
tiger had tasted blood" and needed more.
Riggs had got the gentleman's last
drink, and the money for more was now
in his hands. But the gentleman had
stipulated that reliable man must go
with him TO fetch the precious packet
IA case Riggs got full" and Murphy
wns the man. eve gOt the box, porr,
an Riggs hin bottle OF liquor, an come
back all right, an we stole In there as
we were bid, an raised the cellar door,
an carried down the box to the fut OF
thin slippcry steps meself, for Riggs
was gettin' nolsy-lilse. An thin we
stole away, niver disturbin' anybody,
SORT, only doin' the poor Teddy kind
ness, az we were towld. We didn't see
or hear anybody. 1t was nfther IT all
the throuble came"
There was pathos in Murphy's de-
scription OF the "throublc." Their task
accomplished, Murphy sought TO GET
Riggs TO his tent, but the man had
drunk just enough 10 be rnbid for more,
and In the struggle the bottle fell with
the gill or two remaining and was
smashed. This was indeed n catas-
trophe Riggs had that fearful craze
for alcohol which is satiated only when
the victim !apscs into drunken stupor.
Murphy got him TO the tent and to bed
and thought he had him safe, but awoke
later 10 find him gone-gOne for more
liquor; but whcre2 None was 10 be
had in camp, unless he broke into tho
captnin'a medical stores. which, Muir
ply argued, he wouldn't dare attempt
with the Lieutenant lying there along-
side. All OF sudden II flashed oTcr him
that his wretched ''bunlsy," after hay-
ing faithfully acquitted himself OF his
trust before the fatal whislly-loggingo OF
| his moral sense, had now stolen of In
| the darkness 10 rob the very household
| for whose rake, or that OF the bribina
| liquor, he had braved punishment.
| Riggs had gone back for that wine.
The Irish soldier had his faults, God
! Ipo,yg hut drgertIDn Of his fellow, even
! In face Of torture, is not one Of them.
Murphy stole away, hoping " was not
too late 10 tccapture Riggs, and came
upon him, iuEt as he feared, tugglng at
! something ut the foot of those dark
and slippery steps. Then came n strug
! glo that, after ut last he had borne hh
! ierccly battling cOmrade up into the
night, left Murphy brcathless and cx-
hnustcd. And then came the rain OF
blows that toppled him, crashing into
the ruin OF the hotebcd.
she came upon me that sudden and
furlous-llsc, sorr, couldn't cNplaini
| hu' it was tryin' to puciiicate her was
| baclliu' Off, an nivcr see the hot-bod be
hind me for the hot butin' ] was get
tin afrout An thin whin she had me
down on the fat OF me back, an grasp
In at thin glass works, poor Riggs
niyer KNOWN what he was doin', sorr