The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-10-14

aid away with the once, ana VIM.
whom an lndulgent colonel had detail
40 TO that supposedly soft snap" when
reglmental headquarters were stationed
1T Worth, had been left there with his
Ky array Of boxes and barrels when
ne colonel and staff were transferred
10 9 more southern post, the understands
Nng pelng that be was to turn over ey-
srythlng to Frazier new quartermaster
}s soon as that official should arrive.
Erazier's appointee, however, was
Sleutenant from distant station.
me war department. had not approved
the appointment when made. Core
spondenoe had been going on, and only
within the week was notification receiv-
ed that the choice was finally confirmed
and that Lieutenant Trott would soon
arrive. Meantime VIM remained, but
the stores were going. Somebody had
money enough to bribe the sentries
ntghtly posted at the storehouse at the
northern corner Of the big rectangle,
and wagon load after wagon load must
Alave been driven way. Outwardly, as
developed by the count made early ON
4 morning following Riggs coming,
ssswas right. but veteran cavalry SER
geant scofdngly knocked in the heads Of
cask, box and barrel and showed .ow
aeon BY the cord had been replaced by
EAgs and powders; sugar, coffee and
Hour by bushels Of sand, moiasses and
vinegar by branch water, and tea and
bacco by trash. sTwo to three thou
q Ysoy ~
said Riggs at noon, "and the devil to
oay IL VIM cannotr Vain the night
ride to Fuller ranch in search of Mars
den. That worthy had long since feath-
Tered his portable nest and on one of the
kquartermaster' 8 best horses had left the
post within the half hour of Riggs
coming, no man knew for what point
LATTER once he crossed the ford. Hoof
tracks by the hundred crisscrossed and
zigFzagged over the southwark mesa.
Yhick darkness had settled down. Full
ler's people swore no signs of him had
been seen, and, though patrols kept on
hll night, poor VIM came back de-
Epairing an hour before the dawn to
Face his fate. Even at noon he had
hardly begun to realize the extent OF
his overwhelming loss.
Go home and try to sleep, said the
colonel sadly to the dumb aud stricken
imam. lyon can do no good here. I'll
send she doctor to you. /"
But VIM started up and shook the
old fellows kindly hand. II cannot 60
My God. I must know tho whole bust
2essl'' he cried. III cannot SIeen or eat
morsel. .
Whatever you do, don't drink, ;"
said Riggs in not unsiiily warning
ssGo and see your wife, anyhow, for an
hour or so. She has sent three times y
But words were useless. Sympathetic
comrades came and strove with hira
afA said empty words of hope or cheer
yyempty because they knew poor VIM
lad not soul in the world to whom to
BOX for help. Kin to half dozen old
Srmy names, it helped him not whit
for no one of them was blessed with
means beyond the monthly pay, and
some had not even thar unmortgaged
Twenty five hundred dollars shortage
already, to say nothing OF the cash for
recent sales, and more no doubt to
come. The very thought was ruin. Re-
fnsing comfort, the hapless man sat
down at his Uttered desk, stared again
lat the crowded, dusty pigeonholes and
saw nothing, nothing but misery, if not
despair.
Brayton went over at luncheon time
land begged word with Mrs. VIM.
She peered over the balustrade from the
second story, with big, black trimmed
eyes. but could not come down, could
mot leave baby, who was fretful, she
said. Oh, why didn't Mr.. Vim come
home? What good did it do to stay over
there and worry? When would they get
through? Brayton couldn't say, but
Winn couldn't come-felt he must stay
lat the Office, but if Mrs Winn would
have some tea and bite of luncheon
| prepared, he (Brayton) would gladly
take it over. Yet even this friendly
Office seemed to bring no solace. VIM
barely slipped the tea or tasted the savory
broth. Frazier and Riggs went out tt
luncheon. leaving him still seated at
5sis desk, and their faces We're blacl
with gloom when they reached the colo
1nel's door. Winn's most distressing
plight following so shortly after the
dire misfortune that had happened tc
ltLawrence, would have saddcned the
xwhole garrison and tinged all table tall
with melancholy but for the blessed
antidote afforded in Captain Barclays
sudden and most unlocked for coming
Il And what surprise it was! All one
Afternoon and part of one evening hac
y Fort Worth been telling that Captain
N Barclay had refused the assignment tt
q regiment and post where he mus
meet Laura Winn, that he had resign
ed rather than encounter once more the
woman who had played him false. thai
he was too wealthy to care to bury
himself in this out of the way hole il
Texas anyhow. and even while they
were talking, all unheralded, hero h:
was. The majors hospitable door.
opened to receive him within ten min
utes Of his dust covered advent, ant
| L.. III 81. ;~.Lt