The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-08-12
BY
P.Y BLACK

there came rap upon the door, rap
as peremptory and official as the first.
Fin Strait, fearful of intrusively thirsty
Threats, hid the second bottle promptly,
and Mother Revell drew nearer the
stove, away from the draft of the OPEN
ing door. Again the snow drifted in as
Martin Revell answered the knock, and
again snow despatched orderly enter
ed. This time it was the orderly trum-
peter from the sergeant majors Office.
''Sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Revell, +"
he said. "Order from the adjutant's Of
fee, sergeant. "
"Hellop shouted the sergeant, read
ing the order. "Paymaster coming up
from Fort Nickerson, Healy.''
"It's time" growled the corporal.
"It's stony am. !"
Mother, I'm in charge of the escort
to meet him at Wolf creek-start right
away-meet him tomorrow noon. That
breaks up our party. -
"Aw!" the farrier cried "T7he ser
geant major don't know how to run
roster. It's not your turn"
Junior sergeant heads the list, . said
the orderly briefly "Thank You, Mrs.
Revell-your health. Ny word. Wine:
You're tony"
"I'llreport at the Office with my men
and escort wagon in half an hour, said
the sergeant GOOD night, mother. 2
tits bitter cold night for escort du-
ty," said Mother Revell anxiously.
"Wear all your frrs, Martin, and take
as many blankets as you can manage
for camp Wait, Ill fill flask of the
majors port.
"she knows it all, :" Fin Strait nlur-
INJURED admiringly, toasting his toes at
the stove. "She's an old warhorse, is
your mother, Martin. Goodby We'll
finish the wine drinkin. Good luck to
you
Mother Revell let her tall boy out,
kissing him good night, and returned
with shiver to the fire.
Man," said the farrier softly. "I
beg your pardon for that slip about his
father. 1 forgot"
'sHushv' said Mother Revell, paling.
"There's only you and Healy and the
major left that know the truth Of it.
you'v all given toasts but me. Here S
mine: The new sergeant! May he never
know trouble. ="
There was tear in her eye as she
slipped the wine.
The harness of the six mule team
shook merrily in the moonlight, but the
wheels of the escort wagon were almost
soundless in the deep snow. The wind
tossed up great drifts, through which
the mules plunged with snorting breath
breath that passed out on the freez-
ing air in white clouds. Round and
round, all about, west where the foot
hills cuddled close to the mountains,
north, east and south, there was moth
ing to be seen but the soft, white moon
light, falling upon the holder white Of
the fiat and snowy plains. The escort,
not yet appeased at their fortune in be-
ing turned out for such duty on SO cold
night, growled within the canvas COW
ering of the wagon or tried to sleep.
The night passed thus monotonously,
and twas nearly dawn when the Junior
sergeant awoke and was softly called by
the tealaster in front. They We're ford
ing an icy stream at a bend, whore the
creek sllita@d broke about a wooded is
land, bushy strip of land some 20
yards broad. The gray bearded citizen
driver jeriled his fur hat toward the isle
Dye mind, Martin, when We wuz
kid at the post school, an the pay
master clerk WAS brought in dead an
the money gone? Twas here they done
it-Wild Horse bend .
81 remember something of ill.," Mar
tin answered, 80 OF l2 years back
One of them was shot. There's never
been amy trouble up here since, has
the.e?'
Mop, said the teanster yawning.
All day they made camp and rested
their mules at Wolf creek. They built
a fire and ate steaks from an antelope
u lucky shot had gathered i'll. at noon
there dashed up, with chatter Of har-
ness and a cloud of crisp snow, the pay
master $ ambulance, and, behind it, the
escort from Fort Nickerson. The inpa-
tient officer, anxious to get Gu, announc-
ed his intention of resting just long
enough to feed and refresh his team and
then riding through the night and pay
ing off neXt day.
Once more the escort climbed Into
their wagon shortly before sunset, bat
now they had to dispense with the cam
vas shelter and keep broadly awake,
following closely the paymaster's light
er ambulance, precious with the treas
ure of two months pay for 400 men.
The moonlight was gone. Gray clouds
had sullenly been driven up by the
scourging wind. The snow drifted SO
thickly that the air looked as in "a snow
storm i;v aa fli..n. vy..r.,, .a,,-.
to Wild Horse bend, the Transfers were
pressing forward their teams and think
ing of billiards.. The escort was SO
yards behind when the ambulance mules
slowed down and began to ford the
stream at the island. The soldiers sore
eyes were weary, facing the wind and
piercing the darkness, and the teamster
was too cold to swear much as he urged
his wagon after the lighter vehicle.
They were but q few wards behind.