The Delta independent., 1898-05-27
CHAPTER III.

Naynard's head was still sore when
he turned ont for revcille roll call the
next morning. He had made Intellectual
search for bis conqueror. had questioned
the sentry ut the east front and the
hackman who brought the town guests
ont to ths hop, but no such person as ts
described had been seen by any of them.
He went to his quarters and bathed his
sching head, and then he had to return
70 the hoproom. Mrs. Turner rallied
him upon his pallor and his utter lack
Of devotion. and finding him still in
somber mood bad changed her tactics
and adopted the anxious and sympa-
thetic role. Surely something must
have gone nmiss with him, she said.
But Maynard would admit nothing.
He was dazed by the strange adventure.
He could not-he would not speak of it
20 . sorl.
What would not be the excitement in
garrison were he to announce that a
stranger, o civilian, was under Miss
Baird's window at 10 o'clock, calling
her by her Christian name and tossing
pebbles ct her window to attract her
attentioni He was glad Of the detail
which took him with his little patrol
20 town the following morning. The
duty On which he was sent was one no
officer relished and IL should not have
been thrust upon him. the Junior Of the
regiment, nor would it have been had
the colonel known whom the adjutant
had detailed. The duty involved visiting
groggeries, gambling bells and brothels
in search Of the missing men and being
abused and insulted by slatternly wom-
en- and barroom loafers living like para
sites for the time being Oh the bounty
Of the half stupefed soldiers. Yet May
nard wanted to get away from his en-
gAgemens with Mrs. Turner. He want
ed to think quietly ~ he rode town
ward 1t the head Of his little detach-
ment with the yellow ambulance bring
ing mp the rear. how or whether he
could tell Miss Baird he was q witness,
through his sense Of hearing. at least,
to what took place the night before. but
he bad BY no means made mp his mind
when they entered the outskirts OF
Cheyenne and riding briskly to big
stable yard near the center Of the town
left their horses there with one man in
charge, and then, armed with their re-
volvers. started ON their search. No
good could come Of asking questions
The populnce Of those days was always
n league with the deserter or absentee
withoat leave 70 long Is he had money.
Then not infrequently would they turn
the poor fellow over to the marshal or
sheriff and get half the reward then
offered for the apprehension.o Of soldier
renegades. To load them drunk into .
hack. turn them over at the guardhouse
and claim the entire reward Of $50 per
man would have been bad generalship.
The hand Of every soldier would have
been against the traitor from that time
on. They would have killed the gooss
that laid the golden egg.
Maynard had an old sergeant with
him who knew the ins and outs Of ev-
cry haunt Of the bibulous among the
boys in blue, and be led on. silent, re-
lsntleas, unerring. Five minutes brisk
tramp brought them to . combination
concert hall and gambling house. One
OF two loungers in front, at sight Of the
coming patrol. darted inside. and when
the sergeant reached the glazed doors
they were bolted. Quick" he ordered
the corporal, "tale Schultz and Meyer
and get around to the rear door. Nab
every one Of our fellows that comes
ont. 4" Then be banged ON the front door
foe admission.
But the "fellows'' didn't come. It
was full . minute before the serReant's
Summons IVES answered. Then . head
was poked ont Of an upper window, .
head on broad grin, and an oily, Mi
lesian voice demanded: "What the
devil 10 wantedi There's no game until
tonight"
"Tbe game We want Is under this
SCOT, Maloney. and you know it, " was
the sergeant's sturdy reply. "Now. We
don't mean 10 break in; neither can
they break ont. It's only q reasonable
l,ne and few days fatigue duty they'll
b getting for going back quietly with
- now, but it'll Be dollar an hour for
svefy hour We have to wait, and we can
camp right here until they're starved
out IL need be. So tell the gnng to be
wise and come ct once"
By this time little crowd had BE-
gun to gather. Maynard, silently await
ing the result q the sergeant's appeal
and trusting to bis larger experience in
such matterA was pondering over the
legal aspect Of the case and wondering
Wbethsr Wyoming laws would be very
Avsge st his expense in case he forced
m entrance In search Of his truant
troopers when he noticed that the glazed
doors Of somewhat similar establish
neot acrusa Ne nav were svfnSinQ
slowly open, and that knot Of curious
and attentive spsctstors huddled close
behind them. yet keeping within shelter
and - much ~ possible out Of sight.
svideotly dedfoos Of escaping observa-
tion. Clossf ct hand the rapidly azriv-
ing populscs bsgnn TO indulge in chan
and 1.cetioO rsmsrks. much to the an
noyanN q d. asfReauf and the comfort