Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-01
THE
'.SERCEANTNl|
OF'T'HE CUARD1
Ply. BLACK
copYRicHIlses, By THE AUTHOR.

Mother, I'm in charge of the escort
to meet him at Wolf crcek-start right
away--meet him tomorrow noon. That
breaks up our party"
"Awl" the farrier cried. "The SER
geant major don't know how to run a
roster. It's not your turn"
Junior sergeant heads the list, " said
the orderly briefly. "Thank you, Mrs.
Revell-your health. My word Wine?
You're tony"
"I'll report at tho Office with my men
and escort wagon in half an hour" said
the sergeant. Good night, mother"
tits q bitter cold night for escort du-
ty," said Mother Revell anxiously.
"Wcar all your furs, Martin, and take
as many blankets rs you can manage
for camp Wait, I'll fill a flask of the
majors port.
"She knows it all, '" Fin Strait muir
INJURED admiringly, toasting his toes at
the stovo. she's an old warhorse, is
your mother, Martin. Goodby. Well
finish the wine drinliin. 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. II
beg your pardon for that slip about his
father. forgot"
"Hushr' said Mother Revell, paling.
"Thoro's only you and Hcaly and the
major left that know the truth Of it.
n'hA pao1 lynnxx- rn,pn
you've 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 tho wine.
The harness of the six mulo team
shook merrily in the moonlight, but the
wheels of the escort wagon were almost
soundlcSs i'll the deep snow. The wind
tossed mp great drifts, through which
the mules plunged with suorting breath
breath that passed out on the frcez-
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 fat and snowy plains. The escort,
not yet appcased at their fortune in be.
ing turned out for such duty OH so cold
a night, growlcd within the canvas GOV.
ering of the wagon or tried to sleep.
The night passed thus monotonously,
and it was nearly dawn when the junior
sergeant awoke and was softly called by
the teamster in front. They were ford
ing an icy stream at bend, where the
creek splisnnd broke about wooded is
land, bushy strip of land some &c
yards broad. The gray bearded citizen
driver jerlled his fur hat toward the isle.
"D'ye mind, Martin, when We wus
kid at the post school, an the pay
masters clerk was brought in dead M
the money gone? Twas here they don,
it-Wild Horse bend. "
81 remember something of it," Mar
tin answered, $40 or IL years back
One of them was shot. There's never
been any trouble up here since, ha
there?'
mop" said the teamster yawning.
All day they made camp and restef
their mules at Wolf creek. They bull
a fire and ate steaks from an antelop,
IA lucky shot had gathered in. At nool
there dashed up, with clatter of har
ness and a cloud of crisp snow, the pay
masters ambulance, and behind it, tn,
escort from Fort Nickerson. The impa
tient officer, anxious to get on, announc
ed his intention of resting just Ions
enough to feed and refresh his team anC
then riding through the night and pay
ing off next day.
Once more the escort climbed int
their wagon shortly before sunset, bu
now they had to dispense with the can
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 cloud
had sullenly been driven up by tn
scourging wind. The snow drifted s.
thickly that the air looked as i'll snow
storm. By 10 at night, when they cam
to Wild Horse bend, the teamsters wer
pressing forward their teams and think
ing Of billiards.. The escort was 81
yards behind when the ambulance mule
slowed down and began to ford tn
stream at the island. Tho soldiers sor
eyes were weary, facing the wind AM
piercing the darkness, and the teamste
was too cold to swear much as he urge,
his wagon after the lighter vehicle
They were but few yards behind
when from the bushes of the isle sound
ed tho quick crack of rife and the am
bulance driver gave first cry of pail
and then tempest of curses. The ech
of the first shot still sang in the WOO
when ching. bing!" replied tho reyoly
! rlo d che ready paymaster and hi
clerk. Somebody shouted a command
and four dark forms leaped from tn
brush.
"Hands up! Grab that bag, Jack, o.
the front seatl Hands up, d--n you
QuiclSp'
drop that bagr' cried the paymas
ter. Sergeant |"
And then came O dreadful scream a
a pistol cracked at his eye and he fel
back dead.
The soldiers were out of the WACO
plunging through the drifts, and eve
as tho paymaster fell Sergeant Revel
discharged his carbine and dashed
the rescue, followed by tho men. At th
ambulance the clerk was fighting FUR
ously. The precious bag he had throw
between his feet. Then the soldier
were upon them, and 1t was all ovei
Tho robbers had not been quick enoug
in their daring dash. The man at til
heads of the plunging mules slipped O.