The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-07-01

son S coming out with q batch OF re-
cruits.
bah p growled Mainwaring, who
had little use for Rawson or any other
officer who was away on leave when
his regiment was in the field. Mrs.
Mainwaring's never met him, and if
she had would feel mighty small securi-
ty in his escort-a fellow that'll be
held up with whole carload of passen-
gers by only two robbers, "
Mainwaring alluded to a matter that
was a sore spot in the til and that
never yet had been fully explained.
But Mr.. Rawson, three months earlier
that summer, had unquestionably been
relieved of his few valuables at the
point Of the pistol on the K. p. road.
The regiment meant to worry the life
ont Of him when he rejoined, but didn't
like it that Mainwaring, a newcomer,
should be the first 20 crack the whip
Blake almost wanted to blaze up, but
thought 1t best perhaps to wait for Ray,
and so subsidized.
Ray. however, bad sauptered out to
the edge Of the scanty patch Of timber,
and, shading his eyes with his brown
hand. was scanning with professional
interest the long column of dusty troop
ers, two abreast, that came filing into
view around little point 500 yards
away Well out in their front, short,
square and stocky, rode their major,
his adJutant trumpeter and orderly jog
ging along behind. To him rode the
oolonsl's messenger, the regimental ad-
lutauts and pointed out line some dis
lance up stream. Thither the head Of
column veered, moving at steady walk.
The guidon bearer, at signal from the
battalion adJutant, spurred out to the
front, and, with the old silken swallow
tail streaming in the wind, Hoped across
the level to a point ten yards or so from
the bank, was halted there by the young
officer In person, and then, lance at
rest, he and his horse stood motionless,
Never quickening the pace, the captain
at the head of Staunard foremost troop
directed his march on this living guide
post. The guidon OF the second troop,
followed speedily by those Of the third
aud fourth In like manner, darted ou'
across the prairie, each in succession be
ing halted and established at half dis
lance in rear of his predecessor on the
fine OF guides Each troop directed it.
self uptn its own color; each in success
sion formed line TO the left as its lead
ing two came opposite the guidon; each
was aligned to the right; then, without
loss Of time, the trumpets sounded,
prepare to dismount;" the brown car
bines were jerked from their sockets and
tossed over the right shoulder as the
odd num- ered troopers rode clear of the
rank. "Dismount, " clamored the trum-
/ pet, and down out of sight sank some
fifty odd blue flannel shirts and rusty
/ old hats in each line. Form rank.
And out from among the chargers pop.
ped the vanished riders, each laying
hold of the reins close 20 the bit as the
line reformed and the captain said his
brief speech :"Water as soon as you like,
men, and Craze well out to the north
until nightfall. No side lines necessary
today. Dismiss the troop, sergeant +"
And the next thing dozen men were
scampering like mad lariats and picket
pins swinging, heading for the most
promising patches of grass.
Each picket pm was stamped nome,
the lariats uncurled TO their full length,