Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-12-15

une annex beyond the point where the
flames started in the Barrys' quarters,
had escaped without trouble, saving
most of their belongings Mary, but
for her utter collapse. might have done
as we'll, for the smoke and fame blew
through the house and away from the
rear of the annex, but, as it was, every
stitch she owned other than what she
had on went up in smoke, and, what
was presumably Of much greater conse-
quence, Bridget's finery was reduced to
ashes, and, as sympathizing sister
cook remarked, "She was not even there
to see. -
And then when the fire was all over
and had fairly burned itself out and the
pale dawn came creeping into the east
ern sky Walters, Warner and the doctor
were still poking about the ruins, Won
dering how on earth the thing could
have started. There was not a sugges-
ton of clew. All was safe and snug
when Mrs. Stannard visited the kitchen;
all was dark and quiet, but for the
wind, when the corporal made his
rounds; all was dark and quiet, said
old Fritz when he drove by the back
gate toward midnight. No, Miss
O'Meara-which was garrison for Bridg.
et-had not returned with him. "Mrs.
Atherton's ladies" however, had done
SO, and SO had two prominent instru-
mentalists-the bass drummer and pic
colo of the band, who had escorted these
domestics to show in town, and this
quartet backed Fritz in his statements
There wasn't a sign of fire, nor We're
any of his passengers smoking as they
passed along back of the row.
But Warlser kept Up his invcstiga-
tions after his commander had gone and
the day had come, and despite the fact
that many soldiers feet had trampled
the ground there, in the dust of the
old roadway beyond the rear fence,
he found everything the we'll known
trail of Fritz's team and wagon the I'M
mistakable prints of horses hoofs and
buggy's wheels. Even before arous-
ing his weary captain with this impor-
tant information he had dispatched a
mounted messenger to town with note
to Cook.
"Majors Stannard and Barry's quar-
tiers destroyed by fire about 80 a. m. %
he wrote. Inmates safe-everything
else consumed. Bridget ON. went to
town at z p. m. and is still absent, but
single buggy stopped at Barry's rear
gate and there turned and drove back.
1t must have been between 12 and 80.
Better come out quick as possible. +"
And within the hour Cook was on his
way.
Meanwhile the gale had worn itself
out as had the fire, and comparative
calm settled down on the post. The lit
tie doctor looked we'll nigh used up
when he overhauled his few patients at
the hospital at sick call, but he had
still much to do and could not give up.
kilograms had been sent to Laramie
notifying the two majors of the destruc-
tion Of their quarters and the safety of
the occupants, and in marvelously
short time their answer was received.
The two battalion commanders were
coming by the first stage. while Ather-
ton and the regiment returned by the
usual easy marches. The majors should
reach Russell with the morrow's sun.
To Barry the loss was far heavier in
books and bric-a brac and furniture than
to his brother campaigner. Stannard
and his devoted wife had long made it
their practice to live in the simplest
way, and years in Arizona had taught
them how comfortable they could be
with very little in the line Of household
goods. What they had lost-Mrs. Stan.
nard's gowns and laces being the only
very valuable items-was fully covered
by insurance, and Barry had taken
similar precautions. But he was q lover
Of books and pictures and little objects
of art gathered in their foreign travel,
and no money could repay him the loss
of such treasures. All this was fruit for
the breakfast table chat about the post,
and Of greater consequence apparently
than the shock to Mrs. Barry, the al.
most desperately heroic rescue of Miss
Baird and the now painful plight Of
her rescuer. Nursed by his sister and
an attendant from the hospital, May
nard lay under Walters roof, bandaged,
blinded and suffering torment from the
burns on his hands and head, yet think.
ing less Of this than of the fact that his
enforced confinement came at q time
wnen every 1aculty ne possesseu snouIu
have been brought to bear, for Maynard
believed he had found the clew to the
burglary and means of sweeping away
the cloud that hung over the name OF
Nathalie Baird. and he begged the doc.
tor and Warner to let him have few
words with Mr.. Cook as soon as posi-
BILE.
1t was barely s when that official
drove into the garrison and joined Mr..
Warner. 1t was not half an hour later
when another buggy arrived and depos.
tied Miss O'Meara and her big bag al
the back gate opening ON Mrs. Gregg's
quarters, into the kitchen of which she
instantly disappeared. Tho buggy al
most as quickly began to turn about
but stentorian shouts from up the row
assailed the drivers ears, and he refined
in his horse and waited. The shouters
We're Warner and Mr.. Cook, who issued
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